album rating: ★★★★★
Genre: Soul / R&B / Memphis soul. Al Green Explores Your Mind is the eighth studio album by Al Green (born Albert Leornes Greene, Forrest City, Arkansas, 1946), recorded and released at the height of his commercial and artistic dominance of American soul music. By October 1974, when the album was released, Green had established himself as the defining voice of early-1970s soul — refined, sensual, spiritually ambiguous, simultaneously intimate and universal. The album was co-produced by Green and his long-time collaborator Willie Mitchell, Hi Records' house producer whose meticulous arrangements and emphasis on groove had defined all of Green's great Hi Records albums since Let's Stay Together (1972). The Hi Rhythm Section is present throughout: Charles Hodges on Hammond organ and piano, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums and Mabon 'Teenie' Hodges on guitar. The album contains two of Green's most enduring songs: 'Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)', the lead single; and 'Take Me to the River', which Green later described as simultaneously a song of sexual desire and spiritual longing — a song covered by Talking Heads in 1978, whose version reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and introduced it to a new generation. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked 'Take Me to the River' at number 117 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Label: Hi Records (distributed by London Records in the UK), released 2 October 1974.
Producers: Al Green and Willie Mitchell.
Recording studio: Royal Recording Studios, 1320 South Lauderdale Street, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Disc mastering: Mastercraft, Memphis.
Critical reception: The album was warmly received on release as a continuation of Green's mature Hi Records period. Retrospectively, it is regarded as among his finest work. Discogs reviewers call it 'among Al Green's finest albums', particularly praising 'The City', 'One Night Stand' and 'Hangin' On' alongside the two major singles. AllMusic consistently rates it highly. The release coincided with a deeply traumatic personal event on 18 October 1974 — weeks after the album's release, Green was severely injured by a former companion at his Memphis home, an incident that accelerated his spiritual crisis and eventual conversion to ordained ministry.
Commercial success: Explores Your Mind reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart — Green's fifth consecutive number 1 on the soul chart. It was certified gold by the RIAA in January 1975. The single 'Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)' peaked at number 7 on the Hot 100. The album reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart.
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