Al Green – Al Green Explores Your Mind For Sale

By the time of 1974 s Al Green Explores Your Mind, this version of the Memphis sound was the production style for only a handful of artists. Producer Willie Mitchell used a lighter touch for his most famous artist, and it s all but crafted into the Al Green sound. Despite his skills, Green never falls into mannerism here and gives heartfelt and cogent vocals rooted in intelligence and technique. Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy), although lyrically slight, has the artist s charisma and Mitchell s pop chops. Take Me to the River, with perfect backing from Hi Rhythm and a horn and string arrangement, finds Green at his most persuasive. The last track, School Days, has Green longing for a school girlfriend and despite the potentially sappy sentiment, it works like a charm. The greatness of Al Green Explores Your Mind comes from a collective effort, including James Mitchell s dreamlike string arrangements and the always skilled backing vocals of Rhodes, Chalmers & Rhodes. But the biggest draw here is Green s phrasing and intimate vocals, making the record an extremely strong effort. – Fat Possum  AllMusic