Let's Stay Together - Al Green (1971) 10/23/21

The Rev. Al Green recorded nearly 100 takes of today's "Great Song of 1971-72," and didn't like ANY of them!

Although he had actually written the lyrics to "Let's Stay Together," and was backed by an expert group of Memphis musicians (including a few from the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs), Al thought his voice sounded too thin, and that overall, the song wasn't a hit.

Finally, his producer, Willie Mitchell, put a stop to all that nonsense, picked a "take" and told Al it WAS a hit. In fact, Willie told him "there was magic in it."

Willie had been producing records for a long time...and knew he was right. He made sure the album was titled "Let's Stay Together" and the song would be the first single.

A few weeks later, as 1971 crossed into1972, "Let's Stay Together" was sitting at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 AND Soul charts. In fact, it stayed #1 for NINE WEEKS on the latter Chart!

Al was never more happy to be wrong--but he still thought it wasn't his best work.

Skip to 1983. Tina Turner had divorced Ike, released some disco material that didn't go anywhere, and was thinking about recording some rock and roll--but nothing was really working for her.

As she was putting together her "Private Dancer" album, someone suggested she should return to her "soul" roots and record "Let's Stay Together."

Tina jumped at the chance. (Obviously she thought it was a better song than Al did!)

In 1984, when the song was released as a single, it became her "comeback hit," reaching the Top 10 in 6 countries...including #1 on the US Dance chart and #3 on the Soul Chart.

In 2010, the Library of Congress added "Let's Stay Together" to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and in their recently reconfigured list of the "Top 500 Songs of All Time," Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Al's version at #84!

Thank you, Willie Mitchell!

"Let's Stay Together" by the Rev. Al Green in 1971-72 and Tina Turner in 1983-84: A "Great Song" In TWO decades!

Al:

Tina: