Hi PRIEST of SOUL

In January 1972 came the album that defined AL GREEN’s unique mix of sex and spirituality, plus the sophisticated sound of producer Willie Mitchell and his Hi Rhythm Section band. But before Let’s Stay Together could work its magic, writes BOB MEHR, its creators struck out on a voyage of discovery: “We had to find ourselves before we could really make that music.”

Portrait: BUD LEE

THE OLD MOVIE THEATRE at 1320 S. Lauderdale Street in South Memphis is the site of Royal Studios, home to Hi Records. On this night, the usual soulful sounds have been replaced by raised voices and recriminations. It is the autumn of 1971 and Al Green is stood at his microphone, shaking his head at the figure in the control room above. Producer Willie Mitchell has been pushing Green to dub vocals on a new song they’ve written, and that the studio’s crack house band, the Hi Rhythm Section, has cut. Green is singing it one way and Mitchell is hearing it another. This battle of wills has been going on for days. The producer and singer have been working together closely for nearly three years, and have just recently scored their…

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MOJO (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2022

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