Al Green: I Can't Stop
Resist the temptation to compare Al Green's latest CD to his classic 1970s albums such as "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still in Love with You," or "Call Me." Instead, enjoy this album for exactly what it is -- a satisfying return for the soul great. At least part of the credit for this album's success belongs to Willie Mitchell, the legendary producer/arranger who collaborated with Green for the most fertile years of his long career. (Here, they co-wrote eight of the 12 songs, with Green getting solo credit for the remaining tracks.) This CD, which contains their first secular songs in 27 years, may have been recorded for Blue Note, but it has the swirling organs and strings, and chatty horns that were the lush hallmark of Green's former label, Hi Records, which was run by Mitchell. Clearly, Green and Mitchell don't feel the need to fix what ain't broke, and it's the right approach. Because their music always had a timeless quality, new songs like "I'd Still Choose You," "Million to One," or "My Problem Is You" could have been made yesterday or 30 years ago. It also doesn't hurt that the years have been very kind to Green's 57-year-old voice, which remains a supple wonder of subtlety and insinuation. And both Green and Mitchell deserve props for making this album their way, without hip-hop remixes or distracting cameos from younger artists.
