''He Is the Light'' is an album by

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer. He is best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Tired of ...

, released in 1985. It was Green's first album for

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

. The album peaked at No. 11 on the ''Billboard'' Top Gospel Albums chart.

Production

The album marked the return of producer Willie Mitchell, who had last worked on 1976's '' Have a Good Time''. It was recorded at

Royal Studios Royal Studios is a recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1956, it is one of the oldest continuously operated music recording studios in the world. It is widely known for producer, recording artist and owne ...

, with many of the same musicians Green employed in the 1970s.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and later became a ...

wrote that "Leroy Hodges's famous bottom keeps the record flowing like none of Green's other Jesus LPs, but it's still songs that make or break--and in this case do neither." ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' declared that "the only great new Al Green song here is 'Power', which builds on 'Jesus Is Waiting' and 'Have You Been Making Out O.K.' but claims its own space in the pantheon." ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...

'' called ''He Is the Light'' "a gorgeous record: spare, crisp production, and tunes that haunt you."

Track listing

#"Going Away" (Al Green) – 3:38 #"True Love" (Green, Willie Mitchell) – 4:31 #"He Is the Light" (Mitchell, Julius Bradley) – 3:24 #"I Feel Like Going On" (Green) – 3:13 #"Be with Me Jesus" (

Sam Cooke Samuel Cooke (; January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distin ...

) – 2:54 #"You Brought the Sunshine" (Elbernita Clark) – 5:10 #"Power" (Green, Mitchell) – 5:21 #"Building Up" (Green) – 3:10 #"Nearer My God to Thee" – 3:46

Personnel

– lead and backing vocals, guitars, arrangements (9) * Perry Michael Allen – keyboards, synthesizer, percussion, string arrangements, synthesizer arrangements * Andrew Jackson – keyboards * David Cousar – guitars *

Angelo Earl Angelo Earl is an American guitarist, record producer, songwriter and owner of Soul Street Records. Earl is most widely known for playing electric guitar on Al Green's "He Is The Light", Bobby Rush's "Southern Soul", the Bar-kays' "The Real Thi ...

– guitars *

Teenie Hodges Mabon Lewis "Teenie" Hodges (November 16, 1945 – June 22, 2014) was an American musician known for his work as a rhythm and lead guitarist and songwriter on many of Al Green's soul hits, and those of other artists such as Ann Peebles and Syl ...

– guitars * Perry Michael Allen – keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, string arrangements, synthesizer arrangements * Steve Cobb – bass *

Leroy Hodges Leroy Hodges (born July 13, 1943) is an American bass guitar, electric bass player. He was born in Germantown, Tennessee, U.S.. Paired with either Booker T. & the MGs's drummer Al Jackson, Jr. or Stax staff drummer Howard Grimes, Leroy and Hi Rh ...

– bass * Jimmy Kinnard – bass *

Steve Potts Steve Potts may refer to: *Steve Potts (jazz musician) (born 1943), American jazz saxophonist *Steve Potts (footballer) (born 1967), American-born English football coach and former professional footballer *Steve Potts (drummer), drummer with Booker ...

– drums * Gary Topper – baritone saxophone * Andrew Love – tenor saxophone * Jack Hale – trombone *

Ben Cauley Ben S. Cauley Jr. (October 3, 1947 – September 21, 2015) was an American trumpet player, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the Stax recording group the Bar-Kays. He was the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the live ...

– trumpet * Willie Mitchell – horn and string arrangements * The Memphis Strings – strings * Kelli Bruce – backing vocals * Debbie Jamison – backing vocals * Michelle Omata – backing vocals

Production

* Producer and Engineer – Willie Mitchell * Remix – Perry Michael Allen and Willie Mitchell * Mastered by Larry Nix at

Ardent Studios Ardent Studios is an American recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The studio was founded in the late 1950s by John King, Fred Smith, and John Fry. Over time, it has become a commercially successful recording studio. ...

(Memphis, TN) * Art Direction – Chuck Beeson and Jeff Gold * Design – Melanie Nissen * Photography – Mark Hanauer

References

{{Authority control 1985 albums Al Green albums A&M Records albums Albums produced by Willie Mitchell (musician) Albums recorded at Royal Studios