Al Green-A Soul Man

Al Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 1995. In doing so they referred to him as “One of the most gifted purveyors of soul music.”

In 2005 the Rolling Stone magazine named him number 65 on their list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

Al Green is a Grammy winning gospel and soul singer.

Al Green was born Albert Greene on April 13, 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas. He was the sixth out ten children born to be born to Robert and Cora Greene. This son of a sharecropper would start singing at the age of ten in a quartet known as the Greene Brothers. They toured the South in the mid-1950s until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He performed with the Greene Brothers until his father kicked him out for listening to Jackie Wilson.

Al Green formed the Al Greene & the Creations while in high-school. This became the Al Greene and the Soul Mates. The band had an R&B hit called “Back Up Train” in 1967.

Al Greene would drop the e from the end of his name as he became a solo artist. In 1969 a bandleader named Willie Mitchell hired Green as a vocalist for a Texas show and then hired him to the label Memphis' Hi Records. Al Green had been trying to sing like his heroes Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, and Sam Cooke. Mitchell encouraged Al Green to find his own unique voice, coached him, and predicted stardom for the young Green.

Green’s debut album, Green is Blues, was a moderate success. His next album in 1970 was a smash that included four gold singles. Green was developing his vocal and songwriting talents.

In 1972 “Let's Stay Together” was even bigger, as was “I'm Still In Love With You”. “Call Me” was an extraordinary success and just as popular as it was at the time; it is one of his most fondly remembered albums today. In 1974 “Al Green Explores Your Mind” contained his own song "Take Me to the River" which was made a hit by Syl Johnson and then the Talking Heads.

Al Green’s girlfriend committed suicide and he considered this to be his wake up call to change his life. He became an ordained minister. In 1979 while performing on stage he was injured and considered this to be a message from God. He turned his efforts to his church and gospel music.

It’s just “Simply Beautiful”.

It’s full of “Love And Happiness”.

It beckons you to ask "Have You Been Making Out O.K.?"

It compels me to “Stand Up”

And say “You Ought To Be With Me”.

But you know “I Can’t Get Next To You”.

And sometimes “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”

Because “Your Love Is Like The Morning Sun”.

And “I’m Still In Love With You”.

So “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?”

You know it’s "Funny How Time Slips Away."

And I’m so “Tired Of Being Alone.”

So "Here I Am -Come and Take Me."

Oh please, “Sha La La-Make Me Happy.”

I’m “Livin’ For You”.

“Look What You Done For Me!”

I’m “Full Of Fire.”

So don’t “Keep Me Crying.”

“Let’s Get Married,”

“For The Good Times”.

“Call Me.”

If all else fails, “Take Me To The River”,

Because “Jesus Is Calling”.

I guess I like Al Green because like the name of his 1975 album,

“Al Green Is Love”!

He’s an “Unchained Melody”.

He'll "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" too.

I, I’m so in love with you,

Whatever you want to do

Is alright with me.

Cause you make me feel so brand new.

I want to spend my life with you.

Let me say that since, Baby,

Since we’ve been together,

Loving you forever

Is what I need.

Let me be the one you come running to.

I’ll never be untrue. Ooh baby

Let’s, let’s stay together

Loving you whether, whether,

Times are good are bad, happy or sad.

Whether, things are good are bad, happy or sad.

Why, somebody, why do people break up,

Oh, turn around and make up.

I just can’t see.

You’d never do that to me.

Would you baby?

Just being around you is all I need.

Here’s what I want to,

Let’s, we ought to stay together

Loving you whether, whether,

Times are good are bad, happy or sad.

Come on, let’s, let’s stay together

Loving you whether, whether,

Times are good are bad, happy or sad.

Don't look so sad I know its over
But life goes on and this world keeps on turning
Let's just be glad we have this time to spend together
There is no need to watch the bridges that were burning

[Chorus:]
Lay your head on my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body close to mine
Hear the whisper of the raindrops
Blow softly against my window pane late at night

Make believe you love me one more time
For the good times
For the good times
I'll get along I'm sure you'll find another
But baby please remember I'll be here
I'm gone stay right here if you should ever find that you need me
Don't say a word about tomorrow forever and ever and ever
There will be time enough for severence when you need me

Well hello there
My, it's been a long long time
How am I doin'
Oh well, I guess I'm doin' fine
It's been so long now and it seems that
It was only yesterday
Ain't it funny how time slips away

How's your new love
I hope that he's doin' fine
Heard you told him, yes baby
That you'd love him till the end of time
Well you know, that's the same thing
That you told me
Well, it seems like just the other day
Ain't it funny how time slips away

Gotta go now
Guess I'll see you hanging round
Don't know when though
Never know when I'll be back in town
But I remember what I told you
That in time you're gonna pay

Well ain't it surprisin' how time slips away
Yeah, ain't it surprisin' how time slips away

Now ain't it a shame all the tears that people cry?
We ain't got it right in all of these years.
There must be a way to live a better life
And break all of these chains and get out of here.

You've got to love God, you've got to love yourself,
You've got to love your brother, and everybody else.
You've got to walk that walk, you can't just talk that talk.
You've got to love God, and everybody else.

Heard some people say that all we need is love.
It sounds so simple but it's true.
Well maybe today it'll rain down love from above
And wash us clean and make us new.

But you've got to love God, you've got to love yourself,
You've got to love your brother, and everybody else.
You've got to walk that walk, you can't just talk that talk.
You've got to love God, and everybody else.

Al Green is a Soul Man with a conscience and love for God.