I was at first a little put off by the jacket he's wearing on the cover, but having bought all the other Hi albums I thought I really should get this, and then it turns out to be my favourite! It seems to me a lot meatier in tone than the others - harder grooves, more of an 'edge' all round - and is better for it (although obviously the others are classics, so at this level it really is just a matter of taste). I think there's also more of the influence of James Brown on this record - compare 'The Payback' of his and you get a great couple of hours listening.

Al Green Gets Next To You is another showcase for the amazing vocal talents of the Rev. Al Green. The album was his first commercial hit spurred on by the southern-fired r&b song "Tired Of Being Alone". He slows down the Temptations' "I Can't get Next To You" into a bump and grind and he turns "Light My Fire" into a plea for spiritual fulfillment. He dips into a blues vein on "I'm A Ram" and sermonizes on "God Is Standing By". "Are You Lonely For Me Baby" is the standout track on the album as he tackles the Chuck Jackson song with a religious fervor.

For those who might be coming to Al Green from a harder, rougher soul perspective, this is the album for you! If you've never heard how down and dirty the sinister minister from Memphis could get, this record will change your mind about Al Green. Sure, "Tired Of Being Alone" is a sweet soul classic and "God Is Standing By" is a beautiful cover of a Johnnie Taylor gospel tune, but the rest of the tracks just ooze grit, sweat and soul. "Are You Lonely For Me Baby" is incredible! Hard & pleading. "I Can't Get Next To You" should be known to those who have Al's Greatest Hits, but how many of you have heard the remainder of this LP? Every single under-appreciated track here is an absolute gem. "You Say It" is Al Green in lowdown funky James Brown mode. "I'm A Ram" and "Driving Wheel" are blistering blues-based workouts. "Right Now Right Now" is wah-wah soaked atmospheric funk. "All Because" ends the album with maybe the finest funk/soul performance of Rev. Green's early career. Of course, that's just my opinion, but you'd have to agree that these lesser-known tracks are equal to many of the big hits. And I haven't even mentioned what this man does with "Light My Fire". If all you own is a greatest hits type compilation, or even if you have the Al Green box set, you NEED this album to fully understand what a master of gutbucket, gritty soul & funk Al Green was.

Al Green became a true superstar thanks to both "So Tired Of Being Alone" and his fiery remake of The Temptations' hit "I Can't Get Next To You". Granted, this album is very raw, funky and hard-edged in comparison to his subsequent releases and is very far removed from the lushly romantic sound that would pervade his "Call Me", "Let's Stay Together", "I'm Still In Love With You" and "Al Green Is Love" sets but it was a career-changing record for him.

This review has been written just as I finished "Take me to the River", Al Green's biography with Davin Seay ( available through Amazon books). It did what all good biographies of musicians should do - sent me back to the music, and this album in particular. This is a diverse album with the chart hit "Tired of being alone", the breakthrough that he had been looking for. There are hard blues "Drivin' Wheel" and "I'm a ram". Most of all, however,there are the pleading songs which he interpreted so well, "Are you lonely for me baby" and an astounding reinterpretation of "Light My Fire". The Hi house band is never less than sympathetic and at times astounding, with all the Willie Mitchell arrangements perfectly showcasing "the voice". If you've got the greatest hits album and you're looking for an Al Green album to explore further, this is it!