A grittier side of Al, before the slinky Philly sound jelled. This sounds a bit like Al fronting the Stax house band -- how could that be bad? The covers are so-so, but overall, this is Al with some edge. Great remastered sound, and songs you probably haven't heard. For Al Green fans, a refreshing taste of the emerging artist, just before the hit machine kicked in.

Al Green's 2nd album, 1970's "Green Is Blues" is a nice mix of stylish covers and a couple originals. The Right Stuff label has reissued this Hi release with a 4 bonus tracks, remastering and doing a nice job technically with this release. "Talk to Me" has Green's swinging soul groove that is sure to set your hips in motion. Green's cover of Smoky Robinson's "My Girl" is a soft gentle rendition, then the horns come in to punch up the mix. "The Letter" is a slow smoker as Green milks his romantic longing. Green's funky James Brown-inspired "Get Back Baby" comes before his pulsing version of the Beatles' "Get Back." The original release ended with Gershwin's "Summertime" that Green takes into a slow mellow stream as opposed to the popular Billy Stewart version from that same era. Of the bonus tracks, the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" becomes a churning soul kitchen of desire & Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee" is likewise a tad slower, stirred by some tasty lead guitar. "Green Is Blues" is a great soul CD that sounds good 35 years after its original release. Enjoy!

No one can get into a song like Al Green. On Green Is Blues, his interpretations of songs like "Get Back", "The Letter", "My Girl" and "Summertime" strip them to their core and Rev. Green refills them in with his expressive and inventive voice. Other songs like "One Woman", "What Am I Gonna Do With Myself" and "Gotta Find A New World" also show off his magnificent voice.