Al Green's Greatest Hits (Expanded):Al Green

Artist: Al Green

Date Released: 1995

Label: The Right Stuff

Produced By: Willie Mitchell and Al Green

Tracklisting:
 * 1) Tired of Being Alone
 * 2) Call Me (Come Back Home)
 * 3) I'm Still in Love with You
 * 4) Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
 * 5) Love and Happiness
 * 6) Let's Stay Together
 * 7) I Can't Get Next to You
 * 8) You Ought to Be with Me
 * 9) Look What You Done for Me
 * 10) Let's Get Married
 * 11) Livin' for You
 * 12) Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)
 * 13) L-O-V-E (Love)
 * 14) Full of Fire
 * 15) Belle

Review: Al Green hardly needs an introduction. The incredibly popular and influential soul singer absolutely dominated the R&B charts during the first half of the 70s, with an unprecedented string of hits. His silky smooth and excitable falsetto coupled with Willie Mitchell’s arrangements and production not only launched Green to superstardom but may also be responsible for 95% of the children conceived between 1970 and 1976. Born and raised in Forest City, Arkansas, Green was eager for the limelight as a youngster forming his first gospel quartet at age nine. He crossed over into secular soul music as a teenager forming The Creations after a move to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the group changed their name to The Soul Mates and had a surprise hit in 1968. Green went solo in 1969 after signing to Mitchell’s Hi Records, and his debut album, Al Green Gets Next to You, was the first to feature his signature sound: a tight, sexy groove accentuated with horn stabs and elegant string arrangements. Green’s next five albums dominated the charts with hit single after hit single and spurred a greatest hits album not even 10 years into his career. Released somewhat prematurely, this expanded version was later released in 1995 and also includes five more hits from the latter half of his secular career. After two very unfortunate accidents, an assault and suicide by a former girlfriend and a potentially fatal fall from the stage while performing, Green became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle and switched to gospel music. After being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, he returned to secular soul and has rejuvenated his career somewhat. His last three albums for Blue Note have all received critical acclaim, but have yet to find nearly the success of his initial outings. Mpardaiolo