Al Green ‎- The Legendary Hi Records Albums Volume 1 (2006) 2CD FLAC

Al Green ‎- The Legendary Hi Records Albums Volume 1 (2006) 2CD FLAC

This 2-CD set contains Al Green first four albums for the Hi Records label; plus three bonus B-side tracks.

Al Green was the first great soul singer of the '70s and arguably the last great Southern soul singer. With his seductive singles for Hi Records in the early '70s, Green bridged the gap between deep soul and smooth Philadelphia soul. He incorporated elements of gospel, interjecting his performances with wild moans and wails, but his records were stylish, boasting immaculate productions that rolled along with a tight beat, sexy backing vocals, and lush strings. The distinctive Hi Records sound that the vocalist and producer Willie Mitchell developed made Al Green the most popular and influential soul singer of the early '70s, influencing not only his contemporaries, but also veterans like Marvin Gaye.

By the end of the 1960s, Memphis was an exhausted city. The birthplace of Sun , Presley and Cash, Stax, Otis and the MGs, seemed a spent force. Stax, the epicentre of ‘60s soul, was still reeling from the death of Otis Redding and the assassination of Martin Luther King on its doorstep. The label would have more hits, but the thrill of its glory years was gone.

Instead, the final chapter of ‘The Great Memphis Sound’ was written by Willie Mitchell and Al Green. In 1969 bandleader and producer Mitchell had encountered Green on the road and promised the singer he could make him a star inside 18 months. Shortly afterwards, a penniless Green showed up on Mitchell’s doorstep.

At a time when soul was increasingly engaged politically and musically experimental Mayfield, Wonder, Gaye and Brown were cutting masterpieces, while Earth Wind And Fire and George Clinton were fooling with soul as science fiction - Green’s records were essentially a throwback, the last gasp of the gospel era. Green had grown up singing in the family gospel group (he was expelled for listening to Jackie Wilson) and the pulpit is never far away. When he sings Love Can Make You Do Wrong on Love And Happiness, it’s pure churchifying. A few years down the line Green would give up romance for the pulpit. Religion’s gain, but soul music’s loss.

Album/Track Listing

Green Is Blues
1.01 One Woman
1.02 Talk To Me
1.03 My Girl
1.04 The Letter
1.05 I Stand Accused
1.06 Gotta Find A New World
1.07 What Am I Gonna Do With Myself
1.08 Tommorow's A Dream
1.09 Get Back Baby
1.10 Get Back
1.11 Summertime
Bonus Track:
1.12 I Want To Hold Your Hand

Al Green Gets Next To You
1.13 I Can't Get Next To You
1.14 Are You Lonely For Me Baby
1.15 God Is Standing By
1.16 Tired Of Being Alone
1.17 I'm A Ram
1.18 Driving Wheel
1.19 Light My Fire
1.20 You Say It
1.21 Right Now, Right Now
2.22 All Because
Bonus Tracks:
2.23 Ride Sally Ride
2.24 True Love

Let's Stay Together
2.01 Let's Stay Together
2.02 La-La For You
2.03 So You're Leaving
2.04 What Is This Feeling
2.05 Old Time Lovin'
2.06 I've Never Found A Girl
2.07 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
2.08 Judy
2.09 Ain't No Fun To Me

I'm Still In Love With You
2.10 I'm Still In Love With You
2.11 I'm Glad You're Mine
2.12 Love And Happiness
2.13 What A Wonderful Thing Love Is
2.14 Simply Beautiful
2.15 Oh, Pretty Woman
2.16 For The Good Times
2.17 Look What Your Done For Me
2.18 One Of These Good Old Days