Home > Baltimore Music > CD Review > Al Green, 'Lay It Down'

Backstory: A preacher for the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis for more than 30 years, the Reverend Al Green is also a Grammy-winning, soul-singing legend who has contributed significantly to both the R&B and gospel music scenes. He’s best known for “Tired of Being Alone,” “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness,” secular hits that have managed to age gracefully and resonate with subsequent generations.

Why you should care: Green crafts sweet love songs that are seductive without ever being sleazy, and “Lay It Down” is a prime selection for listening with the lights down low.

Verdict: There’s a timeless feel to these selections, but they’re far from moldy oldies. Green sounds passionate and energized throughout, perhaps nowhere more so at any point in his career than on new song “I’m Wild About You,” where he comes completely unleashed. Guest vocalists Anthony Hamilton (who shares the lilting title track and “You’ve Got the Love I Need”), John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae (who both appear on “Stay With Me (By the Sea)”) make sense and don’t feel gratuitous—Hamilton in particular really goes toe-to-toe with Green.

X-Factor: “Lay It Down” was co-produced by James Poyser (who has worked with stars like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Common and Lauryn Hill) and Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, the iconic drummer of hip-hop supergroup the Roots. They had the good sense not to try new gimmicks with Green—no T-Pain styled vocal tweaks or quirky Timbaland beats here—and just let him do what he does best.

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