"Back up train" (1967) by Al Green

One of all-time great soul singers records album in 1960s (supposedly golden era of soul music) and its almost unknown today - sure, it was not earth-shaking as his later work that cemented his legend in 1970s and beyond but is it any good? Well, dear reader, if you are already here it probably means that you are familiar with honey-voiced classics and curious about his beginnings. Considering that album is such rarity and almost ignored every time when Al Green "true" work gets discussed, it comes as surprise that "Back up train" actually sounds incredibly good on its own terms.

Everything is here - falsetto, moans, swoops and that recognisable voice - you can tell its Al Green from the first moment, thought production and cellophane is different. This is our same old church boy transported back in time, framed with assured, professional palette of sounds that worked so well for countless of other singers (horns, Hammond organ, female chorus) which in itself means it was all done before in works by Percy Sledge, James Carr, Otis Redding, you name it. So there is no fault with music, it still sounds like any excellent old soul album from 1960s - just listen to "Back up train", its pure magic and thought ignored today, single was a big splash back than, got Al Green nine encores in Harlem's "Apollo" and that is not a small thing. Pop audience still had no clue but ask black sisters.

Perhaps the "fault" if there is any, is that young singer relied to much on his idols - its easy to forget today that "soul" singing back in 1960s meant that singer must have powerful, raspy and screaming voice like James Brown, Otis Redding or Willson Picket (even that golden voiced angel Sam Cooke could rough it up in live performances,just check out his live albums) and Al Green was completely different kind of species, he would later find his own style (glorious, soft, love making croon) but back here he channels all of them and occasionally fails because he tries too hard to be a soul shouter. However, let's say you don't know anything about his later work or that he never recorded anything else - in that case this would be one of those obscure, brilliant forgotten jewels just waiting for re-discovery. Listen for yourself and tell me this is not a ass-shaking, great soul music.