Al Green, I'm Still In Love With You | Review by Tonya Dyson

As I recall my youth, I remember one of the purchases made with my very first paycheck ever earned was Al Green’s “Still In Love With You”. Its amazing that at the tender age of 13, I recognized truly good music when I heard it. I’m not sure how I was exposed…whether it was through my older relatives who gathered in the backyard playing the dozens while listening to “that pimpin” or maybe it was on one of the 45s turned 8-tracks turned cassettes that my Mom listened to while getting dressed to go to the club. Whatever it was it just didn’t let go… In 2008 I found myself venturing to my local music shop with the same youthful exuberance to purchase my piece of the truth under the guise of Al Green.

The album is appropriately titled “Lay It Down”- which is exactly what Green has done. This collaborative effort between Green, ?uestlove (The Roots), and James Poyser (Soulquarians) boasts a promising line-up of soul music’s children- John legend, Corinne Bailey Rae & Anthony Hamilton on lead vocals; Jaguar Wright & Mercedes Martinez on background vocals; the Dap Kings Horns; co-producers Spanky Alford and Adam Blackstone on the guitar and bass respectively; Poyser on the Rhodes, Wurlitzer, B3, and piano; and, of course, ?uestlove on drums. The album begins with the title track “Lay It Down” where Anthony Hamilton lends support on vocals. Upon listening to it I knew I needed to be prepared to just “lay it down, let it go, and fall in love” with Al Green all over again. In ballads like the title track and “Take Your Time” (Corinne Bailey Rae) Green’s falsetto is as sweet and clear as the water I’m sipping on as I write this…simply beautiful. In the mid to upbeat cuts like the first single, “Stay With Me” (John Legend) and “All I Need” I felt as if I were magically transported thirty years back in time to a slow drag (or whatever my Mom called it).

From start to finish ?uestlove and Poyser lend an excellent hand to Al Green’s “showing us how true soul music is done”. ?uest, I’m sure Al Jackson is somewhere smiling. I must admit that I was a bit nervous when I first heard about the old school/new school collabo, not because of my doubt in ?uestlove’s ability, but because I was afraid that Green would succumb to the faux pas committed by most “comeback” artists of trying to imitate the imitators- so to speak…no need for that worry. I recommend you buy this album and play it…play it while cleaning the house, play it while getting dressed for work or school, play it at the family reunion, or over dinner with that special someone. Just play it and feel the joy that I felt at the age of 13.

"Lay It Down" is available in music stores and online. You can visit www.algreenmusic.com for more info on the album and tour dates

Bonus feature:
While googling, I ran across an interesting site. I’m not sure if you’ve ever had the aural pleasure of hearing the “Gray Album” (Lyrics from Jay-Z’s “Black Album” put to music from the Beatles’ “White Album”) by Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley), but I ran across the official “Green Album” (Lyrics from all of the best Hip Hop from the 90s put to Al Green music). Its free to download and a wonderful listen…click the album cover below to get it.

enjoy! be peace.
Tonya Dyson
tonya@neosoulville.com