Reverend Albert Green (born April 13 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is an … Read Full Bio ↴Reverend Albert Green (born April 13 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is an American Grammy award winning soul and gospel singer who enjoyed great popularity in the 70s with hit singles such as "Let's Stay Together", Tired of Being Alone", and "You Oughta Be With Me". Green has boasted a voice capable of both fluid high streams of sugar and deep south growls and rasps. He has sold over 20 million records worldwide, and he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, being referred to as "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music."

Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. He started performing at age ten in a Forrest City quartet called the Greene Brothers; he dropped the final "E" from his last name years later as a solo artist. They toured extensively in the mid-1950s in the South until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they began to tour around Michigan. His father kicked him out of the group because he caught Green listening to Jackie Wilson.

In 1967 at the age of 16, Al formed an R&B group, Al Green & the Creations, with several of his high-school friends. Two Creation members, Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, founded their own independent record company, Hot Line Music Journal, and had the group record for the label. By that time, the Creations had been re-named the Soul Mates. The group's first single, "Back Up Train," became a surprise hit, climbing to number five on the R&B charts early in 1968. The Soul Mates attempted to record another hit, but all of their subsequent singles failed to find an audience. In 1969, Al Green met bandleader and Hi Records vice president Willie Mitchell while on tour in Midland, Texas. Impressed with Green's voice, he signed the singer to Hi Records, and began collaborating with Al on his debut album

He was perhaps the ideal complement to the orchestral, syrupy, strong soul production work of Hi Records wizard Willie Mitchell, who also helmed 70s classics for Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, and himself.

On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson, a woman who was his longtime girlfriend, threw a large pot of sticky boiling grits on him as he was preparing to shower, because he didn't want to get married. She committed suicide in minutes, which deeply affected Green to turn to God and religion. This assault from behind caused third-degree burns on his back, stomach and arm. Deeply shaken, Green continued to reaffirm and grow closer to his deeply held love for God, and became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976.
Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics. 1977's The Belle Album was critically acclaimed but did not regain his former mass audience. In 1979 Green injured himself falling off the stage while performing in Cincinnati and interpreted this as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing, also appearing in 1982 with Patti Labelle in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. According to Glide Magazine, "by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music." His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight "soul gospel performance" Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell along with Angelo Earl for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church. In 1989, Green released "I Get Joy", again with producer/guitarist Angelo Earl. In 2001, he appeared in the movie and soundtrack of On the Line featuring Lance Bass.

After spending several years exclusively performing gospel, Green began to return to Rhythm & Blues. First, he released a duet with Annie Lennox, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" for Scrooged, a 1988 Bill Murray film. In 1989 Green worked with producer Arthur Baker writing and producing the international hit "The Message Is Love". In 1991 he created the introductory theme song for the short-lived television series Good Sports featuring Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. In 1992, Green recorded again with Baker, the Fine Young Cannibals, and reunited with his former Memphis mix engineer (this time functioning as producer) Terry Manning, to release the album Don't Look Back. His 1994 duet with country music singer Lyle Lovett blended country with R&B, garnering him his ninth Grammy, this time in a pop music category. Green's first secular album in some time was Your Heart's In Good Hands (1995), released to positive reviews but disappointing sales, the same year Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Green published Take Me to the River, a book discussing his career. Green received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
In 2001, Green's live cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" was released on the soundtrack to Will Smith's film Ali (the song plays when Muhammad Ali learns of the death of close friend Malcolm X).
By 2003 Green released a non-religious (secular) album entitled I Can't Stop, his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell since 1985's He is the Light. In March 2005 he issued Everything's OK as the follow-up to I Can't Stop. Green also collaborated with Mitchell on this secular CD.

The title of Al Green's latest album Lay It Down released May, 2008, truly tells it like it is. Conceived as a collaboration between the soul legend and a handful of gifted young admirers from the worlds of contemporary R&B and hip hop, the album is drawn from a series of inspired sessions that yielded the most high-spirited, funky and often lushly romantic songs of Green's latter-day career.

The project features the sophisticated R&B voices of singer-songwriters John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, and it was co-produced with Green by two of hip-hop's most innovative players, drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson from the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser , the go-to guy for high-profile artists ranging from Erykah Badu to Common. Add in Brooklyn's celebrated Dap-King Horns (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse), guitarist Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff), among others, and you've got a modern soul-music dream team, fronted by the most expressive voice in the business.

#027. Let's Stay Together
Al Green Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let's stay together

I, I'm I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

Let me say that since, baby, since we've been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue

Oh baby
Let's, let's stay together (gether)
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can't see
You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here's what I want us do)

Let's, we oughta stay together (gether)
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Come on

Let's stay,(let's stay together) let's stay together
Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Al Green's song Let's Stay Together are a declaration of love and commitment. The singer is deeply in love with the person he is addressing and is willing to do whatever it takes to make the relationship work. He's open to their partner's wishes and assures them that he'll be there for them through good times and bad.

He expresses his desire to spend the rest of his life with the one he loves and promises to never be untrue. He acknowledges that some people break up and make up, but he's certain that their love will last forever. The chorus ('Let's, let's stay together') is an affirmation of the couple's commitment to each other and their relationship.

Overall, the song is a beautiful ode to love and a call to stay loyal and dedicated to the person we love. It's a timeless classic that's been covered by many artists since its release in 1971.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's stay together
I want to remain in this loving relationship with you

I, I'm I'm so in love with you
I am deeply in love with you

Whatever you want to do
I support whatever you want to do

Is all right with me
Your choices are acceptable to me

Cause you make me feel so brand new
You bring a refreshing and exciting new feeling to my life

And I want to spend my life with you
I want to commit my life to being with you

Let me say that since, baby, since we've been together
Let me express the idea that since we have been together

Loving you forever
I will love you for all eternity

Is what I need
Your love is an absolute necessity for me

Let me be the one you come running to
I desire to be the person you seek in times of need

I'll never be untrue
I will always be faithful

Oh baby
My dear

Let's, let's stay together (gether)
I highly suggest we stay together

Lovin' you whether, whether
I will continue to love you regardless of circumstances

Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Even during difficult times or emotions

Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and affirmation

Why, why some people break up
I question why some couples choose to separate

Then turn around and make up
Only to reconcile shortly afterward

I just can't see
I cannot understand that behavior

You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)
I have faith that you would never do that to me

Staying around you is all I see
I only want to be around you

Here's what I want us do
I have a plan for us

Let's, we oughta stay together (gether)
We should definitely stay together

Come on
Encouraging you to take action

Let's stay, (let's stay together) let's stay together
I want us to remain in this committed relationship

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL JACKSON JR, WILLIE MITCHELL, AL GREEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

John Jones

10y

Thanks for the info and the diagram! It was exactly what I have been looking for! I do have the L shaped mother daughter boards! I have been so pleased with all the help from you an many others in the hobby! Keep up the good fight and preserving the classics!

Retro Games Party

10y

Thanks for the feedback, would love to do some monitor repair videos, I have a bunch of Electrohome G07's to do at the moment, all with strange faults - my skills aren't as good as some veterans but it might be best to show working through the experience. Trying to get at least one up a week. Maybe if we did a video on the fault as it happens then another when its fixed?

Dr Drumbeat

I don't remember ever finding Gorf in the Aracde :( Having said that, It was one of the first games I had my Vic 20; I think it was on one of those massive cartridges! Either which way, I have fond memories of playing it ! I'm 45 now and it's strange how I missed it in the arcade :$ PS I do like your videos :)

snap bang

10y

love the repair vids maybe you can do some more videos on monitor repair as we all have problems with them. maybe you could do a weekly video rather than weeks without a video. maybe you could show us wich machines are down and why they are down hope to see another vid up soon

steadicamant

10y

Again great little video very informative. I have subscribed so look forward to seeing more stuff in the future. I found you through arcadeuk's channel. I am also a northwest based enthusiast (Bolton) so look forward to meeting you probably at one of the events in the area. Possibly even one of yours! It is now 2.07am and I will probably end up watching a few more of these before bed!

steadicamant

10y

@retrogamesparty
Hi, the usename is kinda related to my work, I am a cameraman/Steadicam/Jib operator. I am also on ukvac, as "Anthony Graham" my small brain can't cope with nicknames on forums! I will shoot you a PM there!

Retro Games Party

10y

Glad you like the video, like your username, you'll be welcome to come to our next event which will probably be in February, stay in touch to get an invite.

Retro Daz

Hiya James, nice video. As you know from my ukvac posts recently, I've just got myself a US gorf, any advice regarding the power supply, is it worth ditching the linear supply, I'd hate to fry the board components. I see you sell an adapter for the switcher power supplies. Simple to convert from 110 to 240 if I choose to do so?

snap bang

10y

that's great cant wait for the monitor repairs might help me fix some of mine

Richard Chan 0

in no way am i an expert in electronics or anything, but looking at the way the wiring was just soldered onto the connector just looked horrible! nice job fixing up all the connectors and everything. i can't pretend to understand everything you've explained in this vid but it's an interesting insight into the workings of an old arcade cabinet

Retro Games Party

10y

Yes, the problem with buying arcade machines is that they have been owned by several people and have been modified usually, half the battle is figuring out why someone stuck "that wire there" and the "time saving" way people have kept things going like those wires soldered directly to the legs of the power input. The main power regulator a 2N3055 goes open when it fails and feeds +13v into the +5v line - hence the mod. The PCB uses a rare astrocade +5v custom chip so we want to protect them.

John Jones

10y

I am doing a switching power supply swap into a similar Bally Midway Space Invaders. I was wondering if you could share with me the diagram or configuration of your reworked reset? I think it would be very similar in my machine. Feel free to correct me if I am way off base. I am new to the hobby! This Space invaders is my third machine and hands-down the worse condition. I love that people are passionate about keeping these classics up and running.

Retro Games Party

10y

Hi John, The two are completely different beasts, I have the pinout for GORF somewhere in my folder at the workshop and it was simple to create an interface. Space Invaders will depend on whether you have the L-shaped board or the standard two board stack. I used this schematic: http://www.robotron-2084.co.uk/manuals/invaders/taito_space_invader_l_shaped_board_pinout.pdf the power on reset (POR) is simply tied to ground but there's a diagram for creating the correct circuit for it. At the new arcade we have an L-shaped board which is not coming out of reset at the moment but I haven't had it on the bench yet so it could be a RAM fault which is quite common on those. Just ask if you need any more info.

michelkoch

10y

Nice work...thanks.

TheBlackie63

hi james nice video found it very educational have a gorf myself thats in rebuild process im on ukvac (vids) keep up the good work :0)

TheBlackie63

hi James got that sorted but sadly it blows the middle 2amp slow blow fuse so now a bit stuck I love arcade games lol any ideas ? thanks for all your help gav

Retro Games Party

7y↑1

You can literally break into the monitor cable with terminal block or you can add to the 240v (BLUE) wires at the transformer. Just please ensure you set the SMPSU to the correct voltage and that you ensure any power you take is AFTER the isolation switch so that your SMPSU and PCB are always OFF when you pull the back door off - I see so many bodged in power supplies which are always live straight off the mains input. Its a simple wiring job to break into the cables. I think on mine, I did it at the transformer by adding a terminal block on the output which went to the second transformer for the monitor - I also think I did it just after the fuse on that side of the circuit.

TheBlackie63

I have your psu and adapter reading up on the instructions I notice I should try to power the psu by running a spur from either the monitor connection or tap the transformer , I have already moved the 3 blue wires from 110v to 240v on the mt87 transformer to bring it over to UK power bit of a loss on exactly how to tap the monitor cable bit nervous around monitors lol advice appreciated thanks again

Retro Games Party

7y↑1

You're welcome, if you get stuck with anything, just ask

K J W

On the bench workshop ! Luxury ! but for field service engineer on site, where the operator wants it fixed, is a different situation !

K J W

But, that was, the real world in the 80's.

Retro Games Party

Unless you can get the board outside the machine in some way I don't recommend field service. Too much risk of creating secondary failures both to the board and the machine. Realistically you can only do so much field diagnosis and the operator will find themselves phoning around and wasting their time when they should have let the engineer take it away.

raydeen2k

GORF is FROG spelled backwards. I pointed that out to my friend Bill (who loved the game back then) and he tried to punch me in the face.

Mike Reddy

Any chance you can point me to the "NICE BIG PRINTED Schematic for GORF"? I need to do a power supply replacement on my Gorf. Thanks, TM

Retro Games Party

6y↑1

It was a one-off I had printed. If I can find the original PSD files I created i'll make them available on the website and you can send them to a large format printing company of your choice for printing in A0 size.

I just extracted a few pages from the manual and spread them out in a PSD and sent them for printing.

Retro Games Party

10y

What monitors do you have? Can you identify the make/model? If not sure, take a photo from the back and post it on our facebook page, mainly ours are 19, 20 and 25in ones from the early 80's, haven't had to service any of the 29" ones from the later cabs and twin sit downs.

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