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Soul Survivor (Al Green album)

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Soul Survivor
Studio album by
Al Green
Released1987
GenreSoul, gospel
LabelA&M
ProducerEban Kelly, Jimi Randolph, Deborah McDuffie, Errol Thomas and Paul Zaleski.
Al Green chronology
He Is the Light
(1985) 		Soul Survivor
(1987) 		I Get Joy
(1989)

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

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauA−[8]
The Gazette7.5/10[9]

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

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  1. "Everything's Gonna be Alright" (Eban Kelly, Jimi Randolph) - 4:21
  2. "Jesus Will Fix It" (Al Green) - 3:24
  3. "You Know and I Know" (Green, Paul Zaleski) - 4:01
  4. "Yield Not to Temptation" (Traditional) - 3:35
  5. "So Real to Me" (Green) - 0:54
  6. "Soul Survivor" (Kelly, Randolph) - 4:43
  7. "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) - 5:37 (duet with Billy Preston)
  8. "He Ain't Heavy" (Sidney Russell, Bobby Scott) - 4:03
  9. "23rd Psalm" (Green) - 3:46

Personnel

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Tucker, Ken (22 Mar 1987). "Standing fast on principle...". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I1.
  2. ^ Strauss, Duncan (19 Apr 1987). "Rev. Al Coasts". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 92.
  3. ^ "Al Green". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. ^ Bream, Jon (1 May 1987). "Al Green, 'Soul Survivor'". Star Tribune. p. 3C.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Calvin (March 20, 1987). "Green never took soulfulness out of gospel music". Fun. The Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 2.
  7. ^ Campbell, Al (November 1, 2001). Review: Soul Survivor. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2011-01-15.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert (May 5, 1987). "Consumer Guide: Soul Survivor". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2011-01-15.
  9. ^ a b Griffin, John (21 May 1987). "Al Green Soul Survivor". The Gazette. p. F11.
  10. ^ Brogan, Daniel (20 Mar 1987). "Al Green, Soul Survivor". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 70.
  11. ^ Kelly, Deirdre (11 Sep 1987). "The 'real' Al Green isn't out on stage". The Globe and Mail. p. D9.
  12. ^ Samuels, Lennox (March 22, 1987). "Al Green, Soul Survivor". The Dallas Morning News. p. 6C.
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