Let's Stay Together
Al Green
1972
Album Summary
Let's Stay Together is the fourth album by the soul singer Al Green, released in 1972, and is the follow-up to his moderate success Al Green Gets Next to You. It was recorded at Royal Recording Studio, 1320 S. Lauderdale, in Memphis and was a success, peaking at number eight on the pop albums chart and became the first of six albums to peak at number-one on the soul album chart (where it claimed the position for ten weeks). It is best known for the title track "Let's Stay Together", which became Green's signature song and his only number-one pop hit single. The album was the third produced by Willie Mitchell and marked the beginning of Green's classic period of critically acclaimed albums. Let's Stay Together was reissued in 2003 by The Right Stuff.
WikipediaSometimes, 35 minutes of gospel twinged soul is exactly what you need to be listening to. Opens with Let's Stay Together, never tops it, but very few have in the 50 odd years since. That sentence feels a bit harsh on How Do You Mend A Broken Heart, but you have a proper 11/10 track as the opener. I'd have hidden it halfway through the album to make sure the rest gets used! Shout out to the band as well - the guitar never does what you're expecting it to do. Brilliant stuff. As a side note, if I saw an album by somebody looking that cool on the front cover, I'd still give it a listen today.
Great way to start off this challenge. Love it energy he brings to the tracks. Everyone of them commands your attention. How can you mend a broken heart.... :'(
His voice is so soulful and emotive. I'm digging it. Shame that he's a piece of shit wife-beater. Let's stay together or else I'll beat the piss out of you.
19th July 2021 Listened in the shower then on the living room speaker while getting ready for work in the morning. So relaxing, super chilled and so nice to listen to on a day like this. Absolute diamond.
Soul isn't generally my genre but there's something about Al Green's effortless energy that is just wonderful. I'm not sure what else to say. The man is an incredible performer and the musicianship was top-notch. Really enjoyable.
Great for chill background music, but only the title track stood out as a memorable song.
Kicks off with it's best track but nothing to dislike with the groove and vocal of classic Al Green
Solid gold, and although the title track is very popular, the rest of the album is packed full of lesser known tracks which, to me, encapsulate al's early edge much better than some of his more popular work. Long time fav
I feel cool just listening to this. Pretty frickin' fantastic start to finish.
Smooth from start to finish. Laid back and chilled out, but still puts you in a happy mood.
Rhythms totally his own, soulfulness as intelligent as it comes. He's touched by god and passing it along to you. Savour the moment. (A little too long on the slow tempos to compete with his best work.)
Wasn't my jam. Wasn't particularly bad either, just wasn't feeling this.
This one didn't escape background music level for me - there are some interesting melodies and Green's voice is generally pleasing in delivery, just not any solid hooks I found to grab onto here.
This dude FEELS. I felt more romantic having listened to this album. Wish I'd found it sooner
Pretty good soul music, I'm enjoying, I do think my favourite is Let's Stay Together
Magical album. I'm a particular fan of the horns used throughout. I will be adding this to my shopping cart.
So this is definitely the kind of 70s music I wish I’d heard more of growing up. I like this one, very groove, funk.
Al Green is a favourite, and this is the album that introduced me to him. Great songs, slick and emotional vocals, timeless classic.
Big fan of the sounds of this album, only thing I'm not 100% on board with is the lyrics because it seems to mostly be about being/longing to be in a relationship. But I'm not gonna be too harsh on it. Every song on this sounds distinct while simultaneously having a nice flow throughout the entire project. Definitely gonna add it to my Discogs wantlist. Added every single song to my playlist. The highest of quality
Альбом не нашла, а вот песню - да. Идеальна для поездок по ночному городу, и в целом запоминающаяся.
Pretty much every time I listen to any one of Al Green's classic albums I think it's the best one but this one might actually be his all time best.
The album is timeless, full of soul, and if you have a heartbeat, it’ll get your head moving to the beat. A definite album to add to a collection.
Saved Prior: Let's Stay Together Saved: 9. Old Time Lovin' 8. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart 7. It Ain't No Fun to Me 6. What Is This Feeling 5. Judy 4. La-La for You 3. I've Never Found a Girl 2. So You're Leaving 1. Let's Stay Together Overall Notes: So so good. Groove is immaculate. LOVED this.
This album is smooth, funky, groovy, soulful. Enjoyable from start to finish. Highlights: Let's Stay Together, What Is This Feeling, I've Never Found A Girl, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.
Uma agradável surpresa. Só conhecia duas músicas, mas gostei de todas.
Nothing much to say other than this is a classic. Let's Stay Together is one of my favorite songs ever. I hadn't heard any of the others songs but they're all great. The trumpets throughout the album give it the classic. Old time lovin' is a particularly great song that I just heard for the first time. Al Green has one of the best voices in music history?
It's bopping, it's hopping, it's KTOWN BANGIN' Got some real classic songs on there baby
What a corker of an album! Al Green is a legend and this is a legendary album. An absolute joy to listen to. What a hero, so influential and really to my personal taste too. A full five stars from me, no negatives to be found here.
oh another classic soul album here, The Rev. Green doing what he did best and laying down the most seduce-able music possible, that smooth, smooth voice and the great backing band are superb. I absolutely love the Brother Gibbs "How can you mend a broken heart" with Al's timing on this as near to perfect as anything in the soul/r & b oeuvre. Of course another classic in the title track which is a standard now of course. Love Al and love this Album.
I think I knew all these songs despite never listening to an Al Green record before. Top stuff . Nice and short too, meaning I can deal with more of my 1001 backlog!
Some really great soul. Some of my favourite albums on the list so far have been soul, reminds me of some of the isaac hayes
I love it since the first song..actually, especially because of the first song
What an album! Al is performing in the studio, rather than just recording - quite a distinction. There are so many subtle changes in vocal style. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is more than the perfect pop song. Pretentious warning alert: it's a work of art that can't be beaten. The Hammond organ holds it all together, along with the horn stabs. Amazing stuff.
Soul perfection. The Reverend does have the most beautiful voice, and this album showcases it perfectly from start to finish. The backing never intrudes, supporting the main attraction, and the backing vocals lift Al’s vocal up further. There is nothing about this I don’t love - beautiful songs, arrangements, production and of course THAT voice above it all.
Wanting less than 3 stars is incorrect, and you should try harder on your next listen.
Great 70's funk soul sound. Hard to beat these groovy jams. Al Green was the Man. The mix is very laid back, and Al takes the center stage. Mellow horn section sounds right in the pocket. This was my first album listen on this series.
First impressions of this album are really good. Uplifting. Let's stay together is a good intro to album, I knew, the intro seemed familiar.
While know and love the title track well, I had never sat down and listened to this album all the way through. The joy of hearing this all the way through for the first time has been wonderful. I love the laid back, funky, generally simple arrangements that provide a perfect backing for the Rev Green's vocal stylings. His effortless transition into falsetto sounds so easy. But it has an authentic groove that sits deep in the music. Love this record. I need to rush out and get me a copy.
man oh man is this a good record. every song is so emotional and well-sung, but How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is basically perfect. bee gees who??
Oh, yes, the good Reverend Green...hecks YES! Absolutely love this album. If all it had on it was the title track, it would still be great. I've been getting more into 60s/70s soul, funk, and R&B, and that world of music is proving to be a genuine treasure trove of beautiful musical gems...like this album.
An enjoyable listen from start to finish. Incredible vocals and the music is stellar. Arguably some of the tracks start to feel repetitive, but it's a strong album all the way through. Would probably lean more towards 4.5 stars, but if we have to give integers, might as well go for all five :)
His soulful voice on a random Wednesday lifted my spirits. Fantastic album. Yes, Al - I want to stay together.
Beautiful, soulful, smooth album by the king. Title track is a banger 24/7 365 baby!
De esos discos de los que has seguramente escuchado más de una rola y cuando las oyes todas juntas resulta que hacen un gran conjunto en un paquete de 34 minutos. Sin desperdicio. La voz y la instrumentación me encantan, y me gusta mucho que aunque todo tiene un feeling de sensualidad, no raya en lo pegostioso de Depeche Mode por ejemplo.
Beautiful voice, beautiful writing, beautiful music, beautiful album. Absolutely timeless. Enjoyed throughout, wouldn't give it anything but a 5/5.
One of the great soul voices. And the music is fantastic. The horns! The strings! “Let’s Stay Together” is a great song. And “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” is phenomenal — might be the best track here. I love the strings around 2:45 that imitate the wind. I’m a fan of stuff like that in music.
Very tight. Vocals are stupendous. Backing band knows what's happening. 5 of 5 for tightness
Lovely soul album. Although I prefer Otis Redding, who's delivery has more of a bite to it, this was still great to listen to.
I always perceived soul as tasteless pop music of the 70s, with some highlights throughout. Beyond Marvine Gaye and Stevie Wonder who innovated what was possible with soul, there were little artists who could make something of the genre, but Al Green is the exception of an artist who could make albums of pure soul (no progressive shenanigans) and no filler. Whenever I want to chill and take a break from rock or high energy pop or electronic, Al Green is typically one of the first artists who come to my mind, and the pinnacle of his work "Let's Stay Together" hits the spot in just about every way. Everything is spot on. Highlight is Al Green's energetic and emotional voice, always pleasing to the ear and never boring, especially when he pulls off his falsetto. Huge fan of the back vocals, both Chalmers's support and the gospel-like female vocals. Horns are used sparingly but their delivery is well-received. Rhythm section ensures each song is diverse and maintains its groove, incorporating funk while staying focused and consistent. The strings and back vocals come together so well in "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart." You know they did something right when you hear the song a million times and you're shocked to see it's actually 6.5 minutes long. As for the song themselves, obviously starts off strong but I usually don't get into it until the groove of the 4th song. I'm really into the next few songs, but I feel like the album should end with "How Can You Mend" but "Judy" would also working as an appropriate epilogue. I guess I just wasn't a fan of "It Ain't No Fun to Me." But really, it's a highly enjoyable and short listen, and certainly a top soul recommendation to anyone.
extremely groovy motown / soul feel, very Marvin Gaye esque. also i love his jacket on the cover where can i get that lmao 1) Absolutely loving that subtle bass on Let's Stay Together 2) Ooh the call and response on La-La for You, definitely would go on to inspire that same technique in Hip Hop / Rap 3) Nice trumpets on So You're Leaving Me 4) THE BEBOP ORGAN ON WHAT IS THIS FEELING OMG 5) Old Time Lovin' was pretty good 6) Dang that cello (?) violin?? whatever it is at the start of I've Never Found a Girl is very reminiscent of Wovoka 7) How Can You Mend a Broken Heart's harmony parts reminds me of something and I can't quite think of what it is 8) Judy is great. hehe doody 9) More horns !!!
If I had a wedding song, Let’s Stay Together would have been on a short list. He’s voice is so cool. And look at that album cover. Only criticism is I feel like the ends of all of the songs could be a bit more intentional.
I love everything about this record. His voice is amazing, al Jackson’s drumming is great, the horns are so tight and the organ is sweet. And the way it’s recorded is just so warm and beautiful. The only critique I could think of is that the lyrics maybe aren’t the most interesting but who cares!! This record vibes like no other
Amazing voice. Love the rhythm section - the grooves are so heavy. Great songs I love his performance of The Bee Gees tune.