Over the Past Several Months I have been Featuring 11 Different Soul Singers in my "Who's The Greatest Soul Singer" Poll, there has been 335 Votes so Far, and if you are Not One of them Voter's, Please Vote Now! (over to your Right).
The Eleven Soul Singers are as Follows (Written in Order of the Poll, Top to Bottom), Press the Name's to see their Individual Post's I have Written on them, including Bio's and their Best Tracks:
The Date was around Late Summertime of 1988, the Takeaway Trade Never really picked up too much during that Summer, and things were getting Worse, Trade was Dropping and in turn that Meant I was Making Hardly any Money, and I can Remember the Takeaway Lack of Business was starting to effect my Family Life! I was doing a lot of Arguing with Susan and Moaning at the Kids, so things Needed Changing, I had put a Lot into the Takeaway and Did Not want to Close it for Good!
I Cant Remember what Day of the Week it was, but I do Remember Susan Phoning me up one Night, to see how things were Going, and as Usual, Not Too Much was Happening, she then asked "How I was Feeling" I Remember saying to her, I Felt like Putting my Head in the Deep Fat Fryer! Now that wont have done me a lot of Good, I know, but that is How Bad I Felt, Susan said Straightaway, "Shut that Bloody Shop Down and Come Home"
And for once in my Life, I Did Not do Too Much Thinking of the Concequences of what will Happen, I just Turned Everything Off and Walked out of the Takeaway! I got into my Van and went Straight Home, I Remember Susan and the Kids, being Very Surprised and Very Happy when I got there! That in Hindsight was Probably the Worst I had Ever Felt in my Life about "My Job or My Working Life" I Remember the Next Day after it all Settled Down, I thought to Myself "What the Hell am I now going to do about a Job, Now"
I also had to Contact the Landlord, to tell him what had Happened, and I Knew then, this was when my Troubles were Really Going to Start, I Did Not Like him either! I had a Lease on the Takeaway, I Cant Remember "How Long it was For" but, I knew he (the Landlord) was going to want that Paid Up or he would go after what was "Put up as Collateral, on the Takeaway" and that was "My Mothers House" I then had to seek Advice from Various different People, including, Citizens Advice Bureau, Business Advice Places, a Solicitor etc, what a Nightmare that all was! After doing all this for a Couple of Weeks, the Outcome was amongst other things, I had to Straightaway go, Bankrupt!
What a Shock this was, I was like Most People of my Age (around 30), had some Debt through being Married with Kids etc, but this was Really Something Else, they were Going to go through my Life and Finances etc like I had never Experienced before and have not Experienced Since! As this would eventually Turn Out (the Bankruptcy), Apart from One other Incident in my Life, Would Probably be the Worst Period of Time in my Life! ===================================================
As for some Music, I think I may have Featured the Following Track before in this Blog, but who Cares, this I reckon is One of the Best Soul Records Ever Released! It was Written and Recorded in 1963, so its now 50 Years Old, It was not actually Released as a Single until about 2 Weeks after Sam Cooke was Killed on 11th December 1964! The Song is the Great "A Change is Gonna Come" what a Fantastic Song this is, it was Later to be used by the "Civil Rights Movement" in the USA during the 1960's.
This Song was a Change of Direction for Sam Cooke, as he had Previously Recorded Songs for the "Pop Market" and Feared he would Lose his "White Fans" if he Recorded a Song about "Discrimination and Racism" in the US during the 1960's! The Song Peaked at Number 31 on the US Billboard Top 100 and Number 9 on the US R&B Singles Chart.
I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown somebody keep telling me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother And I say brother help me please But he winds up knockin' me Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will Related articles
The Date was Christmas Time 1987, incidentally Exactly 25 Years ago to this Date! The Picture to the left (its a bit Blurry) is the Actual Takeaway now, some 25 Years later, its still going as a Chinese Takeaway these Days! I had just Closed the New Takeaway for the Christmas and New Year Period, and things were going Great, Work and Money Wise, by this time we had been Living in the same House for Nearly 6 Years, Nathan was 9 Years of Age and Natalie was nearly 8 Years. Me and Susan had been Married for Nearly 10 Years by now, and things were going Great for us as a Family! After 2 Weeks off Work (I believe) for Christmas and New Year, I was back in the Takeaway, as you would expect, just into the New Year things were Fairly Slow, but I thought "Not too Worry, things would soon Pick-Up" But for me in the Takeaway, things Never got back to the Heights of the Trade as they were before Christmas, things seemed to Drag on for Weeks, and I was Beginning to Realise what a "White Elephant" I had Brought into!
A Couple of things that Stand out in my Mind from around this Period, which was early to Mid 1988 were: Firstly, I used to Sell Cans of Pepsi etc in the Takeaway, and I used to have a Rep come to the Shop, now and again, on one of his Visits, he asked if I would like to Enter a Competition that Pepsi was Running!
It concerned Michael Jackson, who Pepsi were Sponsoring him and his Bad World Tour of that Year, there was all sorts of Prizes, and one of the the Main Prizes was to see Wacko at Wembley in July of '88! So as Susan liked Wacko, I entered the Competition, and thought Nothing more of it. About 2 Months later, I took a Phone Call one Day from the Pepsi Rep, who had came into the Takeaway previously, and he said "Do you Remember that Competition you Entered a few weeks back" I said "Yes" he then went on to say, "You have Won, 2 Tickets to see Michael Jackson"
I couldn't believe it, I never had Won anything in my Life, not back then or Now! I Remember Susan was "Over the Moon" so we had a few months to save up, as we were off to Wembley! The 2nd thing I always Remembered was, I used to get a lot of Customers, all the way from a Holiday Camp's in Hopton, which is a Few Miles Away, and they All used to say the same thing to me, when they returned the Next Time "Your Fish and Chips are Great, Better than the Chips Shops around here and in the Camp! I used to get them Sort of Comments all the Time, and always Believed I could get the Takeaway, making a Few Bob, and having a easier Life, but unfortunately for me and the Family, things were going to get a Whole lot Worse, later! ====================================================== Now for some Music, I thought I would put a few Classic Soul Christmas Tracks on here, from 3 Soul Greats including Sam Cooke, Donnie Hathaway and of course Al Green...........
Here's the 146th Mix Selection for F.S.V.B, Its been Mixed by DJ Flash Gordon Parks, its called The Mitch Green Mix", there's some Classic Hi Music on here, from the Great Al Green and Willie Mitchell.
2. Al Green – Free At Last 3. Al Green – Here I Am 4. Al Green – The Letter 5. Willie Mitchell – I’m Moving On 6. Al Green – I’m Glad Your Mine 7. Al Green – Feel Like Summer 8. Al Green – Take Me To The River 9. Willie Mitchell – Honey Pot 10. Al Green – Tired Of Being Alone 11. Al Green – Hangin On 12. Al Green – I’d Fly Away 13. Willie Mitchell – I Wish It Would Rain 14. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together 15. Al Green – I Gotta Be More (Take Me Higher) 16. Willie Mitchell – The Horse 17. Al Green – You Ought To Be With Me 18. Willie Mitchell – Strawberry Soul 19. Al Green – Simply Beautiful
In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist's who are in My "Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time" Poll.
The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Couple of Weeks now, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!
In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.
I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of "Top to Bottom" of the Poll!
ARTIST NUMBER 3..................AL GREEN
This is the Artist who got my Vote, I would say he's the Best Soul Singer of All Time by a Mile!
I think Marvin Gaye is a Great Soul Singer, but not the same Level as Al Green, and I think Luther Vandross was going a bit over to Pop Music by the end of His Career.
I have Written many Post's on Al Green and his Music, so put his name in the Search Box, to Read more in-Depth Stuff on Al Green!
Now for a Brief Summary of Al Green's Career and life!
Born in Forrest City, Arkansas on 13th April 1946, Albert Greene was the 6th Child to Robert and Cora Greene, they had 10 in Total
He Started Singing at the Age of 10, in a Band called "The Greene Brothers"
At His High School, He Created and Started a Band by the Name of "Al Greene and the Creations"
This Band also included 2 Friends by the Names of "Curtis Rogers" and "Palmer James"
Around this same Period, Rogers and James Created their own Record Label called "Hot Line Music Journal"
By 1967 the Band had a Name Change to "Al Greene and the Soul Mates" they Recorded their First Track called "Back Up Train" and Released it on Their own hi
A couple of other Track's followed, but all Flopped!
After this Al Greene Decided to go Solo, He Released his First Album on His Friend's Record Label "Hot Line" it was also called "Back Up Train" most of the Track's were Written by Rogers and James, also a Chap by the Name of "Tiny Watkins" Al Green Wrote One Track!
The Album again didn't do Well and the Record Label Folded.
Al Green Met Willie Mitchell in 1969, when Mitchell, was Hiring Musicians for His Band, he was so Impressed with Al Greens Voice that He asked Him to Record an Album for "Hi Records" which Mitchell has joined a Couple of Years earlier.
By now "Al Green" had Dropped the "E" form His Name and on 15th April 1969, His Debut Record on the "Hi Record Label" was Released!
The Second Album was Released on "Hi" in 1970 and called "Get's Next To You" it was a Hit, it included a Remake of The Temptations Hit "I Cant Get Next To You"
This turned out to be "Al Greens" first of 6 Consecutive Gold Single Hits in the US.
The Rest Musically is History!
A Small Piece on His Private Life, A well Documented Incident Happened in 1974 to Al Green, this Slowly Turned him "To The Lord" and by 1976 He had become "An Ordained Pastor" at His own "Memphis Full Gospel Tabernacle" in Memphis.
Between 1981 and 1989 Al Green Recorded several Full Gospel Albums, that were Equally Well Received by the Record Buying Public, as he was Rewarded with 8 Gospel Grammy's.
To bring Al Green's Story right up to Date, I saw him in Concert, 2 Year's ago at "The O2 Arena " in London and He was "Fantastic" a Truly Great Singer and Performer, Brilliant!
As I write He is still Touring in the "USA" He was at the "Famous Beale Street Music Festival" in Memphis on 5th of May (see Below), and His next Date is 15th June in "Illinois" and this Tour Finishes in August this Year!
What a "Great Performer" I Hope I get another Chance to see Al Green, Sometime in the Future!
.jpg)
.jpg)
