Happy 50th Anniversary to Al Green’s fourth studio album Let’s Stay Together, originally released January 31, 1972.
Arguably one the greatest albums that surfaced in the 1970s, Al Green’s fourth studio LP Let’s Stay Together embodies his impressive vocal range and artistry. Compared to the artist’s previous three projects ( 1967’s Back Up Train, 1970’s Al Green Is Blues and 1971’s Al Green Gets Next To You), all of which had been influenced by Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, and Sly and The Family Stone (to name a few), Let’s Stay Together finds Green offering a more mature vocal delivery including his signature scatts, humming, growls, and shrieks. Particularly astonishing is how the Reverend could articulate every nuance of human emotions with his voice alone, with such unprecedented emphasis, intensity, and credibility.
With Let’s Stay Together, Green had commenced settling into his blueprint sound, a soft blend of pliable soul, R&B, and funk. The album’s session musicians performed every line meticulously, providing the Reverend with the foundation for his voice to stand out. Although most listeners would relegate the artist to the soul music sphere only, Let’s Stay Together has proved the contrary—perfecting the southern soul sound and integrating it with other genres such as funk, R&B, pop, blues, and jazz.
During the creative process of Let’s Stay Together, Green was backed up by some of the best musicians of Hi Records: guitarist Teenie Hodges, organist Charles Hodges, bassist Leroy Hodges, drummers Howard Grimes and Al Jackson, backup singers Donna and Sandra Rhodes, and Charles Chalmers. Musically speaking, the band members were some of the exponents of southern soul, or the Stax Records sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Interestingly, most of them were from Memphis and part of the Hi Rhythm Section, accompanied by the Memphis Horns, as well as the backing singers.
Producer Willie Mitchell proved fundamental for the album’s creative and post-production processes, knowing how to get the best out of Green and the band, along with crystallizing the artists’ signature sound on record.
The title track “Let’s Stay Together” opens the album on a soulful, gentle, and mellow note. The smooth syncopated rhythm and legato string section perfectly complement Green’s signature warm delivery, which pours straight out of his heart. Love is indeed one of the most arduous feelings to express and describe through music and words, and any attempt to do so carries the inherent risk of sounding flimsy and stale. With “Let’s Stay Together,” however, the Reverend perfectly elaborates what love should feel and sound like. The tender lyrics are worded with such simplicity, presenting the perfect depiction of an uncomplicated love story, which balances flawlessly with the intricate vocals and accompanying arrangement.
On the same note as “Let’s Stay Together,” “La-La for You” presents subtle string licks and horns following Green’s soft leading vocals, building up the groove with every line.
The punching horn section plays a central role in “So You’re Leaving Me,” providing the piece with grit and lilt. Revolving around the heartbreak theme, “So You’re Leaving Me” kicks off as a soul song then blossoms into funk prompted by the reinforced rhythm and horn sections building up the pathos, as Green croons “who do you love?” at the end of the track.
The prominent up-tempo drumbeat and strings are the key element of “What Is This Feeling.” The song is perhaps one of the most intense on the album, finding Green belting out his frustration about his relationship falling apart. The piece includes backing vocals from Sandra and Donna of the Rhodes Sisters.
The first side of the album closes with “Old Time Lovin’” The ballad draws from the gospel tradition, with a backup choir responding to Green’s lines.
The tempo speeds up with “I’ve Never Found A Girl,” presenting a string introduction in the vein of some of the greatest Motown classics. The buoyant, energetic horn section and bouncy rhythm lift the song up, sounding like a ray of sunshine, whilst Green sings the praise of his lover.
Stretching over six minutes, the rendition of the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” is exceptional in terms of the arrangement and delivery. Green’s heartfelt performance, starting off gently to then offering right-from-the-soul ad-libs by the end of the track, is superb, whilst the all-women backup choir boosts the intensity. Relative to the original version, Al Green’s rendition offers a slower tempo to confer a lavish soft sense, while the singer’s vocals are pushed over the top making the listener part of his pain and story.
On the breezy “Judy,” Green is accompanied by a swirling violin section, as he articulates yet again his affection for a woman named Judy, celebrating her beauty and personality.
Closing the album, “It Ain’t No Fun To Me” shows off Green’s polyhedrality as an artist who’s capable of mastering more than one genre: from soul ballads to up-tempo pop, R&B, and blues pieces. On “It Ain’t No Fun To Me,” the bass licks and punching horns perfectly complement Green’s narration of a tormented love story leading up to a breakup.
Five decades on, Let’s Stay Together is regarded as one of the essential, must-have soul albums of all time. Green’s vocal techniques and talent shine through across the record, whilst he is backed up by some of the most talented Memphis session musicians. Overall, the record stands out for Green’s authenticity and ability to project any shade of human emotions, making the listener not just a spectator, but rather a participant in the artist’s many humors and feelings.
LISTEN: