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- Date Released: January 1, 1974
- Genre: Hip-Hop/R&B
- Style: Soul, R&B
- Label: Hi Records / Fat Possum
The title says it all
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We Say...
By the time of 1974's oddly telepathic-sounding Al Green Explores Your Mind (he had been exploring other regions in albums prior), Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell had perfected their sound, making it a precise science. Pulse-quickening drum hits that enact the motion of the ocean (and remain firmly in the pocket), strings and brass flourishes that caress the most sensitive areas, and Green's cries, mewls, wordless utterances, growls, shrieks, yips, moans and come-ons that still cause a blush, all are on full display here. Even without knowing the lyrical intent of "One Night Stand," the thrust of strings and snare cracks make their point; the slightly inane hit "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" becomes profound via grace notes and horn lines. And of course, "Sha-La-La," leads us into the baptismal funk of "Take Me To The River," setting up an exploration of the spiritual kind.
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They Say...
By the time of 1974's Al Green Explores Your Mind, this version of the Memphis sound was the production style for only a handful of artists. Producer Willie Mitchell used a lighter touch for his most famous artist, and it's all but crafted into the Al Green sound. Despite his skills, Green never falls into mannerism here and gives heartfelt and cogent vocals rooted in intelligence and technique. "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)," although lyrically slight, has the artist's charisma and Mitchell's pop chops. "Take Me to the River," with perfect backing from Hi Rhythm and a horn and string arrangement, finds Green at his most persuasive. The last track, "School Days," has Green longing for a school girlfriend and despite the potentially sappy sentiment, it works like a charm. The greatness of Al Green Explores Your Mind comes from a collective effort, including James Mitchell's dreamlike string arrangements and the always skilled backing vocals of Rhodes, Chalmers & Rhodes. But the biggest draw here is Green's phrasing and intimate vocals, making the record an extremely strong effort.
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| 01. |  |
Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) |
2:59 |
|
| 02. | |
Take Me to the River |
3:45 |
|
| 03. | |
God Blessed Our Love |
3:57 |
|
| 04. | |
The City |
3:26 |
|
| 05. | |
One Nite Stand |
2:26 |
|
| 06. | |
I'm Hooked on You |
3:21 |
|
| 07. | |
Stay with Me Forever |
3:15 |
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| 08. | |
Hangin' On |
4:20 |
|
| 09. | |
School Days |
3:10 |
|
09 Total Tracks, 30:39 Total Length
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Credits
- Al Green - Vocals // Al Green - Producer // Al Green - Main Performer // Willie Mitchell - Producer // Willie Mitchell - Engineer // Willie Mitchell - Remixing // Charles Chalmers - Vocals (Background) // Charles Chalmers - String Arrangements // Sandra Chalmers - Vocals (Background) // Colin Escott - Liner Notes // Colin Escott - Reissue Producer // Howard Grimes - Bongos // Howard Grimes - Conga // Howard Grimes - Drums // Howard Grimes - Rhythm Section // Jack Hale - Trombone // Jack Hale - Horn Section // Charles Hodges - Organ // Charles Hodges - Piano // Leroy Hodges - Bass // Leroy Hodges - Rhythm Section // Mabon "Teenie" Hodges - Guitar // Wayne Jackson - Trumpet // Wayne Jackson - Horn Section // Ed Logan - Horn (Tenor) // Ed Logan - Sax (Tenor) // Ed Logan - Horn Section // Andrew Love - Horn (Tenor) // Andrew Love - Sax (Tenor) // Andrew Love - Horn Section // The Memphis Strings - Strings // The Memphis Strings - String Section // James Mitchell - Sax (Baritone) // Bob Norberg - Remastering // Alan Robinson - Liner Notes // Archie Turner - Piano // Archie Turner - Rhythm Section // Glenn Ross - Art Direction // Glenn Ross - Design // Bill Dahl - Liner Notes // Teenie Hodges - Guitar // Teenie Hodges - Rhythm Section // Rhodes, Chalmers & Rhodes - Vocals (Background) // Richard Kriegler - Art Direction // Richard Kriegler - Design // Howard Craft - Mastering // Chris Clough - Mastering Supervisor // Michael Allen - Piano // Michael Allen - Rhythm Section // Bob Levy - Photography // Michael J. Allen - Piano
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