Sanctified Soul

Rip It Up, Issue 11, 1 May 1978, Page 14

Sanctified Soul

Hi Records Not since Percy Sledge’s heyday, and before him Sam Cooke, had a soul singer taken as firm a hold of me heartstrings as when I discovered Al Green. I have a compulsion to acquire new Al Green albums as they arise, can’t wait to get my sconegrabbers onto them. Of his last half-dozen or so I guess I’ve liked them all ... some better than others but I’ve liked them all. Al Green has one of the best voices in popular music, and I'd bring that down to a company of about seven or eight. His backings are at best, simple and direct, as is his songwriting, and his choice and treatment of cover versions is consistently interesting. Most importantly he has amassed a body of work that radiates personality and vision. He’s a soul singer who embodies all that the label might hope to suggest. A major artist in an idiom overburdened with mediocrity. You guessed it ... I kinda like this record. To my mind The Belle Album is Green’s best since the superb Al Green Explores Your Mind (a bad title for a great album). On this one he forsakes the Hi studios session band for a new rhythm section and sounds all the fresher for it. The songs are all self-penned it’s an album of love songs with religious overtones or religious songs with sex undertones and either way it’s one of the best so far this year. (And there've been some goodies.) There's nothin’ like having a good rave about a favourite! Terence Hogan

and a dozen other ‘ 60 s girlie groups made famous. Totally charming and lovable. “Plastic Letters” has something for everyone. It sounds every bit as good on a stereo as I know it’ll sound on radio. Do your ears a big favour and start listening. Debbie, yer luvley.

Duncan Campbell