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Al Green - Green Is Blues Audio CD

A fair review of the Al Green "Green Is Blues" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Al Green reviews here, or go back to the Al Green tabs.

Al Green Band: Al Green
Title: Green Is Blues
Rating:
Release Date: 1993-08-24
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: One Woman 2: Talk to Me 3: My Girl 4: Letter 5: I Stand Accused 6: Gotta Find a New World 7: What Am I Gonna Do With Myself? 8: Tomorrow's Dream 9: Get Back Baby 10: Get Back 11: Summertime

In order to understand Al Green...
Most people just know Al Green from the songs on the Greatest Hits cd they bought or from the song on the soundtrack for some movie. In order to understand Al Green, in order to truly appreciate his music and who he is as an artist, you have to own this cd. But this is the essential and the quintessential Al Green, the foundation for great music to come. Yes he made a cd before this one which was good but this cd is great. In fact, my earliest memories of music are all wrapped up in this album. Why is it so great? Read on.

Have you really heard "Summertime" until you've heard it sung by Al Green? The depth of feeling, the natural styling of his phrase-ology. . . you have to hear it. Lay back, close your eyes and turn up the volume a bit, nod and shake your head at the same time. . . It gets no better. But. . . but. . . If you really want to come to know the soul of Al Green, you have to listen to "Get Back Baby", and listen carefully people. Listen carefully. Listen to the way he's breathing between the lines. He was dancing so hard in the studio while he was recording that you could hear it in his breathing, every time his body hit and popped. . . And who won't dance to this song? You'd have to be broken not to. Lastly, the emotional and patient delivery of "One Woman", a song having to deal with having an interest other than his wife is powerful. While I disagree strongly with marital infidelity, the honesty with which he conveys the feelings of a man struggling to do right is touching to say the least.

Most who enjoy a cd this much would say "Buy it. You won't regret it" or something of the sort. But I won't. Just because I love it doesn't mean you'll like it. But I'm a true fan of Al Green's music and I believe that of all of his albums, this is the most listenable. Every song is good to great and the song styles and order reveal musical genius depth that is extremely rare in today's music.

I changed my mind. . . . . Buy it. You won't regret it.
.


Al Green's solo debut album was certainly different from his subsequent releases.
On this album, Al gives a very bluesy and Southern R&B-styled treatment to then-contemporary Pop and Soul hits--with interesting results. "Al Green Is Blues" is certainly very different from subsequent (and much better selling) releases like "Let's Stay Together" and "Call Me". His cover versions of The Temptations' "My Girl", Jerry Butler's "I Stand Accused" and Billy Stewart's "Summertime" make this CD well worth hearing but the other eight tracks aren't quite as strong or riveting. If you are a fan of late-1960s R&B you really should check this CD out but know that its musical content is as far removed as could be from the smooth, creamy and sweet Soul sound that would be the hallmark of his other Hi albums.


Pre-Al Green Al Green
Consequently, he had a string of consistent, excellent albums longer than almost any artists, yet because of the lack of variety another Al Green release could hardly be considered exciting. In the 70's Al Green perfected his own unique sound; excellent, moody melodies, crisp horns, sassy female backing vocals and his trademark falsetto. "Green Is Blues," however, was recorded before Al Green fell into this formula. Here a younger Al Green tries to find his niche by experimenting with southern soul, r&b and blues. It may not be as jaw-droppingly amazing as subsequent albums, but it is worth having simply because its one of the few releases where Al Green mixes things up a bit. Fans of Al Green who are looking for an interesting departure from his trademark sound will love this. You can't really go wrong with any Al Green release, but those looking for a typical Al Green release would be better off with "Still in Love With You" or his greatest hits.


Green Is Money
On Green Is Blues, his interpretations of songs like "Get Back", "The Letter", "My Girl" and "Summertime" strip them to their core and Rev. No one can get into a song like Al Green. Green refills them in with his expressive and inventive voice. Other songs like "One Woman", "What Am I Gonna Do With Myself" and "Gotta Find A New World" also show off his magnificent voice.


FEELIN"
Albums such as these have so much depth&juice that it blows the mind&Soul Away. AL Green is so deep it ain't even funny. I can't begin to describe this Brother's Musical Impact?He put's so much Emotion&Feeling into the things he does that it's Down Right Scary. this too many at Large is a Hidden Jewel. now that's Genius. 50-90% of Artists would Love to have this considered as their Best Album. MR. Green has a Dynamite Catalog. Check it out. folks like me miss that Soul but you get a Great Serving here.


You can see a complete list of all Al Green discography, or go back to the Al Green tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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