''Soul Survivor'' is a studio album by the American musician Al Green, released in 1987. The album peaked at No. 131 on the ''Billboard'' 200.

Production

The cover of "

You've Got a Friend "You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer, songwriter, and musician Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, ''Tapestry'' (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor f ...

" is a duet with Billy Preston. Green also covered the Hollies' "

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It h ...

". A gospel choir backed Green on "The 23rd Psalm" and "Yield Not to Temptation".

Critical reception

The ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

'' deemed ''Soul Survivor'' "an album of richly moving and vibrant singing." ''

The Gazette The Gazette (stylized as the GazettE), formerly known as , is a Japanese visual kei Rock music, rock band, formed in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa in early 2002.''Shoxx'' Vol 106 June 2007 pg 40-45 The band is currently signed to Sony Music Recor ...

'' wrote that "it's nice to feel the power of reen'shealing voice in real material again." ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' called the album "a quixotic mixture

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

in every way reflects the rather schizophrenic nature of Green himself." ''

The Dallas Morning News ''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the '' Galvest ...

'' praised the "secular/funk texture" of the title track.

Track listing

#"Everything's Gonna be Alright" (Eban Kelly, Jimi Randolph) - 4:21 #"Jesus Will Fix It" (Al Green) - 3:24 #"You Know and I Know" (Green, Paul Zaleski) - 4:01 #"Yield Not to Temptation" (Traditional) - 3:35 #"So Real to Me" (Green) - 0:54 #"Soul Survivor" (Kelly, Randolph) - 4:43 #"

" ( Carole King) - 5:37 (duet with Billy Preston) #" He Ain't Heavy" ( Sidney Russell, Bobby Scott) - 4:03 #"23rd Psalm" (Green) - 3:46

Personnel

* Al Green – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 3, 6), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 9), arrangements (2-5, 8, 9) * Jimi Randolph – all other instruments (1), arrangements (1, 6), all instruments (6) * P. Leon Thomas – keyboards (1) * Debra Carter – organ (4, 9) * Louis Paul – synthesizers (5) * Jonathan Cobert – synthesizers (7) * Billy Preston – Hammond B3 organ (7), lead vocals (7) *

Jerry Peters Jerry Peters is an American songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, conductor and arranger. He is best known for writing the hit songs "Love Or Let Me Be Lonely" and "Going In Circles" by The Friends of Distinction. Career Peters w ...

– keyboards (8) * Michael Toles – electric guitar (2, 5), organ (5) *

Bobby Manuel Bobby Manuel (born November 13, 1945) is an American guitarist. In the early 1960s he was the lead guitarist for the local band, The Memphis Blazers. He was hired by Stax Records in the late 1960s as an engineer and also quickly began doing stu ...

– guitars (8) * Paul Zaleski – bass (2), percussion (2, 3), keyboards (3) * Francisco Centeno – bass (7) * Willie Hall – drums (2-5, 9), percussion (5) * Jeff Vilinsky – drums (7), arrangements (7) * Steve Mergen – drums (8) * Errol Thomas – arrangements (3, 8), bass (4, 8, 9) * Deborah McDuffie – arrangements (7) * Andrew Love – saxophone (8) * Berkley Buckles – backing vocals (1) * Eban Kelly – backing vocals (1, 6), arrangements (1, 6) * Full Gospel Tabernacle Choir – backing vocals (4, 9) * Andrea Blackwood – backing vocals (5) * Donna Blackwood – backing vocals (5) * Jeanie Hamilton – backing vocals (5) * Michael Brown – backing vocals (7) * Dennis Collins – backing vocals (7) * Curtis King – backing vocals (7) * Patrice Taylor – backing vocals (8)

Production

* Producers – Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph (Tracks 1 & 6); Errol Thomas and Paul Zaleski (Tracks 2-5, 8 & 9); Deborah McDuffie (Track 7). * Executive Producer – Al Green * Engineers – Jimi Randolph (Tracks 1 & 6); Al Green, Errol Thomas and Paul Zaleski (Tracks 2-5, 7, 8 & 9). * Assistant Engineers – Eban Kelly (Tracks 1 & 6); Ron Dickerson, Tom Luani and Pat Taylor (Tracks 2-5, 7, 8 & 9). * Recorded at Al Green Music Recording Studio and Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN); Startec (Washington D.C. ); Mayfair Recording Studios (New York, NY). * Mixed at Al Green Music Recording Studio; Ardent Studios; Mayfair Recording Studios; Mission Control Studios (Boston, MA). * Mastered by

Brian Gardner Brian Knapp Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, is an American mastering engineer. He has worked on a number of recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk and dance- ...

at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA). * Art Direction – Chuck Beeson * Design – Donald Krieger * Photography – Peter Nash

References

{{Authority control Al Green albums 1987 albums A&M Records albums