Over the course of his career Al Green has gone from singing soul in the studio to saving souls in the pulpit. For the past 32 years Green has been Reverend Green at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis, Tenn. However, at age 62 Green has stepped out of his pastor’s robe to stage a comeback into secular music.
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Over the course of his career Al Green has gone from singing soul in the studio to saving souls in the pulpit. For the past 32 years Green has been Reverend Green at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis, Tenn. However, at age 62 Green has stepped out of his pastor’s robe to stage a comeback into secular music. To aid him in his leap of faith back into the mainstream is ?uestlove, drummer for hip-hop band The Roots. Besides keeping rhythm for the rap outfit, ?uest has become a much sought after producer. The Afro pick toting drummer has produced all of The Roots’ albums, including Phrenology, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album of the Year. He has also produced for many other artists including Common, Erykah Badu and Joss Stone.
Al Green’s Lay It Down, released this Tuesday is the latest in ?uestlove’s production repertoire. The effort is also the latest in a line of older artists reaching out to younger talent for production help. Other cross generational collaborations worth noting are Loretta Lynn’s courting of Jack White of The White Stripes for her album Van Lear Rose and both Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond’s use of eclectic producer Rick Rubin to launch their comebacks.
When asked about helping other past-their-prime artists move back into the lime light, ?uest responded, “This is my equivalent of putting my apple pie on the windowsill and enticing the whole neighborhood to come over. Tom Jones is next.” As for now, ?uest is keeping his eye on the reception to Lay It Down. If the album is successful Reverend Green may be repeating the sentiments of his 1972 classic asking ?uestlove if they can “stay together.”
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