Customer Reviews

Lay It Down [+Digital Booklet]

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Al Green drafted in some soulful stars de jour for this project in the shape of Anthony Hamilton, John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae.
He also brought in hip-hop luminaries Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, from Philadelphia's the Roots, and James Poyser, another big name from Philly.
"With a cherry-picked backing band, which includes the Dap Kings horns (who feature on Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black"), the duo capture Green's familiar laid-back, orchestral groove, while also dropping hints towards "urban" modernism".- Andrew Perry
This should not lead you to think that this is an undignified musical hip transplant for the old master.
The rhythms, the jazzy chord progressions, the aching falsetto and the love-infused subject matter of these songs have much in common with the stellar tracks Green cut in the first half of the Seventies.
Inevitably, though, the songwriting itself can't match the quality of the classics now etched in our memory.
But this is still a fine product from a singer whose capacity to dazzle has barely waned in 40 years.
These arrive most noticeably via a trio of guest vocalists, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae, who each wisely choose to complement, rather than attempt to outgun, their host.
Conceived as a way of uniting Green with a new generation of soul and R&B singers, "Lay It Down" might have been an embarrassing attempt to modernise an old star. Instead, the producer Ahmir Thompson of the hip-hop band the Roots has gone the other way.
The younger musicians have to fit in with Green's laid-back, slow-burning sound, in contrast to the excessive slickness of modern R&B. And while Corinne Bailey Rae sings with jazzy sophistication on Take Your Time and Anthony Hamilton shows how classic R&B can be updated on "You've Got the Love I Need", it's Al Green's voice, so full of humour and joy, that stands out.
The album proves that great soul music need not come at the cost of life itself.
Green's effortless yet ever-astonishing vocal flexings are, again, wrapped around some fabulous co-written songs.
The title track, "No One Like You", and the nimble "Just For Me" are exquisitely seductive.
On "What More Do You Want from Me", meanwhile, Green makes romantic desperation sound like a rather alluring condition.
"Now 62, Green has musical powers that still verge on the magical".
Whatever the commercial outcome, we have a five-star Al Green album on our hands.

The Reverend Al Green's latest is an 11 track CD co-produced by Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson of The Roots. Still in excellent vocal form, it is an album steeped in seventies soul; that lovely falsetto, stabbing horns, and lilting percussion, and sounding untouched by time. Despite ?uestlove's Hip hop roots (pardon the pun), the album sounds like it was recorded in the seventies.

He gets help from some of the current stable of Neo Soul vocalists on a few tracks; Anthony Hamilton on the tender opening Gospel-tinged title track "Lay it down", and "You've got the love I need", UK songstress Corinne Bailey Rae's jazzy vocals on the slow burning "Take your time", and John legend on the absolutely stunning "Stay with me (By the sea)" (lovely delicate vocals from the pair and great ethereal harmonies). The last pair are my favourites.

The lilting "Just for me" reminds me a bit of his classic "Let's stay together", "No one like you" is a beautiful ballad with sprinklings of horns and organ, "What more do you want from me" is a bit more upbeat, the piano ballad "Too much", the laid back semi acoustic ballad "All I need", the sunny, upbeat "I'm wild about you", and closing also on an upbeat note is "Standing in the rain" (with gritty vocals).

This album is great with excellent musicianship (great harmonies, guitars, horns and percussion), real soul music in an era where there are loads of pretenders to the throne.

Reverend Al Green's back and he's sounding as good as ever. Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson and James Poyser of the Roots produced "Lay it Down" and they're not messing with a good thing. They don't try to change up Green's backing arrangements or vocal stylings too much so this CD sounds like a 1970's classic Al Green recording.

Plus, they add some amazing new school performers to the mix, including John Legend, Corrine Bailey Rae, and Anthony Hamilton. The Dap Kings' horn section heard on both Amy Winehouse's and Sharon Jones' recent CD is here and adding amazing backing.

It's hard to name a favorite in this 11-song CD, but here are a few standouts:

"You've got the luv I need," is going to be used by men everywhere as a marriage proposal. Bet they stand a better chance of the ladies saying yes with Al on their side. Anthony Hamilton's pretty incredible as a backup--he almost steals the show, but is a consummate performer enough not to.

"Take Your Time" with Corrine Bailey Rae is a sweet, soulful number that plays just like the title promises.

"Stay with me (By the Sea)" adds John Legend into the mix.

Al Green really would not have to make another CD ever to keep his standing as one of the finest soul singers in the business, but I for one, am very glad he did. He's an excellent performer and it's good to see him still out there.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2008

Is he really laying it down? Uh,,,,,I'm not sure actually. Sure this has the trademark Al Green sound and isms that did the business back in the day, and it's good to hear all that again, but to be fair, the strength and quality of many songs isn't really what I'd prefer to have Al wrap his tonsils around. Is there a monster track on offer? Hardly. It's a pleasant enough album, but then I go, wait a minute, this is Al Green, cmon dude. Is there a Let's Stay Together, a I'm Still In Love With You, a Back Up Train, a Love And Happiness, a Have You Been Making Out O.K., even a Judy on offer? (I could go on obviously, I mean this IS Al Green) Well they are nowhere to be found. Again, it's all riiiiiight, but Lay It Down is not a playlist staple on my ponderosa. Having said all that, I do like the title track, and love the groove of both I'm Wild About You, and Standing In The Rain, and upon reflection, feel this trio may indeed have sat well with the aforementioned tracks on those great albums he was making. However, I'll go back to his earlier stuff when I've got to get my Al on, or I need to remind the young uns what real music is all about.

I've been waiting on an Al Green recording like this for many years now. When I placed cd in the player I knew immediately I had it. This is vintage Al Green at his best. I forsee a Grammy Award nomination at the end of the year and most likely a winner. This absolutely is a great body of work from an entertainer who has one of the most gifted voices in musical history. Al Green's - Lay It Down - has "Big Hit" written all over it. Al You have struck "Gold" again and maybe "Platinum". All Al Green fans old and new you must step-up and purchase this one. The following artist add a special musical spice to this record: Corinne Bailey Rae - The Dap-Kings Horns - Anthony Hamilton - John Legend - Ahmir "?ueslove" Thompson. You can't go wrong on this one. Thanks Al for giving the people what they have been longing for, for a very long time.

Man, I am 28 and have been buying Al since I was 13. This is my fave cd of his since Your Hearts In Good Hands. Collaborations work very well with him, and I was really excited to hear Anthony on there. You have got to get this cd. It has such a smooth flow to it. If you have anything else of Al's, you have to add this to your collection. Lay it down reminds me of Simply Beautiful, and I love the song with Corrine. I just love Al and I feel that after seeing him in concert, the only thing else I have to do is go to Full Baptist Tabernacle. I'm Memphis Bound People.... Lay it Down!

Al Green has definitely been on a row in recent years, returning to his soulful roots. I CAN'T STOP was widely anticipated by Green fans who were happy just to hear Al Green return to his R&B roots after a long stint singing merely gospel music. I CAN'T STOP wasn't a complete triumph, but it was good starting place. What might've been even more surprising was the fact that after 2003's Grammy-nominated I CAN'T STOP, Rev. Green went on to release 2005's EVERYTHING'S OK, again reunited with producer Willie Mitchell. While EVERYTHING'S OK felt a bit more authentic than I CAN'T STOP, hardcore Green fans couldn't help but feel that Green needed something more to make an authentic return to soul. While the contemporary R&B stylings by such modern producers as Bryan-Michael Cox or even the old school songwriting by Tank or Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith would've corrupted Green's authenticity, it was certainly agreed that Green should try something new to give him back his seamless southern-soul sound. That person turned out to surprisingly be Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson from the Roots.

?uestlove could've styled Green in Roots laden production with samples and ultimately perplexing production work, but rather than be self-indulgent, ?uestlove produces perhaps the best soul album of the decade, and certainly Green's best album of his trio of modern albums. LAY IT DOWN is perfect in nearly every way. Not only is Green top-notch, so is the production, as well as collaborators Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae, and John Legend. And don't think that the "sound" of classic Al Green albums are replaced - they aren't. ?uestlove merely updates Green and still utilizes the live settings that made him so popular on tracks such as "Love and Happiness" or the ubiquitous "Let's Stay Together".

I won't bore you praising every track, as every track here is nearly 100%, honestly, But I'll leave you with a top five, something I usually don't do.

1. Lay It Down (feat. Anthony Hamilton)
2. Take Your Time (feat. Corinne Bailey Rae)
3. Just Me
4. Too Much
5. You Got That Luv I Need (feat. Anthony Hamilton)

4 ½ stars Al.

Unbelievably soulful! Every time I listen I still find it a miracle that this man's music is better than it was back in 1970's. As a DJ at my college radio station, way back then, I really enjoyed playing Al Green records. Over the past year I have downloaded a bunch of old Al Green for my Ipod. Amazon saw that and sent me an update about this CD's release, and I'm sure glad they did. All of the tunes are right up there with his old material. In fact, in some cases, I think he has surpassed his old stuff. Rev Green's voice is as good as it ever was, and the musicians accompanying him are outstanding. The producers of the CD knew what they were doing by not overcrowding the music. Al Green's music is beautiful and intimate. This CD let's all that come through

Lay It Down is an amazing statement. This is among the most satisfying discs I've listened to in years. It delivers right up the middle in the sweet spot of staying true to who Al Green is (no silly attempts to sound like an erstwhile 20 year old) while somehow seeming totally fresh, deep, and tight. Man - good, good stuff. The title track and Take Your Time are highlights (reinforcing Rae's position as a force).

Just lay your money down right now and get this album! I would be surprised that anyone who already loves Al Green, classic Soul/R&B, or just good music in general, wouldn't enjoy this album a lot - even love it. I instantly loved and connected with several songs on the very first listen, and the others have grown on me to the point of loving them as well. The guest appearances are classy, and do not in the least feel corny or contrived to appeal to a younger audience. There are no new hip hop leanings for Al, as with many other seasoned artist's albums. It's just music made the way it used to be!!!!! Just get it.