Musical Praise Part 1

 Here I am

Here I Am It didn't take long for Al to hit his stride. One album, in fact. His very next outing, Al Green Gets Next to You, shed most of the remaining deferences to the gritty grooves coming out of Stax and Muscle Shoals; instead it kindled the sultry sparks thrown off by songs like "I Can't Get Next to You" and "Are You Lonely for Me Baby" into the passionate flames of "Tired of Being Alone," the first of many hits to land in the upper heights of the charts. Make no mistake, this was luxurious, elegant music readily accessible to the sophisticated and common folks alike. It transcended "mere" soul. Anyone who thought Al might quickly fade into a quick-hit sunset was sadly mistaken, for Al had traveled those roads before in Michigan. He was now surrounded with some of the most talented writers (namely Al Green himself!), arrangers, and musicians Memphis had on offer -- no small order. For his next serving of sumptious soul, Al served up Let's Stay Together, featuring the self-penned smash title cut which achieved the lofty accomplishment of topping both the pop and r&b charts. For those who have yet to experience this classic recording, the gospel-tinged yearning of "Old Time Love" and Al's mesmerizing take on the Bee Gee's "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" are not to be missed