Soul Survivor

Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield, my beloved Ike Turner…they are all gone dammit. Gone.  How any self respecting (or self flagellating) Christian thinks I should believe in God is beyond me. Not that I need God necessarily and yet, when I hear that true soul Survivor, Al Green, I start thinking…Jesus Christ…maybe I do. Green, one of the greatest soul singers ever placed on this God-forsaken planet is (yes, thank God again, apologies Christopher Hitchens) still living, still putting out records and still performing live. One of the last real soul singers blessing our landscape -- especially a musical landscape populated by lip-synching video vixens, pop punk whiners and the very allowance of Kevin Federline cutting a rap record, Al Green will make you believe.

The Arkansas–born, Michigan–raised, Memphis-living Green made brilliant albums during his Hi Records heyday (Al Green Gets Next to You, Let’s Stay Together, I’m Still in Love With You, Call Me), his live performances (which I’ve fanatically collected over the years) were something to behold -- sexy, inspirational, transcendent experiences that weren’t simply swoon-worthy (though the ladies love Al Green), but genius examples of tightness and improvisation. Al Green can riff out of the margins, break from his sensuous midrange to talk to the audience and then lift to falsetto only to bust into a goose-bump–inducing raw growl that comes from a place so deep it’s nearly impossible to describe its power.

To use simpler terms, Green performs with raw, soulful intensity in its purest form. And where do you see that anymore? Excuse the easy takedowns, but seriously, Beyonce, Rihanna? Give those girls some Al Green Midnight Special performances simply to remind them not, what only a real singer is, but a real entertainer, and a real interpreter of song.

And Green’s realness can be achieved anywhere, from the soundstages of Soul Train to still-packed concert halls to his Full Gospel Tabernacle where the soul icon remains the residing reverend. If you’re ever in Memphis, don’t miss the chance to possibly catch Mr. Green presiding over worship -- an experience that, years back, one of my atheist-leaning friends caught and was so significantly inspired by, the tough guy was moved to tears. If you’ve ever watched Green perform the baptism-by-orgasm “Take Me to the River,” you’ll completely understand my friend’s reaction.

And further, if you’ve ever suffered through many of our current pop stars, you’ll feel a little sadness that performers like Al Green barely exist anymore in popular entertainment. I mean, really. What the fuck happened? There’s plenty of gritty soulful artists out there (thank you Andre Williams, thank you T. Model Ford, thank you Black Keys -- and thank you for almost recording an album with Ike Turner) but gone are the days when you could actually turn a large clunky dial and see these kinds of geniuses on the five channel boob tube. I hate to say this, but our parents were lucky. No wonder my father went through that leather vest, leather cap, butterfly collar phase. I always thought it might have been some Charles Bronson Death Wish nervous breakdown situation. (Remember when Bronson remodels his apartment all swinging '70s garish in the movie? That's what divorce did to some men, even without the murder and vigilantism -- but I digress.) Anyway, it was probably all that Al Green in the 8-track. That’s some potent stuff.

And I do mean stuff, since Green makes me want to pop a doll and worship God at the same time (must have something to do with Jesus via hot grits in the tub and a handgun...). Especially when he sings the sexy haunting “Jesus Is Waiting” -- and with a sling!  You can interpret this Soul Train performance as pure holy or holy high-high (check out Green's eyes) or whatever kind of godliness you apply to your Green, but one thing’s for sure, it’s on a holy high mountain of silky hot brilliance. That's religion.

Comments

[raymond anderson]

Recently watched the Soul Train performance of "You Ought To Be With Me". Impressive band and rhythm guitar work. There's a band cut out where you can hear the studio audience clapping as Al takes it down and gets real low. The "Call Me" album is just sublime.
The story of his conversion after the grits attack shows where he is coming from. Green is where the blues becomes soul.
There's a recent performance of Simply Beautiful on
Youtube where he strums acoustic guitar. He still has it.

[Jeremy Richey]

Excellent post on one of my favorite singers. I can't imagine my record collection without his stuff.
I go down to Memphis quite a lot and I've seen the man himself preach...thrilling stuff.
I wish Hi Records could follow Stax's lead and get a quality museum going...Willie Mitchell is one of the great often overlooked figures in popular music.
Terrific post...I am going to go put on the BELLE album now with a shot of "Let's Stay Together" thrown in for good measure.

[haydude]

Great post - if you are looking for a decent soul singer I quite like Anthony Hamilton. his song on the American Gangster soundtrack sounded like it was recorded in the 70's

[Jim Dunbar]

Check out this Al Green performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg4dnFx6JW0

[Chad]

I like you more everyday...

Seeing Green preach is one of those earth-shattering moments; especially if you aren't typically a "religious" person.

Not a day goes by that I don't, foolishly, flip through the radio with the hope that something good will be on.

There never is.

[George Schmidt]

I too love Al but I have to post that when I saw him the first (and last) time @ NYC's Beacon Theatre he was THE ONLY ACT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT FAILED TO DO AT LEAST ONE ENCORE!
Very disappointed; yet I danced w/a girlfriend at my 10 year h.s. reunion to LET'S STAY TOGETHER (she never dances and loves the song from PULP FICTION, natch)

[SolShine7]

The man's got skills. Good post!