Soul Survivor (Al Green album) 1987 studio album by Al Green
Soul Survivor is a studio album by the American musician Al Green , released in 1987.[ 1] [ 2] The album peaked at No. 131 on the Billboard 200 .[ 3]
Production
The cover of "You've Got a Friend " is a duet with Billy Preston .[ 4] Green also covered the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother ".[ 5] A gospel choir backed Green on "The 23rd Psalm" and "Yield Not to Temptation".[ 6]
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune deemed Soul Survivor "an album of richly moving and vibrant singing."[ 10] The Gazette wrote that "it's nice to feel the power of [Green's] healing voice in real material again."[ 9] The Globe and Mail called the album "a quixotic mixture [that] in every way reflects the rather schizophrenic nature of Green himself."[ 11] The Dallas Morning News praised the "secular/funk texture" of the title track.[ 12]
Track listing
"Everything's Gonna be Alright" (Eban Kelly, Jimi Randolph) - 4:21
"Jesus Will Fix It" (Al Green) - 3:24
"You Know and I Know" (Green, Paul Zaleski) - 4:01
"Yield Not to Temptation" (Traditional) - 3:35
"So Real to Me" (Green) - 0:54
"Soul Survivor" (Kelly, Randolph) - 4:43
"You've Got a Friend " (Carole King ) - 5:37 (duet with Billy Preston )
"He Ain't Heavy " (Sidney Russell , Bobby Scott ) - 4:03
"23rd Psalm" (Green) - 3:46
Personnel
Al Green – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 3, 6), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 9), arrangements (2-5, 8, 9)
Jimi Randolph – all other instruments (1), arrangements (1, 6), all instruments (6)
P. Leon Thomas – keyboards (1)
Debra Carter – organ (4, 9)
Louis Paul – synthesizers (5)
Jonathan Cobert – synthesizers (7)
Billy Preston – Hammond B3 organ (7), lead vocals (7)
Jerry Peters – keyboards (8)
Michael Toles – electric guitar (2, 5), organ (5)
Bobby Manuel – guitars (8)
Paul Zaleski – bass (2), percussion (2, 3), keyboards (3)
Francisco Centeno – bass (7)
Willie Hall – drums (2-5, 9), percussion (5)
Jeff Vilinsky – drums (7), arrangements (7)
Steve Mergen – drums (8)
Errol Thomas – arrangements (3, 8), bass (4, 8, 9)
Deborah McDuffie – arrangements (7)
Andrew Love – saxophone (8)
Berkley Buckles – backing vocals (1)
Eban Kelly – backing vocals (1, 6), arrangements (1, 6)
Full Gospel Tabernacle Choir – backing vocals (4, 9)
Andrea Blackwood – backing vocals (5)
Donna Blackwood – backing vocals (5)
Jeanie Hamilton – backing vocals (5)
Michael Brown – backing vocals (7)
Dennis Collins – backing vocals (7)
Curtis King – backing vocals (7)
Patrice Taylor – backing vocals (8)
Production
Producers – Eban Kelly and Jimi Randolph (Tracks 1 & 6); Errol Thomas and Paul Zaleski (Tracks 2-5, 8 & 9); Deborah McDuffie (Track 7).
Executive Producer – Al Green
Engineers – Jimi Randolph (Tracks 1 & 6); Al Green, Errol Thomas and Paul Zaleski (Tracks 2-5, 7, 8 & 9).
Assistant Engineers – Eban Kelly (Tracks 1 & 6); Ron Dickerson, Tom Luani and Pat Taylor (Tracks 2-5, 7, 8 & 9).
Recorded at Al Green Music Recording Studio and Ardent Studios (Memphis, TN); Startec (Washington D.C. ); Mayfair Recording Studios (New York, NY).
Mixed at Al Green Music Recording Studio; Ardent Studios; Mayfair Recording Studios; Mission Control Studios (Boston, MA).
Mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
Art Direction – Chuck Beeson
Design – Donald Krieger
Photography – Peter Nash
References
^ Tucker, Ken (22 Mar 1987). "Standing fast on principle...". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. I1.
^ Strauss, Duncan (19 Apr 1987). "Rev. Al Coasts". Calendar. Los Angeles Times . p. 92.
^ "Al Green" . Billboard . Retrieved 3 May 2023 .
^ Bream, Jon (1 May 1987). "Al Green, 'Soul Survivor' ". Star Tribune . p. 3C.
^ MacInnis, Craig (11 Sep 1987). "Let's face it. The good Rev. Al Green could sing soup commercials and make them sound interesting". Toronto Star . p. E14.
^ Gilbert, Calvin (March 20, 1987). "Green never took soulfulness out of gospel music". Fun. The Advocate . Baton Rouge. p. 2.
^ Campbell, Al (November 1, 2001). Review: Soul Survivor . AllMusic . Retrieved on 2011-01-15.
^ Christgau, Robert (May 5, 1987). "Consumer Guide: Soul Survivor ". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on 2011-01-15.
^ a b Griffin, John (21 May 1987). "Al Green Soul Survivor". The Gazette . p. F11.
^ Brogan, Daniel (20 Mar 1987). "Al Green, Soul Survivor". Friday. Chicago Tribune . p. 70.
^ Kelly, Deirdre (11 Sep 1987). "The 'real' Al Green isn't out on stage". The Globe and Mail . p. D9.
^ Samuels, Lennox (March 22, 1987). "Al Green, Soul Survivor". The Dallas Morning News . p. 6C.
Studio albums
Initial R&B albums Gospel albums Later secular albums
Other albums Singles Related articles