2 posts tagged “al green”
Voxtrot - "Long Haul" - Raised By Wolves [EP]
Currently, my favorite song to hear when I wake up.
In an earlier Ghost, I noted that Al Green's "Love and Happiness" was my ringtone for non-related callers bestowed with two X-chromosomes. Currently, and for the foreseeable future, this is the ringtone which serves that purpose. As a guy, who is single, it's nice to receive calls or text messages from the females. Ladies, this song is currently yours.
Check the guitar. Backed by a simple bass line, the instrument tells its own tale through two double-upstroked guitar chords followed by a snaking lead line. It's so glimmery and shiny that I feel like putting on some aviators. Throw in the xylophone lightly backing it; great googly-moogly, we're experiencing quite the twee-gasm.
There's a very 60's-esque quality about the recording itself; with the reverb-drenched rhythm guitar, the plain and effective bass, the xylophone and acoustic guitars hiding in the sheets, and overall dreamy soundscape harken to the hits found on local oldies stations. There's a reason the ratings for oldies stations are consistently among the top stations in every market. Hits!
And how about those hand claps in the outro?
There's a very earnest quality to Ramesh Srivastava's tenor. Not as "thin and breathy" as the voice of his contemporary Ben Gibbard, Srivastava's voice comes through extraordinarily clear, and seems very original.
The singer sounds like a man baring himself, laying it on the line for the target(s) of his affection. I am of the opinion that this song is intended for a general target audience, that being women. Employing "you" in the later verses would make many a listener think that this ditty is directed at a single person.
Look at the statement, "I wanna catch a love and make it stay." The target of certain lines may be a past love which did not work out, but the overwhelming message from above is "Ladies, Ramesh is on the prowl, and he wants 'forever.'"
Give the poor man a chance, he's bursting at the seams with love to give! I'm sure he'd sing you songs, maybe even write one about you. Or include one of your inside jokes in the liner notes. Or a picture of you, but just in the background.
Love,
Hoffie
Al Green - "Love and Happiness" - I'm Still In Love With You
First, please notice Al Green's afro. Behind Jim Kelly and my livejournal avatar, this is the third most saavy afro of all time. Legendary. O how I wish my hair were coarse!
To the point...
Simple and soulful. Al Green's effortless delivery conveys the tenderness and warmth of companionship without really saying anything at all. Vocal analysis of this song is pretty futile, the poetics of this song seem like the print one might find on the Seattle Metro system. Where most cities would sell as much advertising as possible, folks from the S-E-A-Double T-L-E can attest to the elementary poetry lining the ceilings outnumbering the ads.
For quite some time, "Love and Happiness" was my ring for non-related members of the opposite sex. The first 0:25 after the foot-stomping count, to be precise.
The sparse instrumentation, by Motown-Soul standards, brings Al's voice to the forefront, emphasizing the simplistic yet strong lyrics. While it sounds simplistic, I've spent hours upon hours attempting to figure out how to play the slick guitar lick which kicks the song into gear; still, it escapes me.
The organ has such a full and classic sound, I guarantee there are a thousand producers who have tried to replicate that organ's sound many times over. Of all my questions about the production and crafting of this record, the greatest number are about that organ. Where was the mic, what kind was it, who played it, etc.
Later, as the song becomes more of a driving instrumental with vocals in the style of Jimmy McAdlib, the drums are ramped up in the mix. Or the instruments are ramped down. The kick begins firing on additional off-beats. Not significant, but something I catch myself noticing upon repeated listens.
With summertime's night ride season [see: late-night, windows-down, cigarette-and-caffeine-fueled aimless car cruise] coming to a rapid close, I present "Love and Happiness" for your aural approval. Roll 'em down and crank it up, just don't get caught slippin'.
Love,
Hoffie
First, please notice Al Green's afro. Behind Jim Kelly and my livejournal avatar, this is the third most saavy afro of all time. Legendary. O how I wish my hair were coarse!
To the point...
Simple and soulful. Al Green's effortless delivery conveys the tenderness and warmth of companionship without really saying anything at all. Vocal analysis of this song is pretty futile, the poetics of this song seem like the print one might find on the Seattle Metro system. Where most cities would sell as much advertising as possible, folks from the S-E-A-Double T-L-E can attest to the elementary poetry lining the ceilings outnumbering the ads.
For quite some time, "Love and Happiness" was my ring for non-related members of the opposite sex. The first 0:25 after the foot-stomping count, to be precise.
The sparse instrumentation, by Motown-Soul standards, brings Al's voice to the forefront, emphasizing the simplistic yet strong lyrics. While it sounds simplistic, I've spent hours upon hours attempting to figure out how to play the slick guitar lick which kicks the song into gear; still, it escapes me.
The organ has such a full and classic sound, I guarantee there are a thousand producers who have tried to replicate that organ's sound many times over. Of all my questions about the production and crafting of this record, the greatest number are about that organ. Where was the mic, what kind was it, who played it, etc.
Later, as the song becomes more of a driving instrumental with vocals in the style of Jimmy McAdlib, the drums are ramped up in the mix. Or the instruments are ramped down. The kick begins firing on additional off-beats. Not significant, but something I catch myself noticing upon repeated listens.
With summertime's night ride season [see: late-night, windows-down, cigarette-and-caffeine-fueled aimless car cruise] coming to a rapid close, I present "Love and Happiness" for your aural approval. Roll 'em down and crank it up, just don't get caught slippin'.
Love,
Hoffie
