Everything's OK
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Al green
This album is remarkable for several reasons. Not only does it herald a return to secular music by the reverend Al Green, but it also pairs him up with the mastermind behind so many of his 70’s hits, legendary trumpeter and producer Willie Mitchell. It is also remarkable in that it appears on the blue note label, much more closely associated with Jazz rather than soul. On the whole this album represents a return to the successful formula the pair adopted in the seventies as the sound varies very little to where they left off. Anyone who loved the traditional Al Green sound will go for this in a big way. The album itself is littered with niggling faults, for example Al’s enunciation is not always clear, and quite regularly I struggled to hear what he was singing, especially on some of the more uptempo numbers. The problem was compounded by the fact that there were times when the orchestra was too loud and Al was clearly battling against them. Many of the compositions had limited lyrics, especially the choruses which were often reduced to single line chants. There were times when Al’s voice was clearly starting to creak with age, but the orchestra did their best to cover for him with long instrumental breaks. The quality of their playing however is never in question. The faults never detracted from my enjoyment of the album, indeed I would say they added a kind of cottage industry charm to the production.
The first track on the CD is “Everything’s OK” which begins with a powerful introduction before settling into a Philly sounding disco number. There were times when Al seemed to struggle for the higher notes but the orchestra who were slightly too loud did not do him any favours. The chorus was pretty much a chant of “I’ve changed, everything’s is ok baby”. Not a bad disco type number but lyrically leaves a lot to be desired. Al then slows the mood down to a romantic ballad with which he clearly feels more at home. “You are so beautiful” is a testimony to his girl, but the line “she is so beautiful to nobody but me” kind of implies she’s a minger that nobody else wants. Not really the message to give to a woman you are trying to woo. This is followed by another uptempo song “Build me up” which includes a long instrumental break. “Perfect to me” marks a milestone in soul music. The young bucks of the sixties sang about making love or promising to be faithful forever. As soul singers have got older songs that look back have started to creep into the repertoire, and this is one of those. This kind of mood continues with “Nobody but you”, a mid-tempo number in which Al seeks to hold the woman’s hand rather than ravage her. “Real Love” is a slow ballad in a similar vein as companionship rather than passion becomes the order of the day. “I can make music” is a pleasant mid tempo number with an excellent harmonica break. Other tracks include “Be My Baby”, “Magic Road”, I wanna hold you”, “Another Day” and “All the time”, all pleasant enough without being outstanding. Not a bad CD, but really nothing to rave over.
Track Listing
Everything’s OK
You Are So Beautiful
Build Me Up
Perfect To Me
Nobody But You
Real Love
I Can Make Music
Be My Baby
Magic Road
I Wanna Hold You
Another Day”
All The Time
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