Customer Reviews

Gospel According to Al Green

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The quality of sound on this DVD is truly remarkable given that it came from corroded and "baked" masters. Strong, muscular bass, creamy highs ... pure music heaven! Al Green is a strange and beautiful man, though this film does not shy away from depicting his darker half ... that ambitious, slick salesman persona. Still the purity, intensity, and passion of his sound shines through in spades. One of the best music documentaries made ... a lost classic?

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!! NEED I SAY MORE. THIS DVD SHOWS YOU JUST HOW TALENTED THIS MAN IS. IT IS ENJOYABLE TO WATCH HIM PERFORM AND INTERACT WITH HIS AUDIENCE. THIS DVD GIVES YOU 'LETS STAY TOGETHER' AND PLENTY OF WONDERFUL GOSPEL MUSIC PLUS HIS FIRST SERMON. WHEN HE SUNG 'WHEN THE GATES SWING OPEN' JUST BLEW ME AWAY! IF I HAD A COMPLAINT IT WOULD BE WE DIDN'T GET MORE OF THE R&B. REGARDLESS, THIS IS A MUST HAVE. LOVE YOU AL GREEN.

"Gospel according to Al Green," is a long-awaited 25th anniversary edition of the television profile by Robert Mugge. The DVD documentary, originally televised in 1984, has been shown on PBS stations, BET, and at various festivals. It offers a candid, close look at Green, one of the few remaining candidates for King of Soul who's still with us today. (And one of the few who could give James Brown a run for his money as the hardest-working man in show business.) It shows the performer in the recording studio, in performance at Bolling Air Force base, and preaching at the church he founded in Memphis, Tennessee. This reissue also offers a 90-minute audio interview with the singer, and several other special features.

Green is a nine-time Grammy winner, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; he's recorded more than 40 albums. He recently released a new CD,Lay It Down, and received the BET Lifetime Achievement Award (2008). He was a 1970's soul singer with a healthy career, built on "Let's Stay Together" and other hits, until he awoke one morning in a hotel room hungry for religion, and so became a gospel singer and Pentecostal preacher. The singer has a non-stop, whiter than white-toothed smile, a bedrock of honesty, and a galvanizing energy, and he sweats up a storm, whether in concert or preaching, which he does in speech-to-music, and song - looks to me like he literally invented rap. On this DVD, we see his electrifying takes of "Let's Stay Together," "Free at Last," and "Amazing Grace."

Mugge has been called "the king of the American music documentary" by "L.A. Weekly." The award-winning filmmaker has also made New Orleans Music in Exile; and Saxophone Colossus.

Many years ago, during my English exile, I was lying on the floor of the cottage, listening to Otis Redding, when Tony Burfield, the pompous young music business flunky who lived next door, came in. Burfield told me that the floor was meant "to walk upon and stand upon, not to lie upon," and that I was dating myself listening to Redding; that those in the know were now listening to Green, and I've never forgiven him. But I've long since forgiven Green: the man just has an amazing way with him.

I discovered this movie in 2001 on french TV arte. Yet I was in love with the song "Let's stay together" but this film just put me on my knees... not religiously I mean (nevertheless I'm quite beleiver) but musicaly. Eversince Al Green became my preferate singer and an exemple for being talentuous. writting this just made me remember I wanted (but never did) to just write THANK YOU Mr Greene on his official site... There I'm going right now.
PS: Sorry for my english but I'm french

I thought this was a great video I have it on vhs. If you really want to know al green then this is your dvd.. Its a documentary with a lot of good singing... I can watch it once every six months. This video sucks you in...

regards, Kelvin

I first saw this documentary in 1990 on the Memphis PBS affiliate. I was stunned by the power of the music. Al has one of the best ears for gospel harmony in the business. The interviews are enlightening and entertaining, but the music steals this show. Let's hope he keeps on keeping on for many years to come.

This is a great video. Al Green is honest and does an excellent job singing. He answers a lot of questions about his career. He talks about the high and low points of it. I don't understand how anyone could not rate this video with 5 stars. My opinion is that Neil has a problem with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The video title indicates that it is a gospel video!!!

This DVD is a treasure. Al Green is truly a living legend....this DVD traces his early beginnings and tells us why Al chose to be a preacher instead of a star. The truth of the matter is that Al Green will always be a star....there is so much heart, so much passion that it makes me want to catch the next plan to Memphis to go to his church...Hallelujah!

Al green opens up his heart in this interview. I loved it! It's great to hear his story in his own words. He's such a passionate man. It was also wonderful to hear him preach. He's definately "Full Of Fire"! I am a lifelong fan. I recently discovered Al at age 21. Both my parents grew up on him, I didn't have that luxury. So, I would HIGHLY recommend this DVD, as well as his autobiography "Take Me To The River".

AL GREEN is gospel, soul, and R&B in music.
AL GREEN is full gospel, & born-again soul in his preaching.
Both are presented and documented in the 25th Ann. Ed. DVD by Acorn Media.
The blend of information related to the rise and stardom of this popular performer of music is presented with the 1973 "converted", "born-again", "forgiven" (Al Green's own words) reformation of Green's drive and music toward gospel and preaching.

This is a must for fans who remember and still enjoy the early music, like the "Let's Stay Together" beginning of his pop achievements which earned him financial success as well as many awards including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement (2002). This DVD offers a taping of the first use of the "Let's Stay Together" song, after years of refusal to perform those career-beginning love songs. Green had reverted in 1977 to only gospel songs after a song with the words "it's you that I want but Him that I need" convicted him to a total conversion in his music and ministry. He was "spiritually uplifted" (again Green's words) to risk his career for Jesus Christ.

In Oct. 1974, Green was scalded with hot grits, followed by his girlfriend/attacker committing suicide in his apartment. That event is discussed in the interview on this DVD, the first time he publicly talked of the happening, surprising even his band members. Greatly influenced, he bought a church in 1976, was ordained, and began preaching along with continuing of singing gospel.

In this "GOSPEL according to AL GREEN", live footage of the 7th Anniversary Celebration of his church, Full Gospel Tabernacle, Memphis, is presented, including Greens sermon. He preaches with his musical style attached to traditional southern-Black preaching. This DVDs documentation and interview of Al Green shows him to be as sincere in his music and his faith as he is with his broad facial smile.

Green's individualistic style of soul-pop-R&B-gospel-heavenly fire inspired renditions to old hymns is included through the toe tappin', foot stompin' "Amazing Grace" number.

Since the taping of the material on this 2009 25th Ann. Ed.; Al Green has returned to some popular music, the first being his joining in the song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" from "Scrooged." Many of Green's songs could be sung to a lover, or to a loving Christ and God, with equal sincerity.

DVD special features are listed in the description above, but the best is the "Director Reflections." Many other parts of this bonus section repeat segments but with in Audio Only. I found I enjoyed the video being included. Information for those requiring it: no subtitles or CC could be found.

AL GREEN, born in 1946, saved in 1973, ordained in 1977, R&R Hall of Fame in 1995, is still recording in 2009. And preaching. Get a taste of both with this DVD, already labeled by the press, "Marvelous" "Transcendent" "A Must-see" "Extraordinary" "Powerful" "Electricity" and "A Revelation."

Guaranteed, you will know Al Green better than before after viewing this DVD. Is Al Green an Elvis life in opposite-reverse?