Al Green Explores Your Mind is the eighth album by soul singer Al Green. Unlike previous Al Green albums, this album featured only one major hit, "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" which peaked at No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the week of December 21, 1974,Billboard Hot 100, Week of December 21, 1974 – Billboard.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024. but did contain the original version of "Take Me to the River", a song which went to No. 26 on the Billboard chart when covered by Talking Heads in 1978. In 2004, the song "Take Me to the River" was ranked number 117 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
The album was his fifth consecutive album to claim No. 1 on the Soul Albums chart, and peaked at No. 15 on the Pop Albums chart.
Track listing All tracks composed by Al Green; except where indicated Side one "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" – 3:01 "Take Me to the River" (Green, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges) – 3:45 "God Blessed Our Love" (Green, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle) – 3:57 "The City" (Green, Charles Hodges) – 3:25 "One Nite Stand" – 2:26
Side two "I'm Hooked on You" (Green, Mitchell) – 3:22 "Stay with Me Forever" (Green, Anne Sanders) – 3:15 "Hangin' On" (Green, Michael Allen) – 4:21 "School Days" – 3:14
Personnel Al Green – vocals Mabon "Teenie" Hodges – guitar Leroy Hodges – bass guitar Charles Hodges – Hammond organ, piano Howard Grimes – drums, congas Archie Turner, Michael Allen – piano Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Sandra Rhodes – backing vocals Andrew Love, Ed Logan – tenor saxophone James Mitchell – baritone saxophone, string arrangements Wayne Jackson – trumpet Jack Hale, Sr. – trombone The Memphis Strings – strings Technical Glenn Ross, Richard Kriegler – art direction, design Bob Levy, Buddy Rosenberg – photography
See also List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1975
References