‘SOMEONE HAS BEEN SAVW IN THEIR CHOICE OF BEDFELLOWS'
Tired of being alone
Old soul stars never lose their voice, just their edge. The collaborative spirit of Al Green is trying to prove that theory wrong, as Mark Edmundson finds out
t’s a sad fact that however unstoppable an ageing
artist was at the top of their game. few can hope to
make music that really matters in their golden years. save for reminding everyone they’re still alive. Al Green comes to Glasgow this fortnight and while his live show can‘t l‘ail to entertain. packed as it is with enduring classics like ‘Tired ol‘ Being Alone‘ and let‘s Stay 'l‘ogether‘. some ol‘ the audience might be in for a surprise. Green plans to kick oil proceedings with a couple of numbers from his new album ‘while people‘s eyes are still open‘ — and they‘re classic Al. A leal‘ through the credits for 1ny It Down. released in May ol’ this year. and all becomes clear. Someone has been very savvy in their choice of bedl’ellows for the Reverend Green.
‘I met them in Trinidad. They were doing a couple of numbers on local TV. but I really don‘t know how we came to work together. i was talking to a record exec — that might‘ve been one way of getting it done‘ laugh the heavenly pipes of Green when questioned about the vague circumstances leading him to share production duties with Ahmir “.’uestlove‘ Thompson — he of The Roots and Grammy award-winning everyman James l’oyser l‘ame.
‘We were talking about doing a duet album. and next thing I know I‘m in New York and Thompson was up there and all the people that was going to cut it. but we thought we‘d better go and meet each other one day and see if the vibes were right for cutting and writing anything. I guess the vibes were right — we wrote eight songs in one day‘.
The intelligent pairings didn‘t end there. His new
62 THE LIST it} ~30 Oct 7008
album sees the likes of John Legend cropping tip alongside Corinne Bailey Rae. Anthony Hamilton and The l)ap-Kings (New York‘s l)aptone label house band of Sharon Jones fame and chiel‘ contributors to Amy Winehouse‘s Back to Black sound). Perhaps most importantly however. these artists weren’t simply turning up to put their name to Al Green's latest album — everyone‘s talents have been exploited to the full. ‘There weren‘t any big Is and little Us in there' explains Green of the studio dynamic. ‘l'm in the middle of a flow. ()n the flow with all these sheets of paper scattered a hundred miles around and every'body‘s circling these little bits of paper coming tip with these licks. and how the bridge should go like this‘.
The fruits ol‘ their labour compare favourably with the chart—toppers carved out with arranger. engineer and producer Willie Mitchell in Al‘s smooth. sensual heyday. ‘I think 1ny It Down belongs up there among the gold and platinum records I'm looking at right here on the wall‘ Green enthuses. ‘I think it belongs right in the midst because that’s Al. The guys tried to play it as hip hop as they could because they play with The Roots band. and Corinne is a modern girl and so is John Legend. But the more they tried to play it hip hop. the more it sounded 1973 Al and Willie. But when they heard it they said "yeah". That was good enough for me. because if it sounds good to them. it sounds like home to me'.
Al Green plays Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Thu 30 Oct.
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3%: Boss Sounds Festival
For those who fancy getting
out of the city for some
warming vibes then look south
for this stellar line-up of roots reggae over two days starring
Sly and Robbie and Misty in
Roots. Carling Academy,
Newcastle, Sat 78 8 Sun 79 i Oct.
his The Week That Was Orchestral, melodramatic indie swathes from these Sunderland lads. Captain’s Rest, Glasgow, Fri 24 Oct; Henry 's Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, Sat 25 Oct. (Rock & Pop)
Pit The List Exposure Night: The King Blues The inaugural List Exposure Night should be a night of Pogues/Clash-inspired folk/punk excitement from London’s newest rock seditionaries. See page 7. Barfly, Glasgow, Wed 29 Oct. (Rock & Pop)
* The Last Shadow Puppets Alex ‘Arctic Monkeys' Turner and Miles ‘Rascals‘ Kane continue to draw fans with their Scott Walker-esque side project. Carling Academy, Glasgow, Wed 30 Oct. (Rock 8. Pop)