In which the Curmudgeons celebrated the 1970s output of one of soul music's loveliest and most powerful voices. Yes, Al Green could sing his ass off. His falsetto may be one of the most mimicked in all of popular music. But there was a depth to Reverend Al that stops us both in our tracks. His expressions of making up, breaking up, loneliness, fearless masculinity, spiritual vulnerability and pure joy were awe-inspiring. And that was made more so by the incredible production and arrangement work behind him of partner Willie Mitchell and the Hi Records Rhythm Section. From "I'm a Ram" at the beginning of his classic run to "Belle" at its end, when Green penned his break-up with R&B is favor of gospel music, we cover all things Al in the '70s.
Listen to the music of Al Green by accessing our special Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08kzflsz7tjGBbGfTDue9k?si=d76f76f2ceaa4eb3
Here's a handy navigation companion to this episode:
(00:52 - 02:41): Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for our discussion of Al Green
(02:51 - 17:29) - The Parallel Universe, featuring reviews of recent music from Sleaford Mods and Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band
(18:27 - 48:18) - We discuss Al Green's origins as, at first, a Memphis outsider. Then we cover the first part of his brilliant run of albums in the 1970s, featuring analysis of masterpieces I'm Still In Love With You and Call Me
(49:55 - 01:17:58) - We analyze the latter half of Al Green's storied '70s run, including the oddly titled Al Green Explores Your Mind and his swan song as a mainstream R&B performer, The Belle Album
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Co-produced and co-hosted by The Curmudgeons - Arturo Andrade and Christopher O'Connor
