For this week’s installment of “Bootleg Friday,” I’m breaking out the heavy artillery. It’s Al Green from the WNET-TV special “Soul.” It’s a monstrous performance, taped in early 1973, prior to the July release of his best album, Call Me. Green’s on-stage mastery is breathtaking, as he explodes the versions of his hits and transforms them into unstoppable and transcendent locomotives. Notice the incredible intro to “Tired Of Being Alone,” the fiery and expanded version of “Love And Happiness,” and a genius cover of the Carpenters “We’ve Only Just Begun” that segues straight into a titanic “Let’s Stay Together.” (Only Al Green could imagine the Carpenters in the realm of soul.)
When you listen to this, realize that you’re listening to an artist at or near the peak of his powers. James Brown in ’66, the Stones in ’72, Aretha in ’68, etc. Long live the Reverend Al!
Download: "Tired Of Being Alone" (Live, January 1973)
Download: "You Ought To Be With Me" (Live, January 1973)
Download: "Love And Happiness" (Live, January 1973)
Download: "We've Only Just Begun ->Let's Stay Together" (Live, January 1973)
Friday, June 29, 2007
Bootleg Friday: Al Green, 1973
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5 comments:
I have the video of this performance. This is phenomenal stuff. I have several other videos from the "Soul" series that are all incredible, including Billy Preston, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and - perhaps the greatest of them all - Stevie Wonder. However, I would say that the Al Green performance ranks a very, very close second.
Gorgeous post, for which I can't possibly begin to thank you enough. Although I gotta point out--for comprehensiveness' sake--that Curtis Mayfield covers that same Carpenters tune, beautifully and I think sooner, on Curtis Live!
Mighty righteousness for sure. Thanks a lot.
any chance you could re-up these? i just found the videos for these on youtube and would love to be able to listen to them more often
Hi there! Would also love it if you could possibly re-up these :)
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