January 08, 2004 @ 7:54 am

Al Green - I Can't Stop (Blue Note)

by: Tom Terrell

His is a story of biblical contours: the ’70s rise and spiritual fall from grace, his ’80s redemption as a gospel-singing Memphis pastor, and his ’90s resurrection as a concert attraction.

His is a story of biblical contours: the ’70s rise and spiritual fall from grace, his ’80s redemption as a gospel-singing Memphis pastor, and his ’90s resurrection as a concert attraction. To the delight of loyal fans, Rev. Al Green reunited earlier this year with members of his old band and producer/arranger Willie Mitchell to record an album’s worth of new R&B love songs—fittingly titled I Can’t Stop—in the same Memphis studio that yielded their finest hours three decades ago. Their sessions resulted in this inspired collection. On songs like “Rainin’ in My Heart,” where he moans and howls the pain out; “Not tonight,” a bittersweet version of Green’s vintage hit “For the Good Times”; and the euphoric “Million to One,” Green reminds us of an era long gone. Though age has dirtied up Green’s once angelic tenor, all it takes is a swaying guitar-organ, cooing harmonies, surging horns, and rapturous lyrics (“There must be a reason why I feel so free / I can’t stop from loving you loving me” he sings on the title track) to conjure up his ol’ black magic. For that reason alone, Green can’t stop, not even if he wanted to.

Article tags: Al, Green, Can't, Stop, Blue, Note

del.icio.us digg digg Furl Furl Reddit Reddit YahooMyWeb

Previous: Statik Selektah: Stick 2 The Script

Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2004/01/al_green_cant_stop_blue_note/

Return to previous page

Comments

No comments have been posted.

Celeb of the Day

Will Smith

Government Name: Willard Christopher Smith Jr.

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(read more)

More Celebrities

Cassandra Wilson, "Loverly":
Wilson is beyond good. She’s heavenly....(read more)
Little Jackie, "The Stoop":
Race, two-timers and self....(read more)
Three 6 Mafia, "Last 2 Walk":
Making aggro songs for the hell of it....(read more)
Tweet, "Love, Tweet":
Self-satisfaction of coming into her own....(read more)
Ashanti, "The Declaration":
Mistress of Murder Inc., someone really did a number on her....(read more)
Kidz in the Hall, "The In Crowd":
These Kidz are alright....(read more)
Al Green - Everything's OK (BLUE NOTE):
In 2003, Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell reunited after 27 years and came up with the acclaimed album I Can't Stop....(read more)
Ricky Fante - Rewind (Virgin):
The so-called neo-soul movement has turned out too many youngbloods sanging just a bit too much like Stevie, Marvin, or Smokey. Thankfully, Ricky Fanté’s debut, Rewind, takes the road less traveled—the grittier, bumpier one paved by Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett....(read more)
Sweetback - Stage 2 (Epic):
There is a widely held misconception that chanteuse supreme Helen Folasade Adu alone is Sade....(read more)
Joe - And Then... (Jive):
Joe’s steez may be as regular as his name implies, but don’t call his music ordinary....(read more)
Al Green - I Can't Stop (Blue Note):
His is a story of biblical contours: the ’70s rise and spiritual fall from grace, his ’80s redemption as a gospel-singing Memphis pastor, and his ’90s resurrection as a concert attraction....(read more)