April 16, 2006

“Shut up, Al Green”

The incomparable Al Green turned 60 last Thursday (April 13), and if I had been up-to-date on my Page-A-Day calendar, I would have posted this then. But, alas, I am always a few days behind.

The occasion gives me an excuse to post up my absolute favorite Al Green recording. It’s a cover of The Beatles’ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” available on the 2003 compilation Soul Tribute To The Beatles. It is magnificent in its stylish, loose soul groove, and #1 in my book for several reasons:

#1 song to get that “unh” dancing action goin’ on in your living room to
#1 use of syncopation (check around 0:52)
#1 song to start a mixtape with
#1 studio banter at the beginning of the track
(“We got the FEELIN’ now!” “-Shut up, Al Green.”)

Brilliant.

I Wanna Hold Your Hand” – Al Green

5 Comments

  • Ha! Love it. Thanks!

    sarah irene — April 16, 2006 @ 4:07 pm

  • alright, i’m gonna try it – but that doesn’t mean i’m gonna like it! al green? doing the beatles?

    jeffro — April 16, 2006 @ 7:23 pm

  • http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060415/en_nm/pearljam_dc_1

    Nice article about Pearl Jam

    JMK — April 16, 2006 @ 7:46 pm

  • thanks for sharing this s0ng! Must admit that I dislike that beatLes song, but Al green made it so seXy…

    I CAN’t STOP!

    Miss F — April 17, 2006 @ 1:30 am

  • This is one of my favourite covers ever and when I was looking for it recently, I couldn’t find my CD copy. Thank you so much for posting this!

    The Trick — April 18, 2006 @ 8:45 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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