― , Monday, 5 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― brent d., Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― , Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Um, no, he doesn't. Classic, probably the best of all the great soul singers. But it's not just about the voice - the amazing no-frills metronomic Hi backbeat has a lot to do with why his records are so good. "Al Green Is Love" is probably my favourite soul non- compilation album ever.
― Tom, Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Patrick, Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 7 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
SHAME ON YOU ALL.
Some of you are WRITERS. All, or most of you, claim to "love music". And yet this is the best you can do, a few shrugs and spindly sentences. This is the MAN. He has made the world an infinitely better place by just being around. BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP.
UBER-classic.
― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:16 (twenty years ago) link
― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:29 (twenty years ago) link
― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:30 (twenty years ago) link
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 April 2003 20:54 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:34 (twenty years ago) link
― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 6 April 2003 21:53 (twenty years ago) link
― Pete Scholtes, Sunday, 6 April 2003 22:50 (twenty years ago) link
http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/green-76.php
esp the first two paragraphs
i can't think of another artist/band for whom my love (and yeah it goes beyond a deep and abiding affection or respect or whutever) is so unexamined, so basic and (dare i say it) pure.
― jess (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 6 April 2003 22:56 (twenty years ago) link
― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 7 April 2003 01:57 (twenty years ago) link
I really like Otis Clay's Hi singles, like "Let Me Be the One."
More later.
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 7 April 2003 02:09 (twenty years ago) link
― gaz (gaz), Monday, 7 April 2003 02:10 (twenty years ago) link
Kind of a surprise: I'm reviewing the reissues of those first Al Green albums on Hi, and Green Is Blue actually stacks up pretty well. Bonus track of him singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is OMG killa fire-honoring cover of all time
― Neudonym, Monday, 7 April 2003 04:11 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 7 April 2003 04:30 (twenty years ago) link
Ann Peebles'"Trouble, Heartaches, and Sadness" is another Hi-Records gem that Al Green lovahs should search from her great album, "Straight From the Heart."
― Cub, Monday, 7 April 2003 04:46 (twenty years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 7 April 2003 12:03 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 7 April 2003 13:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Dadaismus, Monday, 7 April 2003 13:58 (twenty years ago) link
But them bonus tracks is special. Green Is Blues includes not only "I Want to Hold Your Hand" but also two originals and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee"; Gets Next to You has a nice long version of "Ride Sally Ride" and a couple more.
― Neudonym, Monday, 7 April 2003 14:02 (twenty years ago) link
Mitchell's Royal Recording studio is still there in S. Memphis. Last time I visited the Big "S" Grill made a very good barbecue sandwich, good jukebox, and there's always Josie's Tamales near there if you need tamales, not to mention Blue Suede Shoe Shine...
― Jess Hill (jesshill), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:06 (twenty years ago) link
also, as others have mentioned here, there's a wealth of great stuff by other Hi artists like Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright, Otis Clay & Syl Johnson if you want more of that sound - what a band! Al Jackson and the Grimes bros, Willie Mitchell production... oh, oh, and Jess Hill is otm about the "Love Ritual" collection - "Up Above My Head is my favourite Al track maybe... sorry, it's just so fucking good... I'm about to fall off my chair again.
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:16 (twenty years ago) link
Like Stax/Volt etc., Hi's output was so prolific that a lot of horn and string charts, melodies, lyrical ideas, etc. got recycled. I have absolutely no problem with that whatever. It's actually a good way to determine what a given singer brings to the table.
I actually really like the later Hi stuff, from the late '70s, which both is slightly hampered by and benefits from a certain slackness, or quietude. Examples would be Ann Peebles's If This Is Heaven, Syl Johnson's Total Explosion, Al Green's Have a Good Time, etc.
O.V. Wright is sort of a force of nature; his Hi stuff sounds more like his pre-Hi stuff than you'd expect. He doesn't go "uptown" as much as other Hi artists of the period. "That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha" is a great balance though.
Crosspost w/Fritz!
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:39 (twenty years ago) link
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:42 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:43 (twenty years ago) link
I don't really know, not having ventured into it... though the oft-maligned "The Belle Album" - the transitional one - is quite good.
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:52 (twenty years ago) link
― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:54 (twenty years ago) link
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 7 April 2003 14:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Jonathan, Monday, 7 April 2003 15:24 (twenty years ago) link
I was re-reading some Xgau reviews the other day and came across something he said about Green and the rhythm-section thing happening on those classic Hi records. Xgau says something about the "thick 3rd-beat" emphasis of the drumming and as far as I can tell that's a classic howler--Xgau can't count. He's hearing the second beat as the third beat for some reason--he's counting the eighth notes as quarter notes.
― Jess Hill (jesshill), Monday, 7 April 2003 15:39 (twenty years ago) link
― Burr (Burr), Monday, 7 April 2003 17:41 (twenty years ago) link
search Hi Rhythm's On the Loose, reissued a couple years ago w/some photo instead of whatever the original cover art was. they're not kidding--it's really loose, like about-to-fall-apart loose, and extremely charming for it
― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 7 April 2003 17:42 (twenty years ago) link
― Jess Hill (jesshill), Monday, 7 April 2003 19:24 (twenty years ago) link
I love Al Green btw.
― Sean (Sean), Monday, 7 April 2003 19:50 (twenty years ago) link
― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 8 April 2003 06:37 (twenty years ago) link
― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 09:11 (twenty years ago) link
― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 10:12 (twenty years ago) link
Ace Al Green track, the one I love above all: "Love is Real." The way he says "Say something..."
― Jess Hill (jesshill), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 13:03 (twenty years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 13:20 (twenty years ago) link
― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 13:26 (twenty years ago) link
― bobo t, Tuesday, 8 April 2003 13:33 (twenty years ago) link
-- M Matos
Man, all I said was that I can count. Maybe that's a shockah where you come from.
― Jess Hill (jesshill), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 15:15 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 15:17 (twenty years ago) link
I will leave that sentance as it stands for Dan's pleasure, but you know what I mean.
― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 8 April 2003 19:10 (twenty years ago) link
In the interview, he explains the sling as the result of "my fans and I haven't a disagreement about whether I should get into a car" (he'd had a limo door slammed on his arm after a gig).
McDonough's book talks about this. Linda Wills later claimed Green injured it going through a revolving door. Members of Green's band claim it happened on tour in Ft. Lauderdale - on that tour, they were playing theaters essentially run by gangsters. Green tried to cancel the gig because he wasn't feeling well. There was an argument with the theater owner, and eventually the band watched as this giant thug in a suit walked into Green's dressing room. After a bit of time, that thug came out and left, and ten minutes later, a doctor came in and went into Green's dressing room. The theater owners then told the band they were PLAYING, and when they went to rehearse, Green showed up later with the cast. After that, the band said Green started carrying a gun.
― birdistheword, Saturday, 13 March 2021 22:38 (three years ago) link
https://www.howardgrimesdrummer.com/about
Drummer Howard Grimes memoir coming July 1
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 May 2021 21:57 (two years ago) link
https://staxmuseum.com/event/book-event-timekeeper-my-life-in-rhythm-an-evening-with-howard-grimes-preston-lauterbach/?fbclid=IwAR0xSrgaGSL3U_SjHsraltp8QqLp8DTpLhDGnlaksAsgsrseWauEnwRkiqk
Wed July 21 drummer Grimes talks with Preston Lauterbach at Stax on Zoom
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 17 July 2021 02:18 (two years ago) link
No stems no seeds just Al Green
― calstars, Saturday, 17 July 2021 02:36 (two years ago) link
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/09/23/memphis-music-history-hi-rhythm-rev-charles-hodges-book/5790901001/?fbclid=IwAR0AqmljkfGAEhOIHTxnPX1rP2oYfHDTdC_Lo3cbtIT-jKtcsVUbIIaf5qo
Per writer Robert Gordon— Hi Records organist / keyboardist Charles Hodges has a book coming out . Release event at his church this Sunday! The Rev. Charles Hodges discusses "My Story," a book about his life, at 3 p.m. Sunday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 7786 Poplar Pike, Germantown. The event is free and open to the public
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 23 September 2021 15:14 (two years ago) link
Sadly seeing on Facebook now that Memphis drummer Howard Grimes has passed away. He played on Stax and Hi records and efforts by Al Green and Ann Peebles. He released a book about his life last year.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 12 February 2022 23:58 (two years ago) link
Howard Grimes and Al Jackson both played on song “Love and Happiness “ I think. Grimes was on congas.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 February 2022 18:04 (two years ago) link
Great obituary from Bob Mehr, giving credit where it's due:
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/02/12/howard-grimes-obit-hi-rhythm-stax-memphis-music/6770160001/
Bob Mehr is the same guy who just won a Grammy for his liner notes to the Replacements' Dead Man's Pop box set, no surprise as he also wrote one of THE great bios on any band (again, the Replacements).
― birdistheword, Monday, 14 February 2022 19:57 (two years ago) link
Opened this thread, saw the words "Great obituary" and just about lost my shit for a moment before reading more closely.
RIP Howard Grimes.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Monday, 14 February 2022 20:02 (two years ago) link
Glad Grimes survived that period after Hi Records when he was divorced, homeless, and having addiction issues. Got a bit of recognition and work in recent years.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 February 2022 18:29 (two years ago) link
RIP to one of the greatest. Pretty sure Howard Grimes was on kit for "Love & Happiness". From Willie Mitchell:
“Usually I’d have Al (Jackson) play those sessions by himself,” Mitchell says. “Sometimes I’d play the conga drum with him, on things like ’Let’s Stay Together.’ But there were times that Al Jackson couldn’t get the feel I wanted, on songs like ’Take Me To The River’ or ’Love & Happiness,’ so I had Howard come in for that. Now, Al could actually play anything … but he couldn’t play it raggedy. And when that’s what I wanted to have, I called Howard.”
https://drummagazine.com/al-jackson-jr-the-sound-of-60s-soul/
― change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 15 February 2022 18:33 (two years ago) link
Pretty sure he talks about it on his Trap Set interview too:https://www.thetrapset.net/042-howard-grimes-al-green-ann-peebles-rufus-thomas-the-bo-keys/
Author Preston Lauterbach , who helped Howard Grimes prepare his book, is saying on his Substack that Grimes widow could use financial donations. He says just to contact him. He also notes that the wake of Friday, funeral Saturday, and on Saturday there will be a Beale Street processional beginning at 11:30am on the corner of Second and Beale.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 February 2022 01:47 (two years ago) link
i'm still in love with you is the greatest album of all time
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 21 July 2022 16:26 (one year ago) link
checks out
― pasty drunks fuck off (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 21 July 2022 16:40 (one year ago) link
Second only to Livin' For You.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 21 July 2022 16:55 (one year ago) link
I get caught up in the descending chord progressions of "What a Wonderful Thing Love Is" and "Look What You Done For Me".
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 21 July 2022 17:28 (one year ago) link
I read that as "condescending" lol
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 21 July 2022 17:32 (one year ago) link
No, they're deeply compassionate!
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 21 July 2022 17:34 (one year ago) link
the best version of "for the good times"
― Heez, Thursday, 21 July 2022 18:16 (one year ago) link
If I had to pick only one, it would be Call Me, but why pick one masterpiece over another? There's at least five in a row, plus Belle later on and a bunch of good ones in between and after.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 21 July 2022 18:22 (one year ago) link
a lot of his albums are severely underrated. i scored Al Green Is Love for 5 bucks recently at a pretty expensive record store.
― Heez, Thursday, 21 July 2022 18:27 (one year ago) link
beat guitar sound, best drum sound
― brimstead, Thursday, 21 July 2022 18:45 (one year ago) link
best
Love Ritual: Rare and Previously Unreleased 1968-1976 is a great one too. He left plenty of choice rarities in the can.
I just wish there was a definitive concert film, but you can at least piece together a great video compilation of his TV performances. (The live Tokyo album ain't bad, but it's not the great live album he has in him.)
― birdistheword, Thursday, 21 July 2022 19:25 (one year ago) link
Midnight Special YT channel just uploaded some clips from '73 & '74
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMijYHnbGw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evv1xwK5UYA
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 March 2023 23:28 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc1wS61RgEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4UNv13S58
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 March 2023 23:42 (one year ago) link
ty these are greaat
― four square ups... no punches thrown (Spottie), Thursday, 16 March 2023 23:51 (one year ago) link
oh dear
― budo jeru, Friday, 17 March 2023 03:49 (one year ago) link
great revive
― budo jeru, Friday, 17 March 2023 03:59 (one year ago) link
"Jesus is Waiting" is almost enough to make me want to accept the Lord.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 17 March 2023 04:02 (one year ago) link
He was so great in the '70s, it's a shame there hasn't been a definitive live release put together, either an album or a DVD/Blu-ray. (The Tokyo album didn't quite do him justice.) It's all out there is pieces though, like in those clips.
― birdistheword, Friday, 17 March 2023 04:13 (one year ago) link
I don't think I have seen the 1984 Robert Mugge directed live "Gospel According to Al Green" film doc
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 March 2023 15:40 (one year ago) link
Awesome revive
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 17 March 2023 16:56 (one year ago) link
Can't help but notice the front row of the audience is all women.
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Friday, 17 March 2023 21:44 (one year ago) link
it's a shame there hasn't been a definitive live release put together
in my opinion, the videos make the experience; his moves are everything. when it comes to audio, i'm extremely fine listening to the studio recordings, which are some of the best sounding records ever.
― budo jeru, Friday, 17 March 2023 21:54 (one year ago) link
― Maggot Bairn (Tom D.), Friday, March 17, 2023 9:44 PM (eighteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
uh yeah did you see the man singing on stage? god at his peak he was just unbelievably hot.
xp to jimbeaux you made my heart skip a beat thinking that one of these midnight specials was a "jesus is waiting" performance but alas
― ꙮ (map), Friday, 17 March 2023 22:07 (one year ago) link
sorry to be crass but al green setting the tempo by clapping before the band kicks in on "love and happiness" is on some "fuck me right goddamn now" shit
― ꙮ (map), Friday, 17 March 2023 22:09 (one year ago) link
all about the foreplay
― corrs unplugged, Saturday, 18 March 2023 17:16 (one year ago) link
new single, cover of "Perfect Day"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5NT_079_X0
― Brad C., Tuesday, 22 August 2023 16:05 (seven months ago) link
Whoa.
― Random Restaurateur (Jordan), Tuesday, 22 August 2023 17:30 (seven months ago) link
He sounds great!
― dinnerboat, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 18:50 (seven months ago) link
His voice is great but I am not sure about the arrangement . Need to listen again
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 24 August 2023 04:55 (seven months ago) link
His voice is still in great shape, but he doesn't really sell these particular lyrics (he doesn't even attempt the note of doomed heartbreak Lou achieves in his vocals on the original, and Al Green can definitely do heartbreak if he wants to), and like 90% of everything Green has recorded away from Willie Mitchell, the production/arrangement seems to have no idea how to compliment his gorgeous voice.
― MumblestheRevelator, Saturday, 26 August 2023 10:51 (seven months ago) link
Yeah, he floats above the melody.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 26 August 2023 11:34 (seven months ago) link
Lou put Belle by Al Green in his top 10
https://www.clashmusic.com/news/lou-reed-once-named-his-10-favourite-albums/
― bbq, Saturday, 26 August 2023 11:41 (seven months ago) link
He was well known as a big Al Green fan.
― Monthly Python (Tom D.), Saturday, 26 August 2023 11:47 (seven months ago) link
there is something problematic with the verses being in a higher register than the chorus. maybe it's something a non-singer can pull off better than a singer.
― Thus Sang Freud, Saturday, 26 August 2023 11:58 (seven months ago) link
the "You're going to reap just what you sow" outro has a very different vibe coming from the Rev. Green
― Brad C., Saturday, 26 August 2023 17:42 (seven months ago) link
Al has always been Christian obviously, but I love this one from his “Christian” albums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-rWMAfbNs
― bbq, Saturday, 26 August 2023 23:02 (seven months ago) link