Soul Sense & Sensibility: Al Green's 'Lay It Down'
When I first heard Lil' Wayne's "Earthquake" (2004), I cringed. The Jazze Pha production was built upon Al Green's signature hit, "Let's Stay Together." It relied on the same guitar melody, interpolated sharply and braced with watery drums. Where Green, yet a clergy man, began the song in 1971 with "I'm so in love with you," the portly Pha substituted "I'm way more fly than you," a voicing not directed towards a lover, there are no lovers in him and Wayne's cosmos, but a rival. It's not the worst that could happen to an Al Green song. Pha and Weezy saved that for later.
Many artists, particularly in greater hip hop, have played with classic song lyrics, adapting them, often humorously, to their own g'ed up situations. I don't recall shuddering in those instances but Jazze Pha and Lil' Wayne's "Let's Stay Together" replay got to me. Pha's trading "let me be the one you coming running to" for "let me be the run that you throw it to" echoed tackily with a "throw it back ma" from the diminutive New Orlinian is not just crass or coarse, it's cold. Green captured my mother and my hearts by emoting the opposite, deftly, definitively. Personal vices aside, Green rhapsodized relationships characterized by uncertainty and imperfection as worth pursuing, maintaining, salvaging. It was romantic but real, recall Green's "I don't know why I love you like I do" sung for the woman who took his money and cigarettes on "Take Me to the River."
So to hear soul subverted, its endearing ethos x'ed out for ego, is depressing. No poseur's stuntastic rants will ever keep me company like I'm Still in Love With You. Certain sentiments don't have a sell by date. They don't spoil. So although Al Green's latest, Lay it Down, does not match his seventies or even some of his eighties output (don't front on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"), it's very good and oh so refreshing. I could do without Corinne Bailey Ray, a sappy singer and a poor partner for the Right Reverend, but Anthony Hamilton plays off Green nicely on the relatively uptempo "You've Got the Love I Need," and the wonderfully seductive title track. "Stay With Me" featuring John Legend is nice too despite Legend's ill-advised mimicry of Green's famed upper register prowess. But Green does best by himself, especially on "No One Like You," where he confesses on the chorus, "there's no one in life quite like you," a stark contrast to the replaceables that pepper so many of the songs of my peer and near groups. Thank God for Al.
Lay it Down is in stores now and Reverend Green is touring the country in support. Check his web site for dates.
Photo Credit: Rev. Al Green and Questlove photographed by Ginny Suss
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