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Top 20 Al Green Albums Ranked Best to Worse

Al Green Cover

๐ŸŽง Artist Spotlight

Al Green

Dive deep into the essential discography of Al Green. Explore the defining studio albums that shaped their legendary career.

โšก Key Highlights of Article

  • Discover Al Green’s definitive golden era under producer Willie Mitchell at Hi Records.
  • Learn about key vinyl pressings and reissue labels like Speakers Corner and Fat Possum.
  • Trace Al Green’s legendary transition from smooth Memphis soul icon to gospel innovator.
  • Uncover late-career comeback gems featuring modern production from Questlove.
Curated Spotify PlaylistExpand Player โ–พ
๐Ÿ“‹ Vinyl Guide (20 Albums)Jump List โŒƒ
#1
Al Green โ€” Call Me
Jump โ†’
#2
Al Green โ€” I’m Still in Love with You
Jump โ†’
#3
Al Green โ€” Let’s Stay Together
Jump โ†’
#4
Al Green โ€” Al Green Gets Next to You
Jump โ†’
#5
Al Green โ€” Al Green Explores Your Mind
Jump โ†’
#6
Al Green โ€” The Belle Album
Jump โ†’
#7
Al Green โ€” Al Green Is Love
Jump โ†’
#8
Al Green โ€” Full of Fire
Jump โ†’
#9
Al Green โ€” Livin’ for You
Jump โ†’
#10
Al Green โ€” Green Is Blues
Jump โ†’
#11
Al Green โ€” Lay It Down
Jump โ†’
#12
Al Green โ€” Have a Good Time
Jump โ†’
#13
Al Green โ€” I Can’t Stop
Jump โ†’
#14
Al Green โ€” Truth n’ Time
Jump โ†’
#15
Al Greene & the Soul Mates โ€” Back Up Train
Jump โ†’
#16
Al Green โ€” The Lord Will Make a Way
Jump โ†’
#17
Al Green โ€” Everything’s OK
Jump โ†’
#18
Al Green โ€” Soul Survivor
Jump โ†’
#19
Al Green โ€” Higher Plane
Jump โ†’
#20
Al Green โ€” Don’t Look Back
Jump โ†’

When it comes to silky vocals, infectious rhythm grooves, and effortless emotion, few artists in American music history can match the great Al Green. Backed by the iconic Hi Records rhythm section in Memphis, his golden run of 1970s studio albums set the standard for modern R&B and soul.

Essential Al Green Albums Ranked

#1 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Call Me

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1973

Al Green โ€” Call Me

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1973

Widely regarded as Al Green’s masterpiece, Call Me perfects the lush Memphis soul sound with flawless songwriting and vulnerable vocals. Supported by the Hi Rhythm Section and Willie Mitchell’s sublime production, every track feels like a masterclass in intimacy.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Call Me (Come Back Home)
โ™ซ Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
โ™ซ You Ought to Be with Me
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original US Hi Records pressings stamped with London/Royal matrices sound wonderfully warm. Look out for high-grade audiophile reissues from Speakers Corner or Fat Possum.
#2 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” I’m Still in Love with You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1972

Al Green โ€” I’m Still in Love with You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1972

Hot on the heels of his breakout success, this record delivered timeless romance and unmatched vocal finesse. From the shimmering title track to his legendary cover of Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’, the album is purely magical.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ I’m Still In Love with You
โ™ซ Love and Happiness
โ™ซ Look What You Done for Me
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Early Hi Records gatefold pressings feature fantastic cover art and deep bass resonance. Modern 180g reissues reproduce the artwork faithfully with quiet playback.
#3 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Let’s Stay Together

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1972

Al Green โ€” Let’s Stay Together

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1972

Featuring one of the most famous title tracks in soul history, this record solidified Al Green as an international superstar. The subtle horn arrangements and Al’s expressive falsetto make this a cornerstone of 1970s soul.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Let’s Stay Together
โ™ซ How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
โ™ซ So You’re Leaving
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original pressings sound vibrant but can be hard to find in VG+ or better condition. Modern remastering brings out clarity in Willie Mitchell’s drum sounds.
#4 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Al Green Gets Next to You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1971

Al Green โ€” Al Green Gets Next to You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1971

This album represents the moment Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell locked into their signature groove. Blending soulful covers with powerful originals, it established the blueprints for his mid-70s run.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Tired of Being Alone
โ™ซ I Can’t Get Next to You
โ™ซ God Is Standing By
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original Hi vinyl has a punchy midrange that highlights Al’s gospel-infused vocal bursts. Look for clean early US pressings for optimal punch.
#5 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Al Green Explores Your Mind

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1974

Al Green โ€” Al Green Explores Your Mind

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1974

A slightly funkier, moodier record that introduced the iconic track ‘Take Me to the River’. The groove is deep, relaxed, and remarkably hypnotic throughout both sides.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Take Me to the River
โ™ซ Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)
โ™ซ God Blessed Our Love
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Fat Possum’s recent vinyl reissues are pressed cleanly and offer an affordable option if original Hi copies are out of reach.
#6 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” The Belle Album

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1977

Al Green โ€” The Belle Album

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1977

Written and produced by Al Green himself, this transitional album blends spiritual devotion with his secular soul roots. Playing guitar throughout, Green crafted an extraordinarily personal and joyous work.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Belle
โ™ซ Loving You
โ™ซ Dream
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Because this was self-produced at Royal Recording Studios, original vinyl pressings have an extraordinarily immediate acoustic guitar feel.
#7 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Al Green Is Love

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1975

Al Green โ€” Al Green Is Love

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1975

Packed with smooth grooves and romantic ballads, this release highlights Green’s uncanny vocal control. Tracks like ‘L-O-V-E (Love)’ feature some of the tightest rhythm section playing of the decade.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ L-O-V-E (Love)
โ™ซ Rhymes
โ™ซ The Love Sermon
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Look out for clean Japanese pressings from the 1980s if you want super silent vinyl surfaces and top-tier sound definition.
#8 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Full of Fire

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1976

Al Green โ€” Full of Fire

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1976

An energetic album where Al Green leans into longer, disco-adjacent soul jams without losing his soul authenticity. The title track remains one of his most explosive dancefloor cuts.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Full of Fire
โ™ซ Let It Shine
โ™ซ Glory, Glory
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: US originals are widely available and relatively cheap, making this a great, budget-friendly addition to any vinyl collection.
#9 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Livin’ for You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1973

Al Green โ€” Livin’ for You

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1973

Following the monumental success of Call Me, this album keeps the laid-back Memphis mood rolling smoothly. It captures Al at the absolute peak of his vocal confidence.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Livin’ for You
โ™ซ Home Again
โ™ซ Unchained Melody
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Pressings on the red Hi Records label feature thick cardboard jackets and warm analog mastering that sounds fantastic on vintage turntables.
#10 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Green Is Blues

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1969

Al Green โ€” Green Is Blues

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1969

Al Green’s debut album for Hi Records shows the raw, burgeoning talent of a soul icon in the making. Packed with inventive covers, it shows the foundations of the Mitchell-Green partnership.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ One Woman
โ™ซ My Girl
โ™ซ Talk to Me
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: First pressings can be rare, but 180-gram vinyl reissues are easily available and sound punchy and crisp.
#11 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Lay It Down

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2008

Al Green โ€” Lay It Down

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2008

Co-produced by Questlove, this late-career triumph returned Al Green to organic, live-in-the-studio soul. Featuring guests like Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, it stands among his modern best.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ I Lay It Down
โ™ซ Stay with Me (By the Sea)
โ™ซ Just for Me
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Released on Blue Note Records, the double-vinyl edition features high-quality pressing standards with deep bass response.
#12 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Have a Good Time

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1976

Al Green โ€” Have a Good Time

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1976

Brimming with upbeat energy and soul ballads, this late-70s Hi entry is often overlooked but retains the classic Memphis groove. Al’s vocal performances remain top-notch throughout.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Keep Me Cryin’
โ™ซ Smile a Little Bit More
โ™ซ Have a Good Time
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Copies in Excellent condition are plentiful on the secondary market and offer reliable vintage sound quality.
#13 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” I Can’t Stop

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2003

Al Green โ€” I Can’t Stop

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2003

Reuniting Al Green with producer Willie Mitchell for the first time in decades, this album captures the classic Hi Records spirit with modern clarity. It proved the original soul chemistry remained intact.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ I Can’t Stop (Ekali Tribute)
โ™ซ Rainin’ in My Heart
โ™ซ You
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original vinyl pressings from 2003 are somewhat rare, so grab one if you spot it in crate-digging sessions.
#14 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Truth n’ Time

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1978

Al Green โ€” Truth n’ Time

Label: Hi Records • Released: 1978

Al’s final album for Hi Records features a fun cover of ‘To Sir With Love’ alongside spirited gospel-soul blends. It reflects an artist poised on the threshold of a full spiritual rebirth.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ To Sir with Love
โ™ซ Wait Here
โ™ซ King of All
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Standard 1978 US pressings are budget-friendly and offer strong stereo separation for horn and rhythm tracks.
#15 Essential Pick

Al Greene & the Soul Mates โ€” Back Up Train

Label: Hot Line Music Journal • Released: 1967

Al Greene & the Soul Mates โ€” Back Up Train

Label: Hot Line Music Journal • Released: 1967

Credited to Al Greene & the Soul Mates before he dropped the final ‘e’ from his name, this early recording showcases raw mid-60s R&B energy. It offers a fascinating glimpse at his pre-Hi Records style.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Don’t Leave Me
โ™ซ What Am I Going to Do with Myself
โ™ซ What Am I Gonna Do with Myself
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Original Hot Line pressings are collector holy grails, but modern reissues offer accessible entry points for curiosity-seekers.
#16 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” The Lord Will Make a Way

Label: Myrrh • Released: 1980

Al Green โ€” The Lord Will Make a Way

Label: Myrrh • Released: 1980

Marking Al Green’s full shift into gospel music, this Grammy-winning release is driven by passionate vocal delivery and sparse, raw instrumentation. It remains a milestone in modern Christian soul.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ The Lord Will Make a Way
โ™ซ Pass Me Not
โ™ซ Too Close
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Released on the gospel imprint Myrrh, original pressings can easily be found in thrift store vinyl crates in great condition.
#17 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Everything’s OK

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2005

Al Green โ€” Everything’s OK

Label: Blue Note • Released: 2005

The second post-2000 reunion with Willie Mitchell continues the soulful momentum of I Can’t Stop. Green sounds relaxed, joyful, and completely at home over warm brass arrangements.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Tired of Being Alone
โ™ซ Call Me (Come Back Home)
โ™ซ I’m Still In Love with You
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Vinyl pressings sound rich and smooth, complementing the modern vintage recording techniques used at Royal Studios.
#18 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Soul Survivor

Label: A&M Records • Released: 1987

Al Green โ€” Soul Survivor

Label: A&M Records • Released: 1987

A sleek 1980s R&B effort that yielded the hit single ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’. It blends contemporary pop production with Al’s signature vocal passion.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Soul Survivor
โ™ซ Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
โ™ซ Jesus Will Fix It
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Typical mid-80s thin vinyl pressing, but high digital dynamic range makes it sound crisp on mid-fi turntables.
#19 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Higher Plane

Label: Myrrh • Released: 1981

Al Green โ€” Higher Plane

Label: Myrrh • Released: 1981

Following his gospel transition, this album blends devotional lyrics with authentic funk grooves. Green’s passionate delivery keeps the music lively and deeply soul-stirring.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Higher Plane
โ™ซ Where Love Rules
โ™ซ Amazing Grace
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: Look for clean copies on Myrrh Records; usually priced low in used record bins across North America.
#20 Essential Pick

Al Green โ€” Don’t Look Back

Label: RCA • Released: 1993

Al Green โ€” Don’t Look Back

Label: RCA • Released: 1993

Featuring production assistance from Fine Young Cannibals members, this 90s release mixes traditional soul with contemporary pop touches. Al’s voice remains as charming and smooth as ever.

๐Ÿ”Š PREVIEW TOP TRACKS โŒ„
โ™ซ Tired of Being Alone
โ™ซ Call Me (Come Back Home)
โ™ซ I’m Still In Love with You
๐Ÿชฉ Vinyl Pressing & Mastering Notes: European LP pressings exist from the 1990s vinyl lull, making them prized collectibles for completists.
๐Ÿ“ฉ

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โ“ Frequently Asked Questions (Al Green)

Q: What is considered Al Green’s best album on vinyl?

Most critics and collectors consider 1973’s Call Me to be Al Green’s ultimate masterpiece, closely followed by 1972’s I’m Still in Love with You.

Q: Why do Al Green’s 1970s Hi Records albums sound so unique?

Producer Willie Mitchell recorded Al Green at Royal Recording Studios in Memphis using the Hi Rhythm Section, featuring soft bass responses, tight drums, and warm vocal mic settings that created an intimate, signature sound.

Q: Are Al Green’s 1980s gospel albums worth collecting on vinyl?

Yes! Albums like The Lord Will Make a Way showcase raw, incredible vocal performances and can often be found in clean condition for very affordable prices in used record stores.

Q: Did Al Green ever record albums with modern producers?

Yes, Al Green recorded Lay It Down in 2008 co-produced by Questlove, which successfully revived his classic live soul sound for a modern era.

Vinyl Crate-Digging & Buying Guide

When hunting for Al Green on vinyl, your primary goal should be finding clean 1970s pressings on Hi Records with London/Royal distribution. Willie Mitchell’s production relies on deep organ bass and subtle drum textures that sound best on early analog mastering. If original pressings look scuffed, Fat Possum and Speakers Corner offer fantastic audiophile reissues. Don’t overlook his 1980s gospel records in used dollar binsโ€”they often contain pristine vinyl condition and powerful vocal performances.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are spinning his timeless early 70s Hi Records classics or diving into his late-career reunions with Willie Mitchell and Questlove, Al Green’s catalogue is pure vinyl gold. Drop the needle on Call Me or I’m Still in Love with You tonight and let the master of soul set the mood!