This post is from Out the Other's 2009 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
Editor's Note: This is a guest preview by Aaron Distler of Two Birds One Stone PR, who can be reached through his website or at twobirdsonestonepr@gmail.com. Aaron is headed to this year's Bonnaroo too; as the drummer for local band Heypenny, you can catch him on stage in the Troo Music Lounge on Friday from 5:20-6:10 p.m.
Al Green, the man, the falsetto, the myth-cum-man-of God. Where to begin?
Let's start with how babies are made...
"Let's Stay Together"
"Tired of Bein' Alone"
"I'm Still In Love With You"
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"
"Love and Happiness."
Seriously.
I've had the opportunity to see the Reverend twice now and he does not disappoint. He comes out decked in a 3 piece suit, dozens of roses in hand, and women still gush over him even though he's now a man of the cloth. At one point in a show, I saw him break it down on the bridge of "Tired of Bein' Alone" and say, "some of ya'll say that Reverend Al's lost it. That's he found God. Well, I'm here to prove you wrong." Then he stomped his foot as his voice swept up, singing, "Hey baby!"
Al Green, born in Forrest City, Arkansas, wood-shopped his sweet falsetto throughout the South, playing in the Greene Brothers until they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and (as the wiki article on him states) he was "kicked out when his father caught him listening to Jackie Wilson."
This set into motion a string of events that catapulted Green to super soul stardom.
By 1969, Green had met his now long-time collaborator, Willie Mitchell, of Memphis' Hi Records, and after a handful of albums, 1972 saw the release of Lets Stay Together. By 1974, Green had a pot of boiling grits thrown on him while he was taking a shower, resulting in third degree burns to much of his body. The grit-throwing woman, upset because the singer wouldn't marry her (even though she was already betrothed to someone else) shot and killed herself. Green took it as a sign from above, throwing in the towel to become an ordained minister at his current Memphis based church, Full Gospel Tabernacle, and focus his attention on God.
Over the years, Green has certainly had a few run-ins with the secular side of things, but it wasn't until 2003 when he met up with Willie Mitchell that people got excited about his music again. Both I Can't Stop and 2005's Everything's OK earned critical praise and got younger generations, such as ours, rifling through their parents vinyl for one of his 70s gems.
Then in 2008, Green blew the minds of twenty-somethings everywhere. He released Lay it Down, an album that features collaborations with The Roots (It was produced & arranged by ?uestlove), the Dap Kings, Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend. It's all there: the sweeping strings, the smooth horns and thankfully, the sex-drenched falsetto.
Green's voice has aged gracefully and the real treat is hearing it showcased aside younger talent, such as Hamilton, Bailey Rae and Legend. The album's opener, "Lay it Down," does just that, starting with a hushed intro featuring strings, kick and hi-hat, until Green and Anthony Hamilton spill into the groove and by the second chorus, the organ drops in and you realize that Green hasn't lost it, that in fact he's gained so much more. His voice is aged with wisdom, heartbreak, and true soul. The joy and sadness spills through your speakers, but underneath it all, you can not only hear Green having fun, but you can feel it too.
"Lay It Down (f. Anthony Hamilton)"
"Take Your Time (f. Corinne Bailey Rae)"
Al Green plays Friday on the What Stage at 6 p.m. Check out the full Bonnaroo schedule on the official Bonnaroo website.
