Artist Interviews

Q&A: Al Green

By | Published on Thursday 23 July 2009

Legendary soul singer Al Green began his recording career in the late sixties, and by the seventies had cemented his place in musical history. Probably best known for his 1971 hit ‘Let’s Stay Together’, he remains influential and continues to record, in recent years working with artists such as Queen Latifa, ?uestlove, John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae. This month Demon Digital released a new deluxe digital version of his 1969 album, ‘Green Is Blues’, which was originally put out by Memphis Hi Records, a label owned by band leader Willie Mitchell, who also produced the album. To celebrate the digital release, we spoke to Al to ask our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
They say I grew up with it. I was in the Green Choir at the age of ten years – my brother was the lead singer. You know it’s so strange but music won’t go away, it won’t go away…

Q2 What was the inspiration for ‘Green Is Blues’?

The initial spark was a point of being without finances, being without the real security of the future and the initial spark was to get in there and try to make something happen with this new guy Willie Mitchell here in the studio. I thought, he’s got a wonderful set up, and I don’t have a any money, and I need some! That really was the initial spark! I already knew ‘Soul Serenade’, and that’s my favourite song by Willie Mitchell.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?

I’m an eccentric and I don’t know what to do first! I feel it in my toe, then my finger gets going and after that my hat start jumping off my head and I’m pushing with both feet at the bottom of the car! It hits you when it hits you and when it does it feels so good…

Q4 Which artists influence your work?

Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett – all around that whole genre… As for new artists, there are a lot of new influences that are going around in my constellation!

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?

I would kinda say – get ready for a double Dutch chocolate feeling, like you’ve put warm chocolate over ice cream. I mean these girls at a show in Ottawa… they didn’t care if it was caramel or chocolate! They were up on the stage so fast that security had to get them, they were jumping up on the stage so fast until security had to come out… The band were saying “Shall we keep playing?” and they just kept playing and the girls kept coming…

Q6 What are your ambitions for your debut album, and for the future?
Moving on, moving up and moving out. That’s what makes the world go round. And of course we’re gonna do more touring!

MORE>> www.algreen40.com



READ MORE ABOUT: