289 - Al Green - Call Me

Man, oh, Man! I loved this album a great deal. The smoothness of Al's voice is intoxicating. The use of strings and horns is nicely done and not overly precious.

Al's selection of songs highlight the duality of soul music and his desire for sweet loving with women and his love of God. The songs also demonstrate how close country and R&B are with two country covers ("I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Funny How Time Slips Away"). Al doesn't dwell in the soft and sensual and breaks out some upbeat music with "Stand Up" and "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)."

Songs I knew I liked: "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," "You Ought to Be With Me," and "Call Me"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Stand Up," "Your Love is Like the Morning Sun," and "Jesus is Waiting" "Jesus Is Waiting" is one of my favorite songs on the planet right now. When I first heard this song while working, I didn't couldn't hear the words well and was convinced I needed to add the track to a "sensual seduction" music mix. To find out upon the next listen what the lyrics were really about merely redirected my enthusiasm from sex to salvation. ;) I've embedded a superb performance of the song on Soul Train below.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None