Soul Tracks

As the end of 2008 draws near, I have decided to share a couple of my favorite tracks, in no particular order, from the past twelve months. When it comes to soul music I'm a traditionalist. In other words, I'm an 'old soul.' I need that 'stick to your ribs' soul music. I got plenty of that in '08. Al Green's Lay It Down, classic Al with a new twist, gave me the soul fixin' I needed. Kicking things off is the Al Green and Corrine Bailey-Rae duet 'Take Your Time,' a song that was in heavy rotation around these parts. At the age of 62, Al proved he can still set the mood. Rev. Al's seductive falsetto complimented with whispers and animated cries created a a sweet sentimental song of pure surrender.

Soul Fixin'

The Sacred Soul Of Al Green
While surfing the net, I came across the video below. This is something you need to see. Recorded in July, this video shows Al Green singing 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart.' 36 years after recording the Bee Gee's song for his 1972 critically-acclaimed album Let's Stay Together, Al Green is still the ambassador of love's pain and pleasure. Somewhere in between the sacred and secular exist the music of Al Green.

Saturday Soul

A First Hand Account of Maxwell's Return To NYC [VIBE]
Alaskan Blacks Speak Out On Palin [Chicago Defender]
The Fight Continues...Aretha Responds To Tina Turner [USA Today]
Introducing Leigh Jones & Taiwah [Songs In The Key of Life]
Young, Black, and Republican...Say What? [Hip Hop Republican]
John Legend & Brandy Create New Music Together [SoulBounce]
50 Cent's Directorial Debut...Oh Lawd!!! [Rolling Stone]
Rolling Stone Delivers The Truth About Sarah Palin [Rolling Stone]
Al Green Performing 'Good Times on Soul Train...Classic Sh*t [YouTube]
Maxwell Returns to NYC [YouTube]

Saturday Soul

Conversation with Raphael Saadiq [OkayPlayer]
Rare Photos of Michael Jackson [Rolling Stone]
Soul Bounce Is Down To # 1 [Soul Bounce]
Remembering Bernie Mac [VIBE]
Aretha & Her Man [C+D]
Common Drops A New Video [Soul Bounce]
WILL.I.AM & John Legend at the DNC [VIBE]
Hurricane Katrina: 3 Years Later [Black Voices]

Soul Tracks

A thin line exist between gospel and soul music. Gospel birthed soul music. The church environment, the call and response between preacher and choir, the sweet harmonies, emotional honesty, and vocal intensity of singers provided a blueprint for soul music. Somewhere in between the sacred and secular exist the music of Al Green. 'Let's Stay Together' can set the mood for a sensual Saturday night and 'Take Me To The River' can provide salvation on Sunday morning. Al Green grew up singing the gospel, his gospel roots are evident in all his secular recordings. Gospel music is deeply rooted in Al Green's soul. in In 1974 Al Green recorded the love song 'God Blessed Our Love' for Al Green Explores Your Mind. 'God Blessed Our Love,' a flawless spiritual union of gospel and soul, finds Al Green's angelic falsetto testifying with the passion of a gospel singer at a Sunday night revival.

Payin' Homage

At any family function, you can rest assured someone is gonna throw on Al Green's classic 'Let's Stay Together.' Slowly, but surely, everyone is up snappin' their fingers and doing a little two step. For three minutes all your worries are a thing of the past as Al Green's seductive falsetto complimented with whispers and animated cries seep through the speakers. As the song draws to an end, someone is always overcome with emotion because Al Green has that effect on people. For over thirty years Al Green has sung us through the good or bad, and happy or sad. We've cried, contemplated relationships, made love and even found salvation in the music of Al Green. Upon the release of a new album, Lay It Down, it is only right that I pay homage to Al Green. Born Albert Greene in 1946, Al Green found fame with Memphis producer Willie Mitchell. Songs such as 'Let's Stay Together,' 'Tired of Being Alone,' and 'I'm Still In Love With You' turned Al Green into a soul sensation. As the 70's came to an end, Al Green was injured while performing on stage. He saw that as a sign from God to stop recording secular music. Eventually, Al would return to his musical roots and begin pastoring his own church in Memphis. Without a doubt, Al Green was born to sing the gospel. Success continued to follow Al Green as he recorded top gospel hits and received numerous Grammy Awards. Since 1985, Al has recorded 4 secular albums, Lay It Down is his latest release. The critically acclaimed album was released in May and includes production by ?uestlove of the Roots and features John Legend, Corrine Bailey-Rae, and Anthony Hamilton. Lay It Down, is considered by many to be one of the best albums of the year. Take a listen to two tracks, the smooth 'Stay With Me' featuring John Legend and the Green-Bailey Rae duet 'Take Your Time,' a sweet sentimental song of pure surrender.

Soul Fixin'

Al Green Stole The Show
Every year I look forward to watching the BET Awards. Unfortunately, this year's award show ranks as the worst so far. The combination of D.L Hughley's corny jokes and a  handful of horrible performances proved to be disastrous.
Let's fast forward past the foolishness and get to the highlight of the show, Rev. Al Green receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Jill Scott started the tribute off with a shaky performance of "I'm Still In Love With You," Anthony Hamilton kicked things into high gear with "Tired Of Being Alone" and Maxwell emerged from hiding and gave a rousing rendition of "Simply Beautiful." Al Green accepted the award, gave his acceptance speech and conned us into thinking he wouldn't perform. However, in typical Al Green fashion he made a u-turn and strutted to the mic and put a hurting on "Let's Stay Together." Everybody and their mama was on their feet singing and two stepping. I do mean EVERYBODY, Al Green brought the ENTIRE audience to it's feet. Al went right into "Love And Happiness" with the charisma and sheer conviction of a Memphis preacher...oh wait...Al green is a Memphis preacher. Check out  Rev. Al Green in all his glory. Head over to BET and check out Al's performance of "Let's Stay Together" and the tribute performances.

Soul Fixin'

June Is Black Music Month
Our beloved President, George W. Bush, has proclaimed June 2008 as Black Music Month. Who said George Bush doesn't like black people? In an official proclamation, President Bush said "throughout the course of American history, black musicians have used their great talents to share the richness of the African-American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music enjoyed throughout the world. This month, we honor the pioneers of African-American music and today's contemporary artists who have enriched the lives of people everywhere."

In honor of Black Music Month, Public Soul Announcement takes a look back at some memorable album covers.

Sunday Soul

Saturday Soul

Joy Denalane [Myspace Page]
Al Green's Soul Revival [Rolling Stone]
Nas' ode to Obama, "Black President" [SoulBounce]
Black Music Month:In the Midnight Hour: Soul for Lost Love and Crises of Faith [VIBE]
Remembering Bo Diddley [BET]
Celebrate Black Music Month [AOL Black Voices]

Soul Fixin'

Take a behind the scenes look at the making of Al Green's new release Lay It Down.

Al Greens appears on the Late Show With David Letterman tonight. On June 24 at the BET Awards Rev. Green will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Jill Scott and others are expected to perform in his honor.

Soul Fixin'

2008 BET Award Nominations

Lil Wayne, MJB and Nelly helped announce the 2008 BET Award nominees. T-Pain's non singing a** leads the pack with 5 nominations. Kanye, MJB, A. Keys, Lil' Wayne and Keyshia Cole are nominated for multiple awards. Quincy Jones will receive the Humanitarian Award and Al "Grits" Green will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. I'm looking forward to seeing Keyshia's mama, Frankie, act a fool on the red carpet. The BET Awards air June 24th at 8 PM. I'm not a big fan of BET, but the BET Awards are hands down the best award show on TV!!!!!

Soul Fixin'

AL GREEN LAYS IT DOWN
The Rev. Al Green, has recorded an album with production by James Poyser and ?uestlove of the Roots. John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, and Corrine Bailey Rae make guest appearances. Rolling Stone magazine describes the Green-Rae duet as "the supreme booty call music movement." Interesting...Al Green...Corrine Bailey Rae...booty call doesn't come to mind..but anyway.. The Dap-Horn Kings, guitarist Chalmers “Spanky” Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff) also contributed to the project. Lay It Down began during a session at the Electric Lady Studio in Greenwich Village. "That was such a session. We sketched out eight songs and really started the project....Everybody contributed and that's why it feels so good. There were no big 'I's and little 'you's' in there. All of us dreamed it up together." said Al Green. Lay It Down draws on the high spirited funky sound created by Green and Memphis producer Willie Mitchell with a modern twist. The critically acclaimed album will be in stores May 27.

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Classic Album Revisited

Al Green's standout album I'm Still In Love With You was recorded in 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee. Al and producer Willie Mitchell along with guitarist Teenie Hodges and drummer Al Jackson, a member of Booker T & The MG's began recording in the spring and summer of '72. I'm Still In Love With You is the perfect combination of gospel, funk and straight up gut bucket Memphis soul. The title song described as "a sweet sentimental song of pure surrender" by Al in his autobiography, reached # 1 on the R&B charts. "Look What You Done For Me" was #4 on the Pop charts and a # 2 hit on the R&B charts. Ironically, the hit song "Love And Happiness" was released as a single in 1977, five years after its recording. Al's voice flows so smoothly over the guitar riffs in "Simply Beautiful", which was sampled on the Mary J. Blige song "PMS", a track from her No More Drama album. Al Green covers the country classic "For The Good Times" and turns it into a slow burning, soul churning classic, evidence of his interpretive genius. I'm Still In Love With You has stood the test of time, VIBE magazine listed it as one of its 51 Essential Albums and called it the album on which Al Green became AL GREEN.