We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
The Royal Recording Studio at 1320 S. Lauderdale in Memphis has been in operation since 1956 and has seen some of the top acts in the world make records there. The list includes Chuck Berry, Rod Stewart, John Mayer, Ike & Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Buddy Guy and others. But topping the list of recording giants that made great records at Royal was Al Green. In 1972 Green released his fourth LP, “Let’s Stay Together” which went Top Ten on the pop charts and # 1 on the soul charts. The title track went #1 on the pop charts.
Green’s voice was a magical thing…moving from soulful caresses and keening falsetto to gritty growls and shouts, sometimes in the same song.
He’s backed by the Royal house band led by the Hodges brothers, Leroy on bass, Charles on organ & piano and Teenie on guitar. Howard Grimes and Al Jackson Jr. man the drum kit. The sound moves from funky to slinkily soulful but always tight. Add in some great charts from Wayne Jackson and the Memphis Horns and it’s a tasty meal.
Most of this would be heard as classic soul including a great cover of the Bee Gees “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”. There’s also some gospel feel from the Reverend Green in the song “Old Time Lovin”.
From the first notes of the title track to the incessant groove of the final track, “It Ain’t No Fun For Me”, Green delivers some great sounds for your ears and parts lower in the anatomy.
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