Al Green

Lay It Down

(Blue Note)

The power and beauty of Al Green’s early 1970s records can’t be denied. Songs like “Let’s Stay Together” and “Tired Of Being Alone,” to name but two, stand immortal, due as much to the taut arrangements and backing musicians as to Green’s voice. So it’s no surprise that neo-soul performers like Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and hip-hop group the Roots are explicitly recalling that early ’70s sound. Unfortunately, they often lose the rawness of the original recordings, instead making something that’s museum-quality and overly respectful.

Lay It Down is co-produced by Roots drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, with vocal appearances by Legend, Hamilton and Rae. And – surprise! – it sounds like a tempered, slightly tamed version of his classic ’70s sides. The band (guitar, keys, bass, drums, two horns) is tight, re-creating organ and drum sounds exactly; however, Thompson’s grooves are frequently on the wrong side of the laid-back/lazy divide, and the occasional strings don’t help matters, either. The Dap-Kings Horns, previously heard backing Sharon Jones and Amy Winehouse, do their usual retro-soul thing with admirable intensity and consistency. Ultimately, it’s impossible to entirely subdue Al Green. The vamping coda of “No One Like You” is breathtaking, and the rhythmic force of “You’ve Got The Love I Need” (with Hamilton) makes Green’s titular phrase irresistibly seductive. “What More Do You Want From Me” is a desperate plea that somehow comes off as romantic. This is a strong album that could have used a little more grit.

- Phil Freeman