''He Is the Light'' is an album by
Al Green, released in 1985. It was Green's first album for
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
.
The album peaked at No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' Top Gospel Albums chart.
Production
The album marked the return of producer
Willie Mitchell, who had last worked on 1976's ''
Have a Good Time''.
It was recorded at
Royal Studios
Royal Studios is a recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1956, it is one of the oldest continuously operated music recording studios in the world.
It is widely known for producer, recording artist and owner ...
, with many of the same musicians Green employed in the 1970s.
Critical reception
Robert Christgau wrote that "Leroy Hodges's famous bottom keeps the record flowing like none of Green's other Jesus LPs, but it's still songs that make or break--and in this case do neither."
[ '']Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' declared that "the only great new Al Green song here is 'Power', which builds on 'Jesus Is Waiting' and 'Have You Been Making Out O.K.' but claims its own space in the pantheon." ''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 ''He Is the Light'' "a gorgeous record: spare, crisp production, and tunes that haunt you."
Track listing
#"Going Away" (Al Green) – 3:38
#"True Love" (Green, Willie Mitchell) – 4:31
#"He Is the Light" (Mitchell, Julius Bradley) – 3:24
#"I Feel Like Going On" (Green) – 3:13
#"Be with Me Jesus" ( Sam Cooke) – 2:54
#"You Brought the Sunshine" (Elbernita Clark) – 5:10
#"Power" (Green, Mitchell) – 5:21
#"Building Up" (Green) – 3:10
#"Nearer My God to Thee" – 3:46
Personnel
* Al Green – lead and backing vocals, guitars, arrangements (9)
* Perry Michael Allen – keyboards, synthesizer, percussion, string arrangements, synthesizer arrangements
* Andrew Jackson – keyboards
* David Cousar – guitars
* Angelo Earl – guitars
* Teenie Hodges
Mabon Lewis "Teenie" Hodges (November 16, 1945 – June 22, 2014) was an American musician known for his work as a rhythm and lead guitarist and songwriter on many of Al Green's soul hits, and those of other artists such as Ann Peebles and Syl J ...
– guitars
* Perry Michael Allen – keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, string arrangements, synthesizer arrangements
* Steve Cobb – bass
* Leroy Hodges
Leroy Hodges (born July 13, 1943) is an American electric bass player.
He was born in Germantown, Tennessee. Paired with either Booker T. & the MGs's drummer Al Jackson, Jr. or Stax staff drummer Howard Grimes, Leroy and The Hodges Brothers w ...
– bass
* Jimmy Kinnard – bass
* Steve Potts – drums
* Gary Topper – baritone saxophone
* Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
* Jack Hale – trombone
* Ben Cauley – trumpet
* Willie Mitchell – horn and string arrangements
* The Memphis Strings – strings
* Kelli Bruce – backing vocals
* Debbie Jamison – backing vocals
* Michelle Omata – backing vocals
Production
* Producer and Engineer – Willie Mitchell
* Remix – Perry Michael Allen and Willie Mitchell
* Mastered by Larry Nix at Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN)
* Art Direction – Chuck Beeson and Jeff Gold
* Design – Melanie Nissen
* Photography – Mark Hanauer
References
1985 albums
Al Green albums
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