Al Green

Al Green's first two comeback recordings for Blue Note felt right and sounded wonderful, but they were missing that elusive magic. Lay It Down brings the magic, making it a work that can stand tall next to Green's classic recordings. Coproducers ?uestLove and James Poyser bring in the Dap-King Horns and vocalists Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend, yet the results never veer from Green's unique artistry. The songs are top-rate, and the entire set is burnished with soul. Forget genre and age -- this is universal love music, in the secular and spiritual sense.

Al Green surrounds himself on his new album with younger stars, including John Legend,
Corinne Bailey Rae and the Roots' ?uestlove. It's retribution in action: For years, the
neosoul brigade has been copping the Rev. Al's sound — the plush, subtly psychedelic
Memphis soul that Green perfected three decades ago on his sparkling Hi Records albums —
so a little payback is only fair. Of course, there's no replicating Green's heaven-s... More >