THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

347-Al Green-Let’s Stay Together.

1971-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.26. Every wedding DJ must own a copy. In a survey of bride and grooms, this song was voted the most popular first dance of all time.

Al Green was born Albert Leornes Greene on April 13th, 1946, in Forrest City, Arkansas, United States. Al Green is the sixth of 10 children, his father Robert Greene was a devoutly religious man, and after hearing his teenage son listening to secular music kicked him out of the family home. Al Green rebelled by going to live with a prostitute, and dabbling in recreational drugs. He has said of his musical influences, ‘I listened to Mahalia Jackson, (1911-1972) all the great gospel singers. But the most important music to me was those hip-shakin’ boys, Wilson Pickett (1941-2006) (see also best songs 488) and Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194.) When I was 13, I just loved Elvis Presley. Whatever he got, I went out and bought.’ In high school Al Green formed his first vocal group with Curtis Rodgers and Palmer Jones, who were also the writers of Green’s first recording ‘Back Up Train,’ recorded as ‘Al Greene & the Creations.’ The song met with some minor success reaching Number 46 on the Cash Box Top 100 in America. In 1969 Green came into contact with the record producer Willie Mitchell, (1928-2010) who signed him to ‘Hi Records,’ the label which Mitchel was vice president of. Al Green stayed with ‘Hi Records’ through until 1978 releasing 12 studio Albums, and achieving 12 Billboard top 40 singles. By 1977 Green’s record sales were in decline, partly due to his own personal issues, but also due to his desire to become an ordained minister. Green said that one night while performing he fell off the stage, and he took that as a sign from God to move in a different direction. Al Green recorded eight Gospel studio Albums between 1980-1987, before returning to secular music.

The discography of Al Green, who before releasing his first Album with Hi Records removed the final ‘e’ from his birth name, includes 28 studio Albums released between 1967-2008, and 58 singles released between 1967-2023, there are also 30 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, Al Green has had 14 top 40 hit singles, with ‘Let’s Stay Together’ peaking the highest at Number 1, while 27 of his singles have made the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ top 40 singles chart. In the UK, he has had seven top 40 chart entries, with ‘Tired of Being Alone,’ peaking the highest at Number 4 in 1971.

‘Let’s Stay Together’ was the only single released from Al Green’s fourth studio Album of the same name, from January 1972, the song which would become Al Green’s signature song was co-written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell, and Al Jackson Jr. (1935-1975) (see also best songs 906 and 828) with the production being by Willie Mitchell. Willie Mitchell was born William Lawrence Mitchell, on March 1st, 1928, in Ashland, Mississippi, United States, he died on January 5th, 2010, from a cardiac arrest, at the age of 81. Mitchell was a singer, trumpeter, bandleader, and music producer, who was also a recording artist, releasing 22 Albums between 1963-2008, and 14 singles between 1964-1976, with three of those tracks making the Billboard Hot 100, with ‘Soul Serenade,’ peaking the highest at Number 23 in 1968. Willie Mitchell who was known affectionately as ‘Papa Willie’ in the recording studio, worked with other ‘Hi Records’ artists including O. V. Wright, (1939-1980) Syl Johnson, (1936-2022) Ann Peebles, and the American female vocal group Quiet Elegance.

‘Let’s Stay Together’ was co-written by Al Jackson Jr. (see also best songs 906 and 828) who was born Albert J. Jackson Jr. on November 27th, 1935, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, he died on October 1st, 1975, at the age of 39. On returning home from a night out he found intruders in his house. Reportedly, he was told to get down on his knees, and was fatally shot five times in the back at around 3.0.am. The suspected murderer, was the boyfriend of Jackson’s estranged wife Barbara Jackson’s friend Denise LaSalle, (1934-2018) who was later killed by a police officer on July 15th, 1976, after an unrelated gunfight. Al Jackson Jr. was a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and is recognised as one of the greatest drummers of all time, he was affectionately dubbed ‘The Human Timekeeper’ for his drumming ability.

In 1984 Tina Turner (1939-2023) (see also best songs 752-485 and 192) covered ‘Let’s Stay Together’ for her fifth studio Album ‘Private Dancer, which was her first new release in five years. When released as a single the song reached Number 6 in the UK, and Number 26 on Billboard in America, kick starting her very successful solo career. Unlike Al Green’s version, Tina Turner sings verse 2 first, then verse 1 when the band starts playing.

‘I, I’m so in love with you, whatever you want to do is all right with me. ‘Cause you make me feel so brand new, and I want to spend my life with you.’