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!
February 1987, We had been Living in Our House for 5 Years by then, and we were thinking about Moving House, we were going to Try and Move about 20 Miles away, to Norwich!
Now at this time, we were Living in a Local Council House, Paying Rent on a Monthly Basis, so we had to find somebody to swap Houses with, and this we did!
We didn't have much Idea what that Area was Like in Norwich, so one day we went for a Drive around that Area, it seemed OK, but we wasn't sure, so we decided to go to the Local Police House!
It was only a Small Police Office with 1 or 2 Copper's Working there, so we went in and Told them what was happening with Us, i.e Moving and we asked them about the Area and they said it was "Fine and a Decent Area"
"What a Load of Cr*p" that Turned out to be (more on this later), anyway we Decided for Definite to Move, and went back Home and over the following few Weeks made all the Arrangements etc to Move!
This House Move all Happened the same time I left my Employment at "King's Casino" so I was trying to sort a Job as well.
We had decided that at the Same time as Moving, I was going to go Self-Employed for the First Time in my Life, and not Working for somebody Else or a Company!
I was going to get some Help with Money from my Parents to get Started in Business, more on this next time and how it became a Big Mistake, Moving to Norwich in the First Place!
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As for some Music, Back in 1973, (40 Years Old Next Year!) Ann Peebles Released Her 9th Single out of 18, that Charted on the US R&B Chart "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"
Ann Peebles was the Only Female On the Hi Record Label and the Song was Produced by Al Green's Producer "Willie Mitchell" and the Track was Written by Earl Randel.
The Track Reached Number 31 on the US R&B Chart.
It was included on the Album "I Can't Stand The Rain" which was Released the Following Year in 1974.
Also Featured on the Track, are the Famous Memphis Horns and Hi Rhythm Sections.
What a Great Track this is, Typical Memphis Southern Soul!
It was now 1984, I had just Spent Christmas at Home with my Wife and Kids, after leaving my previous Job (Offshore Chef) about 4 Days before Christmas '83.
I cant be exact, but I think I only had about 2 Weeks out of Work before I found my next Job!
It was only Part-Time (but I knew it would become Full-Time in due course) I was going to Work at a Casino in our Town, as a Chef, the Place was Called "King's Casino"
I Remember at the beginning I was Working, once or twice a Week, I was taking care of the Starter's and Sweets, there was only a Small Team of Worker's, including the Head Chef called "Peter Culley" and a Second Chef named "Kevin Huggins" there was another Trainee Chef and about 2/3 Chaps doing the Kitchen Porter's Work.
I enjoyed the Job and Work, although there were a Couple of Draw Backs, one was, I was Working Night's again and two, I Lived about 4/5 Miles away and I still had my Bike, so I was back Pedalling again!
When I say I worked Nights, the Hour's were a 5pm Start and "Last Order's" were at 11.30pm, so by the Time we Cleared up etc and I Cycled Home, it was around 12.30 am, not too great for a Married Man with Kids, but I did get 6 out of the 7 Day Times off, although we did Work Friday Morning as well, as the Night Time.
I recall Cycling back and forth to work, that time of the year, it always seemed to be Raining, so I had my "Yellow Water Proof Coat and Trouser's" for Bike Riding, they used to make me Sweat "like Hell" most times, but at least I had My "Personal Cassette Player" that always Helped me to pass away the time on boring Journeys!
It was Written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle, Surprisingly, it was Never Released as a Single, I would say one of Al Green's Best, but He has so Many Fantastic Tracks!
The Album went to Number 1 in the US R&B Charts, the Track was Re-Recorded by several Different Artists over the Years!
Checkout the Live Version, Recorded in 2002 in New York City, What a Performance!
Download the Track! Check out the Great Lyrics! Talking: God blessed our love. Even in the morning, when I rise, I say God blessed our love. And every morning, when I rise I can just see heaven all, all in your eyes Makes me know this is not an everyday love, no, no We've got something I'm sure we can be proud of Oh, we've got so much, so much love We've got so much, so much trust Can't you see a halo, a halo, I can see a halo hovering over us Chorus: oh I just can't believe it baby but, God blessed our love, I have to say it this evening that God oh God blessed our love if you've got something to be thankful for you oughta just say, hey, hey, hey, God blessed our love, I have to say it this evening God oh God blessed our love oh yes he did Let me say I could just stand up and tell the world, oh baby That you're mine, all mine, ah yeah You love is heavenly designed And I just have to say that I like kissing you I like, I like hugging you I like squeezing you, wanting you, holding you, loving you I'm glad I'm still lovin' oh baby Let me say when people, yeah, people, yeah, start to criticize Well it don't bother me, no, no, Cause I know God, God, God is on our side yes he is Chorus: let me just say God, God blessed our love I have to say that God oh God blessed our love (Until Fade)
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