Al Green Gets Next to You

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For the next poll after [url=Al Green - I'm Still in Love with You]I'm Still in Love with You[url] I thought we'd go back one release to Gets Next to You. It's a blazing record with some great stuff on it. I should disclose I'm not particularly well-informed about these, I'm more interested in the feel of them. There is more of a JB funk thing going on with this record. Al's vocals are brilliant from top to bottom, a ton of energy, maybe the horniest Al Green album?

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Tired of Being Alone 11
I'm a Ram 4
I Can't Get Next to You 2
Are You Lonely for Me Baby 1
Right Now Right Now 0
You Say It 0
Light My Fire 0
Drivin' Wheel 0
God Is Standing By 0
All Because 0


he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:48 (five months ago)

hmm, i think Let's Stay Together is what came immediately before ISILWY -- and only mention that because I think what came before and after (Call Me) are two perfect records, to echo Halfway's sentiment in the previous poll thread

budo jeru, Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:55 (five months ago)

however, really enjoyed revisiting that one, and looking forward to revisiting this one. when he's good, it's a totally thrilling experience

budo jeru, Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:56 (five months ago)

I will be the most predictable vote in most of these (except maybe Call Me). Translation: Greatest Hits far and away my favourite. Anyway, "Tired of Being Alone."

clemenza, Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:56 (five months ago)

I have to vote for I'm a Ram I think. As perfect an ode to male sexuality as I can think of. That minor key guitar riff between chorus and the next verse is almost metal? Al's ad libbing near the end is perfect.

I adore God Is Standing By

Light My Fire is sexy af. "I can see us walking in the park doing something mighty good in the dark" (attn Alfred)

clemenza what do you like about "tired of being alone"?

he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:57 (five months ago)

Just love it--explaining why is hard...The chorus for sure. I'm totally the pop/sweet side of Al Green, like him less the bluesier he gets.

clemenza, Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:59 (five months ago)

the doors cover here is pretty awesome/weird, but my instinct before listening is that i will have to go with "Tired of Being Alone"

budo jeru, Saturday, 7 December 2024 00:59 (five months ago)

Gotcha, yes I love that chorus too, it sends me.

he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:00 (five months ago)

totally. i've been listening to that song since i was a little kid, i'm not even sure if i could explain what it is, but as you say, it just sends me!

budo jeru, Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:02 (five months ago)

I'm most thrilled by Al Green when he's melding God's love with carnal love. There are some attempts here but he's still finding his footing. Call Me of course is the apotheosis of that.

xp yeah i have to try to sing along with it whenever it plays, but damn that's high!

he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:04 (five months ago)

i do think he's at his best when there's a balance of restraint and fire, push and pull, quiet falsetto here and blaring horns there. and willie mitchell, thank god, was such a genius at horn arrangements. i was never a huge fan of the brash stax horn sound -- WM really knows how to punctuate and sprinkle it in for maximum effect without fatiguing your ear too much

when he's melding God's love with carnal love

totally! i mean, "Give me that old time ... lovin"?? haha

budo jeru, Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:05 (five months ago)

Mandatory Posting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bffrijHDPlE

Okay, heteros are cutting edge this year, too. (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:06 (five months ago)

hahaha omg YES. man that outfit. fuck he was handsome.

he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:08 (five months ago)

LOL never seen that footage before! As for this poll, I'm going to be predictable again and vote for "Tired of Being Alone", it's just too good not to.

if you like this you might like my brothers music. his name is Stu Morr (Tom D.), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:21 (five months ago)

He and Willie Mitchell hadn't yet perfected their sound; the arrangements are loosy-goosier than they would be again.

To break the (deserved) monotony, let me praise "I'm a Ram."

the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 7 December 2024 01:22 (five months ago)

When I was a teenager and heard “Tired of Being Alone” for the first time it was the best thing I ever heard and I couldn’t stop playing it. I love how everything that isn’t the chorus feels kind of disorganized, like the pieces don’t fit, verses don’t really have the same melody as each other, classic Green vamping and ad-libbing… And then the chorus rises up each time like a golden tower emerging from the ocean, with just the sweetest, warmest, most wistful earworm melody imaginable.

Then 15 or 20 years later I heard “I’m a Ram” for the first time and THAT was the best thing I ever heard. The classic Al Green smoothness perfectly meshed with an insatiable JBs-like groove? yes please.

Voted “I’m a Ram”

Lavator Shemmelpennick, Saturday, 7 December 2024 04:41 (five months ago)

I had first heard "I'm A Ram" as cover fodder for a number of local-ish Blues bands (and, er, Big Sugar), so I was a little surprised to discover some time later that it was an Al Green song.

Speaking of Blues, the version of "Driving Wheel" on here smokes.

Okay, heteros are cutting edge this year, too. (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 7 December 2024 04:54 (five months ago)

aw yeah gotta listen

sleeve, Saturday, 7 December 2024 04:55 (five months ago)

"title track" is pretty much unstoppable but I will listen with an open mind

sleeve, Saturday, 7 December 2024 04:57 (five months ago)

This is probably "Tired" for me but looking forward to a proper relisten over the next couple of days, don't have this one as fresh in my head as some of the other albums

badder living thru Kemistry (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 7 December 2024 10:22 (five months ago)

"Tired of Being Alone" is masterful just for that key change (AHHHHHH BAYBAH).

the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 7 December 2024 10:25 (five months ago)

Roy Buchanan did a great version of “I’m a Ram”

Heez, Saturday, 7 December 2024 14:41 (five months ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Thursday, 12 December 2024 00:01 (five months ago)

"I Can't Get Next to You" is one of the greatest Motown covers EVER, a rare case where I actually prefer it over the original (which itself is awesome).

birdistheword, Thursday, 12 December 2024 00:49 (five months ago)

This was good but a warm-up lap. Tired by a comfortable margin

imago, Thursday, 12 December 2024 14:32 (five months ago)

(xp) Oh yes, definitely.

@DaftLammy (Tom D.), Thursday, 12 December 2024 14:40 (five months ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Friday, 13 December 2024 00:01 (five months ago)

Al talks about writing and releasing "Tired of Being Alone" at 3:09 here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWj_pcUjIkA

budo jeru, Saturday, 14 December 2024 21:09 (five months ago)

looks like you have to click through but well worth it

budo jeru, Saturday, 14 December 2024 21:10 (five months ago)

<3

he/him hoo-hah (map), Saturday, 14 December 2024 21:14 (five months ago)

he's still goddamn handsome there

the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 14 December 2024 21:34 (five months ago)


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