A voice worth returning to

Al Green’s records make closeness feel like a musical quality. His voice can move from a conversational phrase to a soaring note without losing the sense that someone is speaking directly to the listener. The space around that voice is part of the appeal.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s profile places Green’s collaboration with Willie Mitchell at the centre of his Memphis soul sound. Its mixture of rhythmic poise, horns and gospel colour helps explain why the recordings can feel both intimate and expansive. Green was inducted in 1995.

This collection begins with the early-1970s breakthrough, spends time with two full albums and follows the path to a 1988 duet with Annie Lennox. It is a route through different settings for the same expressive instrument. Listen for the moments when Green softens a phrase: restraint can make the next emotional lift feel larger.

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