Customer Reviews

Explores Your Mind

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Here you have the epitome of Memphis soul from its hands-down best singer, taken up a notch or two by Green's restless curiosity and willingness to embrace the less-travelled roads on the musical trail. Not unlike his neighbor Elvis Presley, Green regarded the entire panorama of American music to be his birthright and he claims it yet again on this wonderful album. I can still remember picking up my vinyl copy as a kid at the local Woolworth's on Main Street and hearing the joyous opening grooves of "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)," the stunning original version of "Take Me to the River," and the touching, curiously unsentimental look backward on "School Days." Green's later move to the ministry and subsequent recording of (sadly, often less-than-brilliant) contemporary gospel leads many critics to draw a sharp line between his "secular" and "spiritual" periods as a recording artist, but this is a false distinction. True, it's unlikely that these days Green will be found singing something like the bawdy, groupie-loving travelogue "One Nite Stand" found here, but the gorgeous "God Blessed Our Love" (just two tracks earlier!!) is as sacred a tune as you'll find in his catalogue. Green makes it all sound perfectly appropriate sitting together on this recording. Don't deny yourself the chance to have your mind explored - you'll be glad you did.

If you are a fan of '70s Soul then you must get this CD. By itself, the glorious "God Bless Our Love" should grant this CD "Classic" status as said song is worth the price of admission alone. Other gems to be found on this classic set are "Sha La La (make me happy)", "Take Me To The River" and "School Days". It's well worth pointing out that on a few of this CD's songs (most notably the Curtis Mayfield-esque "The City") Al Green and his producer Willie Mitchell veered away from the romantic Soul which made him a superstar and ventured into the socio-conscious Soul so closely associated with Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The O'Jays and Curtis Mayfield. This may not have been Al Green's strongest-selling album but no Soul fan should be without it either.