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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
His best LP?, August 10, 2004
Al Green's classic soul now newly remastered (no extra tracks) on his masterpiece "Call Me," sometimes known as "Come Back Home." His voice is sinuous, like a watersnake, and creeps up and through every obstacle like beautiful roses gilding a trellis. It breaks like the surf and it rolls on like a glacier, it can do anything he wants it to do. And he chalks up this gift to God. Mournful, secular tunes like the heartbreaking "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away" meld here with the desperation that finally turns to bliss in "Jesus Is Waiting," so the contradictions of the gospel/R & B blend he pioneers all get resolved during the course of one LP. Some of the tracks are slightly extended past their natural stopping point, a 70s device pioneered by Isaac Hayes and others in the Stax/Volt stable, but if you like extended trills and groans and gasps ad infinitum, you'll scream when Al Green wants you to because he is the man!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Godfather of Sweet Soul Music, July 30, 2001
If you want the definition of not just soul, but sweet soul music, look no further than Al Green. I can't even pick a favorite amongst the Hi Records recordings done with Willie Mitchell. If I was pressed to choose, I'd say Still In Love With You, Call Me, and Livin' For You. They actually sound like a continuation of one beautiful yet funky vibe. This album could be my favorite, though. "Call Me" is a wonderful, kind of haunting song. But I think Your Love Is Like the Morning Sun personifies everything early 70s Al Green is about. It's like gospel, but without references to God; just love (unlike his later recordings, or the inspirational "Jesus is Waiting", on this album). It's simply mesmerizing. It gets inside you. And I love how the song ends with him creating verses based on previous titles ("I'm tired of being alone/I'm still in love with you/Let's stay together"). If you like Marvin Gaye, the Staples Singers, or perhaps Curtis Mayfield, buy this album. Sweet soul is not Lionel Richie or Ashford and Simpson or Peaches and Herb or Anita Baker or any of that crossover stuff. It's right here. It's Hi Records. It's Willie Mitchell. It's Al Green. Thank you, sir, for years of listening pleasure.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
smooth as vaseline, rich and creamy, September 26, 2000
Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, they were all residing in my cd collection when I bought this Al Green-cd on a trip to New York, a few years ago. I expected lots from it, but not that it would stand as my favourite soul-album as for today. Otis is grittier, Aretha creates more db's, marvin made superior records, but for me, they cannot make an impact such as Al Green. Nine beautiful arranged songs, dealing with such quintessential topics such as love, religion and sexuality. Nine achingly delicious chants by the true master of soft soul. I still can't believe my own exaltation when I play "Jesus is waiting" or "Here I am", or "Call Me" again. It's slick, smooth, cheesy, corny, mucky, call it what you want, but in the meantime it's also one of the most passionately felt records I ever heard: Green LIVES his songs. You want your heart broken? Let Al do it, and you'll be thankful.
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