:: Al Green - Lay It Down

Al Green

Al Green has been producing great records for nearly forty years so it would only be a fool that could possibly think that he could make a bad one now. He is a legend of the industry and legends just don’t mistakes. His latest offering, ‘Lay It Down’ is one for all the lovers out there, but then again that is what is style of smooth proper R&B (even a little bit of soul) has been aimed at for years now. There will be some out there who will argue that there is nothing special about ‘Lay It Down’ because of the fact that Green has been doing the same music for years now. That maybe so, but why change your style when you have discovered perfection. Take one listen to a track like ‘Just For Me’ and tell me that Green’s great style doesn’t still sound fresh after these years. What he needs to be congratulated for is for songs like ‘You’ve Got The Love I Need’. Green could be forgiven for resting on his laurels and not bothering producing great tracks like this anymore. He doesn’t owe his fans anything, yet he keeps giving. What has made Green so special over the years is his silky voice and it is there for all to see on ‘Too Much’. Credit must also be paid to Green for not alienating the younger fans. Green has chosen well with his guests on this album. He teams up with John Legend on the delightful ‘Stay With Me (By The Sea)’; which is pure R&B at its best. He then delivers a beautiful duet with chart-darling Corinne Bailey Rae with ‘Take Your Time’. Surprisingly she holds her own with the legend and this is one of the better duets to appear over the last few years. You could argue that even though ‘All I Need’ sounds like it was penned in the 1970’s it still doesn’t sound like out of date. Nobody quite does a love song like Al Green and if you’re looking for the perfect song for your latest love mix tape then you can’t go past ‘No One Like You’ or ‘I’m Wild About You.’ Al Green is a legend of the industry and he once again shows that with ‘Lay It Down’.