Al Green

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al Green, 2006

Al Green (* 13. April 1946 in Forrest City , Arkansas born Albert Greene ) is an American singer and preacher .

biography

Green began his career as a singer at the age of nine as a member of his father's gospel group , the Green Brothers. In the early 1960s he founded the group "Al Green and the Creations" with Curtis Rogers and Palmer Jones. The Creations renamed themselves "Soulmates" and landed a hit in 1967 with the song Back Up Train .

Al Green (1971)

Al Green met Hi Records producer Willie Mitchell in 1969. Together with him, Green's hit Tired of Being Alone was created . The album Al Green Gets Next to You (1970) hit the Billboard charts. The following 1972 album Let's Stay Together was also a huge hit; the theme song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 . In the same year, the album I'm Still in Love with You was released , followed in 1973 by the album Call Me with the top 10 singles Here I Am , Call Me and Sha-La-La - Make Me Happy . Al Green became a superstar of soul and rhythm and blues (R&B).

In 1974 Al Green suffered a stroke of fate privately. His girlfriend at the time, Mary Woodson, doused him with hot grits while he was in the bathtub, burning half his torso. She then shot herself. The motive for this was that he turned down her marriage proposal. Under the impression of this event, Green turned to the Christian faith. He founded the Church of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis and became a preacher there. In 1977 the singer opened his own studio "American Music". The following two albums, The Belle Album (1977) and Truth and Time (1978), he produced himself. The commercial success as with the earlier albums failed to materialize.

In 1979, Al Green fell off the stage during a gig. He did not suffer serious injuries from what the singer interpreted as a sign of God, whereupon he turned away from secular music and switched to gospel and religious pop songs and R&B numbers. The Lord Will Make a Way was the first of numerous albums in this direction.

Green returned to his musical and secular roots in the mid-1980s and recorded the song Put a Little Love in Your Heart with Annie Lennox for the film The Ghosts I Called . In 1989 he recorded a duet with Al B Sure: As Long as We're Together ; in the same year he sang the hit song The Message Is Love produced by Arthur Baker . The 1993 album Don't Look Back was a huge hit. In 1994 Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .

In 2003 he released the album I Can't Stop together with his old successful producer Willie Mitchell . The work was celebrated as a terrific comeback. In 2004, Al Green was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Belle album appeared on The Wire's "100 Records That Set the World on Fire (While No One Was Listening)" list . During all these years he preached in his church in Memphis.

In 2014 Green was awarded the Kennedy Prize . The Rolling Stone listed Green as 66th of the 100 greatest musicians, 14th of the 100 best singers and 38th of the 100 best songwriters of all time .

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1972 Al Green Gets Next to You - - - - US58 (43 weeks)
US
First published: 1971
Let's stay together - - - - US8th
gold
gold

(56 weeks)US
First published: 1971
Al Green - - - - US162 (9 weeks)
US
contains recordings from 1967/68
I'm still in love with you - - - - US4th
platinum
platinum

(67 weeks)US
285th place in the Rolling Stone 500
1973 Green is blues - - - - US19 (28 weeks)
US
First published: 1969
Call me - - - - US10
gold
gold

(41 weeks)US
285th place in the Rolling Stone 500
1974 Livin 'for you - - - - US24
gold
gold

(30 weeks)US
First published: 1973
1975 Al Green Explores Your Mind - - - - US15th
gold
gold

(33 weeks)US
First published: 1974
Al Green Is Love - - - - US28 (23 weeks)
US
1976 Full of fire - - - - US59 (16 weeks)
US
First published: 1976
1977 Have a good time - - - - US93 (14 weeks)
US
1978 The Belle album - - - - US103 (12 weeks)
US
First published: 1977
1987 Soul survivor - - - - US131 (14 weeks)
US
2004 I can't stop - - - - US53 (12 weeks)
US
First published: 2003
2005 Everything's OK - - - - US50 (7 weeks)
US
First published: 2004 as The Reverend Al Green
2008 What Makes the World Go Round? - - - - US196 (3 weeks)
US
Lay it down - AT54 (3 weeks)
AT
CH99 (1 week)
CH
UK88 (1 week)
UK
US9 (15 weeks)
US

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More albums

  • 1967: Back Up Train
  • 1978: Truth 'n' Time
  • 1980: The Lord Will Make a Way
  • 1981: Higher Plane
  • 1981: Tokyo Live
  • 1982: Precious Lord
  • 1983: White Christmas
  • 1983: I'll Rise Again
  • 1984: Trust in God
  • 1985: Going Away (album title later changed to He Is the Light )
  • 1989: I Get Joy
  • 1992: Love Is Reality
  • 1993: Don't Look Back
  • 1995: Your Heart's in Good Hands
  • 2001: Legends of Soul
  • 2001: Feels Like Christmas
  • 2002: Unchained Melodies
  • 2008: Lay It Down

Compilations

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1975 Al Green's Greatest Hits - - - UK18th
silver
silver

(16 weeks)UK
US17th
gold
gold

(21 weeks)US
52nd place in the Rolling Stone 500
1977 Al Green's Greatest Hits, Volume II - - - - US134 (9 weeks)
US
1988 Hi Life - The Best of Al Green - - - UK34
silver
silver

(7 weeks)UK
-
1992 Al - - - UK41 (2 weeks)
UK
-
1995 Al Green's Greatest Hits (Re-release) - - - - US127
Double platinum
× 2
Double platinum

(29 weeks)US
2000 Take me to the river - - - - US186 (1 week)
US
Double CD
2002 Love - The Essential - - - UK18th
silver
silver

(6 weeks)UK
-
Double CD
2003 The Love Song Collection - - - - US91 (3 weeks)
US
2007 The Definitive Greatest Hits - - - - US46 (11 weeks)
US
2012 Greatest hits - - - - US127 (30 weeks)
US

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More compilations

  • 1977: His Greatest Hits
  • 1977: Star portrait (2 LPs)
  • 1978: Love Ritual
  • 1979: Al Green at His Best
  • 1980: Cream of Al Green
  • 1981: Spotlight On Al Green (2 LPs)
  • 1984: Compact Command Performances: 14 Greatest Hits
  • 1983: Sings the Gospel
  • 1986: Greatest Hits
  • 1987: Take Me to the River - Greatest Hits Vol. 2
  • 1989: Love Ritual (Rare & Previously Unreleased 1968-76)
  • 1989: Vintage gold
  • 1989: 1320 South Lauderdale Avenue - Rare & Unissued Hi Recordings (with OV Wright and Don Bryant)
  • 1990: You Say It! - Raw! Rare! And Unreleased!
  • 1991: One in a Million
  • 1991: Cover Me Green
  • 1992: The Supreme Al Green
  • 1993: The Flipsides of Al Green
  • 1993: Here I Am
  • 1994: ... and the Message Is Love - The Best of Al Green
  • 1995: The Christmas Album
  • 1997: Anthology (4 CDs)
  • 1997: The Very Best of Al Green (UK:goldgold)
  • 1998: Hi and Mighty - The Story of Al Green (1969-78)
  • 1998: More Greatest Hits (US:goldgold)
  • 1999: True Love - A Collection (UK:goldgold)
  • 2000: The Hi Singles As and Bs
  • 2000: Greatest Gospel Hits
  • 2000: The Gospel Collection
  • 2000: Lists: The Rarities
  • 2001: Simply Beautiful
  • 2001: Simply Beautiful: The Love Songs
  • 2001: Love and Happiness (3 CDs)
  • 2001: The Very Best of Al Green
  • 2003: The Immortal Soul of Al Green
  • 2004: The Absolute Best (2 CDs)
  • 2005: Love & Happiness (The Very Best of Al Green) (2 CDs) (UK:silversilver)
  • 2006: The Best of Al Green
  • 2006: The Legendary Hi Records Albums Volume 1 (2 CDs)
  • 2006: The Legendary Hi Records Albums Volume 2 (2 CDs)
  • 2006: The Legendary Hi Records Albums Volume 3 (2 CDs)
  • 2009: Greatest Hits (2 CDs)
  • 2010: Classics (Box with 5 CDs)
  • 2014: Greatest Hits (UK:silversilver)

EPs

  • 1973: Call Me
  • 1977: I Tried to Tell Myself

Singles

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1967 Back up train - - - - US41 (12 weeks)
US
1970 I can't get next to you - - - - US60 (10 weeks)
US
1971 Tired of Being Alone - - - UK4 (13 weeks)
UK
US11
gold
gold

(19 weeks)US
Let's stay together - - - UK7th
gold
gold

(12 weeks)UK
US1
gold
gold

(16 weeks)US
1972 Look What You Done for Me - - - UK44 (4 weeks)
UK
US4th
gold
gold

(12 weeks)US
I'm still in love with you - - - UK35 (5 weeks)
UK
US3
gold
gold

(12 weeks)US
Guilty - - - - US69 (7 weeks)
US
You ought to be with me - - - - US3
gold
gold

(15 weeks)US
1973 Hot wire - - - - US71 (5 weeks)
US
First published: 1972
Call Me (Come Back Home) - - - - US10
gold
gold

(11 weeks)US
First published: 1972
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - - - - US10
gold
gold

(15 weeks)US
First published: 1972
Livin 'for you - - - - US19 (11 weeks)
US
1974 Let's get married - - - - US32 (11 weeks)
US
First published: 1973
Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) - - - UK20 (10 weeks)
UK
US7th
gold
gold

(19 weeks)US
1975 LOVE - - - UK24 (8 weeks)
UK
US13 (12 weeks)
US
Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams in My Arms) - - - - US48 (6 weeks)
US
Full of fire - - - - US28 (11 weeks)
US
1976 Keep me cryin ' - - - - US37 (14 weeks)
US
1978 Belle - - - - US83 (5 weeks)
US
First published: 1977
1988 Put a Little Love in Your Heart DE20 (11 weeks)
DE
AT4 (16 weeks)
AT
CH11 (9 weeks)
CH
UK28 (8 weeks)
UK
US9 (17 weeks)
US
1989 The Message Is Love DE6 (26 weeks)
DE
AT4 (18 weeks)
AT
- UK38 (5 weeks)
UK
-
Arthur Baker & the Backbeat Disciples feat. Al Green
1993 Love is a beautiful thing DE57 (14 weeks)
DE
- - UK56 (2 weeks)
UK
-

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More singles

  • 1967: Don't Hurt Me No More
  • 1967: A Lover's Hideaway
  • 1969: Want to Hold Your Hand
  • 1970: You Say It
  • 1970: Right Now, Right Now
  • 1971: Drivin 'Wheel
  • 1972: You Ought to Be with Me
  • 1972: For the Good Times
  • 1972: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
  • 1973: Love and Happiness
  • 1975: Love Amor
  • 1976: Let It Shine
  • 1976: I Tried to Tell Myself
  • 1978: To Sir with Love
  • 1978: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
  • 1978: Wait Here
  • 1978: I Feel Good
  • 1982: Take Me to the River
  • 1984: Sailin 'on the Sea of ​​Your Love (with Shirley Caesar)
  • 1985: Going Away
  • 1985: True Love
  • 1985: Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing (with Deniece Williams )
  • 1985: Never Met Nobody Like You
  • 1987: Everything's Gonna Be Alright
  • 1987: You Know and I Know
  • 1987: Soul Survivor
  • 1988: The Hi Life Mix
  • 1989: As Long as We're Together
  • 1989: Love Ritual (Bwana Mix)
  • 1991: Leave the Guns at Home ( Arthur Baker feat. Al Green)
  • 1992: Love Is Reality
  • 1994: Waiting On You
  • 1994: Keep On Pushing Love
  • 1994: Funny How Time Slips Away (with Lyle Lovett )
  • 1995: Your Heart's in Good Hands
  • 1996: Could This Be the Love
  • 2003: I Can't Stop
  • 2003: Rainin 'in My Heart
  • 2004: Perfect to Me
  • 2008: No One Like You
  • 2009: Just for Me
  • 2012: Al Green's Dream / Talk Together (Tall Black Guy vs. Al Green)

Awards for music sales

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region Silver record icon.svg silver Gold record icon.svg gold Platinum record icon.svg platinum Sales swell
Awards for music sales
(country / region, awards, sales, sources)
United States (RIAA) United States (RIAA) 0! S.- Gold record icon.svg 14 × gold14th Platinum record icon.svg 3 × platinum3 14,000,000 riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI) United Kingdom (BPI) Silver record icon.svg 5 × silver5 Gold record icon.svg 3 × gold3 0! P- 900,000 bpi.co.uk
All in all Silver record icon.svg 5 × silver5 Gold record icon.svg 17 × gold17th Platinum record icon.svg 3 × platinum3

Artist awards

Grammy Awards

  • 1981: for Lord Will Make a Way as "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album"
  • 1982: for Precious Lord as "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album"
  • 1982: for Higher Plane as "Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album"
  • 1983: for I'll Rise Again as "Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Singles, Albums or Tracks"
  • 1984: for Sailin 'on the Sea of ​​Your Love as "Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus - Singles, Albums or Tracks"
  • 1986: for Going Away as "Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Singles, Albums or Tracks"
  • 1987: for Everything's Gonna Be Alright as "Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Singles, Albums or Tracks"
  • 1989: for As Long as We're Together as "Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male - Singles, Albums or Tracks"
  • 1994: for Funny How Time Slips Away as "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals"
  • 2008: for You've Got the Love I Need as "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance"
  • 2008: for Stay with Me (By the Sea) as "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals"

swell

  1. Al Green in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  2. 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 7, 2017 .
  3. 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 7, 2017 .
  4. The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. Rolling Stone , August 2015, accessed August 7, 2017 .
  5. a b c Chart sources: Singles Albums US1 US2
  6. a b The Billboard album by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
  7. a b c gold / platinum databases: UK US
  8. ^ Billboard Awards

Web links

Commons : Al Green  - collection of images, videos and audio files