Genre
Memphis soul and smooth soul. The album typifies the Hi Records sound of the early 1970s: Willie Mitchell's lighter, more introspective production touch setting Al Green's signature falsetto against the locked-in grooves of the Hi Rhythm Section, anchored by James Mitchell's lush string arrangements.
Release
Released on October 2, 1974, by Hi Records.
Production
Produced by Willie Mitchell and Al Green. Recorded at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.
Reception
Al Green Explores Your Mind received highly positive reviews for its smooth production, emotionally nuanced performances and the sophisticated interplay between Al Green’s vocals and Willie Mitchell’s arrangements. Critics particularly praised the album’s balance between sensual ballads and rhythm-driven soul material. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart — Green's fifth consecutive number one — and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200. The single "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's principal legacy rests on "Take Me to the River," ranked number 117 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004.The album is widely regarded as one of the strongest releases from Green’s celebrated mid-1970s period.
Al Green
Al Green (born Albert Leornes Greene, April 13, 1946, Forrest City, Arkansas) is an American soul singer, songwriter, and ordained pastor, widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in the history of soul music. He signed with Hi Records in 1969 and, in partnership with producer Willie Mitchell, built a remarkable run of hit albums and singles between 1971 and 1974, including Let's Stay Together (1972) — his signature song — and the platinum albums I'm Still in Love with You (1972) and Call Me (1973). He returned to gospel music in the late 1970s following a personal crisis and spent the 1980s recording exclusively religious material, earning multiple Grammy Awards in the gospel category.He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and has won eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.
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