Al Green - Lay It Down

When word got out in early 2007 that Al Green was working on a new album and that Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, the drummer for revered hip-hop band The Roots, was going to be one of the producers, many people thought that Reverend Al was in for a serious sound modernization. But as it turns out, the opposite is true: Lay It Down, which was released in the U.S. on May 27, 2008, is a return to the vintage Al Green/Hi Records sound of the 1970s. Most of the time, its best when an old-school artist can occasionally reinvent themself (see: Neil Diamond, Carlos Santana, Tony Bennett), but in this case, classic is king.

Al Green's previous secular music album, 2005's Everything's O.K., was a bland, forgettable release that was solidly sung, but had production that was dated and about as interesting as plain white wallpaper. But Lay It Down literally sounds and feels like an unreleased Al Green project from his '70s heyday. ?uestlove and his fellow producers (James Poyser and Al Green himself), have done a very good job coaxing and harnessing one of R&B's most distinctive male falsettos.

Likewise, the live, organic instrumentation (by the near-legendary Dap Kings and others) is on-point, as are the guest vocals by contemporary stars John Legend on "Stay With Me (By The Sea)," Corinne Bailey Rae ("Take Your Time") and Anthony Hamilton. Among the album's highlights are the album's warm, simmering title track, the upbeat neo-retro jam "Standing In the Rain" and the aforementioned "Take Your Time," a sultry, slow-burning duet that packs enough steamy sexuality to heat up any bedroom session.

Much like country legend Loretta Lynn benefited greatly by bringing in the White Stripes' Jack White to produce her Van Lear Rose album, the Reverend Al has regained his relevance in today's marketplace and added to his legacy by collaborating with ?uestlove. And Al himself seems to be all-too-aware of this: his voice sounds so crisp and sharp, it's like he's been born again. The album isn't perfect - some songs can be a little dull and not worth repeated listening - but overall, Lay It Down is a welcome return to form for one of America's greatest living '70s Soul vocalists.