The passing of super R&B producer Willie Mitchell on Tuesday was as good a reason as any to listen to some of what I consider perhaps the soul singer of all time, Al Green. You might say Marvin Gaye or Otis Redding, Smokey, even Sam Cooke (though he’s a little early in the proceedings) but I think I’ll stick with Al Green.
Because of those 70s disco soul albums when he was a coked up ladies man, absolutely. But even even the stuff after he became a Reverand (no, a real one, who preaches in a Church to this day), he could sing Gospel with as much fervor and blatant physicality, as his more earthly endeavors.
Still from 1970 to 1979, Al Green recorded album after album of the most passionate soul music ever. Not as funky as Philly, not as synthy as Casablanca, not as produced as Giorgio Moroder’s bands, it was, in the finally analysis, superior to all of them. Green’s falsetto was sweet and high and he could get down as well with a genuine emotion that was like Ray Charles and marvin Gaye AT THE SAME TIME.
If you don’t know Al Green’s work that well, start with Greatest Hits. You will flip for “I’m Still In Love With You” (his high note on “I’m” is to die for), “Love And Happiness”, “Tired Of Being Alone”… really, this is the deal.