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View Full Version : Al Green "Take Me to the River"

daddyo
10-19-2008, 08:43 PM
Is it me or is this just a great funky song by a great singer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgm7v284JI&feature=related
Let's pretend the Talking Heads version never happened.
scottlr
10-19-2008, 09:10 PM
Love me some Al Green!
Craftmatic
10-19-2008, 09:24 PM
Is it me or is this just a great funky song by a great singer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tgm7v284JI&feature=related
Let's pretend the Talking Heads version never happened.

:agreeOh man do I. What a crime that an anemic cover got to be the known version of such a smokin' song. THE man is burning in that video! And so is his band. I have nothing against the Talking Heads - love their artsy, fartsy stuff (I went to art school with them and played in a lot of Chris Frantz' bands) but this is one of the most dynamic soul songs of all time and the original version is unbeatable. I remember in the 80's I put it on a dance tape for a huge loft party I helped throw and the place went wild. Lots of white folks (including me) getting funky. Anyway, thanks for turning me own to this video. I miss the original Soul Train too!
DanR
10-19-2008, 09:25 PM
I had (and still have) the album, "Al Green Explores Your Mind" on vinyl. I think I bought it in '75. I bought it specifically because I had heard "Take Me to the River" on the radio. When the Talking Heads remade it, it was old hat for me. I think they did a real cool version, but the original is certainly a gem, as well.
Smakutus
10-19-2008, 09:28 PM
Al Green's Greatest hits is a great album and this song isn't on it... What kind of drums is that guy playing there? Was it designed by the guy that did the L'eggs pantyhose eggs?

Jeff
Gris
10-19-2008, 09:44 PM
We patterned out version of 'TMTTR' after Al's... :-)
playon
10-20-2008, 01:07 AM
I like both versions, but Al Green rules.
Mark Ray
10-20-2008, 07:18 AM
Don't forget Foghat's version! It's on the Night Shift album, and it smokes.

Mark
GDking
10-20-2008, 07:20 AM
I like the talking heads version much better.
ghost
10-20-2008, 07:31 AM
BROTHER, THANKS FOR POSTING THAT...I FORGOT HOW SMOKIN THE ORIGINAL IS...LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!:phones




so just for grins....what other covers (good or bad) are people aware of?

so far;

Talking heads

Foghat

i'll add one: Annie Lennox


Any more out there that you know of ? ....
DrewB
10-20-2008, 08:48 AM
I've heard Gov't Mule do it in concert, but they haven't put it on an album.
HeyMrTeleMan
10-20-2008, 11:19 AM
The Rev. Al tears it up in a FUNKY version of Take Me to the River at the '96 Olympic closing ceremony (right here in Atlanta, GA). BB's first and then Al comes out (around 1:52 of the vid), with BB backing on Lucille! Wish I'd had tickets to THAT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3a7ZpkelLY&feature=related

Enjoy!
Paul Conway
10-20-2008, 11:26 AM
Teenie Hodges, Al Jackson Jr....how could it be any less than awesome?
Lance
10-20-2008, 12:04 PM
BROTHER, THANKS FOR POSTING THAT...I FORGOT HOW SMOKIN THE ORIGINAL IS...LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!:phones




so just for grins....what other covers (good or bad) are people aware of?

so far;

Talking heads

Foghat

i'll add one: Annie Lennox


Any more out there that you know of ? ....

I once saw the Grateful Dead play it at the Pyramid in Memphis on April Fools 1995. Pretty solid show....for '95. Yeah, they played Candyman & Tennessee Jed too!
Ryguy
10-20-2008, 01:53 PM
There is another GREAT version by Syl Johnson from Stax across town in Memphis that smokes!
kwaves99
10-20-2008, 02:13 PM
I once saw the Grateful Dead play it at the Pyramid in Memphis on April Fools 1995. Pretty solid show....for '95. Yeah, they played Candyman & Tennessee Jed too!


Weir has been doing TMTTR for years with Ratdog also.
Cowboy
10-20-2008, 02:26 PM
That - and Rev. Al - just SMOKES!!!!

Cowboy
Gris
10-20-2008, 09:41 PM
The Talking Heads version is as 'white' as it gets. And, the Rev. Al Green's version is as 'black' as it gets. Because we are 'white,' our version is the bastard child of both versions. We would like to do it even more like Green, but we just couldn't pull that off, so we do it our very own way, LOL ... :-)
mc5nrg
10-20-2008, 11:53 PM
Mitch Ryder owns this song along with "Ain't Nobody White". Its on the Live Talkies release.
Ulysses
10-21-2008, 01:44 AM
There is another GREAT version by Syl Johnson from Stax across town in Memphis that smokes!

+1. It's one of those songs that you remember when and where you were when it came on the radio. It was actually a top 10 R&B hit back in the AM radio days. I remember exactly where I was and who was in my car when I first heard it. Syl Johnson played with Junior Wells, Magic Sam, and Jimmy Reed. His version of this song takes Al's to school and then some. That's a pretty stout claim but well worth seeking out. I think the name of the LP was "Total Explosion!" and it is a legendary R&B classic album.
daddyo
10-21-2008, 07:27 AM
Syl Johnson, Take Me To the River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA7bb0lNLmw
Mike9
10-21-2008, 08:44 AM
Oh yeah that's funky - :dude
Ulysses
10-21-2008, 11:09 AM
Syl Johnson, Take Me To the River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA7bb0lNLmw

His original album cut was a terminally funky version with a much slower tempo and sparse arrangement. Even though Syl's version originally charted in the R&B top ten it was said that he always felt in the shadow of Al green's up tempo version. Because of this he decided to compromise his version to more resemble Al's when playing live. His studio cut is the one though.