Love Is Reality

Love Is Reality
Studio album by
Al Green
Released1992
GenreSoul, gospel, R&B
LabelWorld/Epic[1]
ProducerTim Miner
Al Green chronology
From My Soul
(1990) 		Love Is Reality
(1992) 		Don't Look Back
(1993)

Love Is Reality is an album by the American musician Al Green, released in 1992.[2][3]

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album".[4] It peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart.[5]

Production

Recorded in Dallas, Love Is Reality was produced by Tim Miner.[6][7] It was an attempt to marry Green's traditional gospel and soul sounds to new jack swing.[8][9] Kirk Whalum played saxophone on the album; El DeBarge contributed backing vocals.[6][10]

Green cowrote all of the album's songs.[11] He raps on "You Don't Know Me".[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Boston HeraldC+[14]
Calgary HeraldB+[15]
Chicago Tribune[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[16]

Stereo Review wrote that Love Is Reality "would have been a better album if the gospel flavor were stronger, but Green pulls it all off with his customary aplomb."[17] The Chicago Tribune thought that some songs "are nearly indistinguishable from standard urban contemporary fare, with slick arrangements and occasionally ambiguous lyrics that are a far cry from standard hymns."[18]

The Calgary Herald determined that "the compositions here aren't bad, but it's Green's fluidly fervent, honey-toned voice which sets this disc apart."[15] USA Today called the album "a disappointment," and listed it as the third worst R&B album of 1992.[19] The Richmond Times-Dispatch deemed it a "high-tech, contemporary R&B gospel album."[20] The Boston Herald considered it to be "the weakest album of Green's career."[14]

AllMusic wrote that "Christian dance-pop producer Tim Miner works from formulas, while Green runs on inspiration."[13]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Can Feel It"Al Green, Tim Miner, Mark Stitts, Mike Stitts4:59
2."Love Is Reality"Al Green, Mark Stitts, Mike Stitts4:34
3."Just Can't Let You Go"Al Green, Tim Miner4:08
4."You Don't Know Me"Cindy Cruse, Al Green, Tim Miner4:07
5."Again"Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green4:52
6."Positive Attitude"Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green4:30
7."Sure Feel Good"Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green4:29
8."Long Time"Al Green, Tim Miner4:02
9."Why"Al Green, Tim Miner, John Wirtz, Robert Wirtz4:13
10."I Like It"Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green4:02

Personnel

  • Al Green – vocals
  • Tim Miner – keyboards, bass, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Mark Stitts – keyboards, guitars, arrangements
  • Gregory O'Quinn – acoustic piano, organ
  • David Ebensberger – keyboards, arrangements
  • John Wirtz – keyboards, drum programming
  • Robert Wirtz – keyboards, drum programming
  • Mike Stitts – drum programming, arrangements
  • Paul Leim – drums
  • Charlie Barnett – percussion
  • Kirk Whalum – saxophone
  • Rodney Booth – brass
  • Ron Jones – brass, brass arrangements
  • John Osborne – brass
  • Larry Dalton – strings, string arrangements
  • Karen Adams – backing vocals
  • Cindy Cruse – backing vocals
  • El DeBarge – backing vocals
  • Walter Johnson – backing vocals
  • Kindred – backing vocals
  • Mike Wilson – backing vocals

Choir

  • Karen Adams, Darryn Belieu, Yvonne Belieu, Cindy Cruse, David Ebensberger, Walter Johnson, Tim Miner, Karen Penrod, Tara Sipus, Mike Stitts and Mike Wilson

Production

  • Tim Miner – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Jeff Adams – engineer
  • Mark Cassimatis – engineer
  • David Ebensberger – engineer
  • Gene Eichelberger – engineer
  • Win Kutz – engineer, mixing
  • Mark Stitts – engineer
  • Mike Stitts – engineer
  • Jeff Toone – engineer
  • John Wirtz – engineer
  • Robert Wirtz – engineer
  • John Matousek – mastering
  • Amy Linden – art direction
  • Buddy Jackson – design
  • Russ Harrington – photography

References

  1. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (June 11, 1993). "Praising the Gospel – Al Green Brings Soul to 9th Annual Fest". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 31.
  2. ^ "Al Green". Robert Christgau.
  3. ^ Iverem, Esther (2 Aug 1992). "Entertainment Best Bets". News. Newsday. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Al Green". Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "Al Green". Billboard.
  6. ^ a b Norment, Lynn (Jul 1992). "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 47, no. 9. p. 18.
  7. ^ Nager, Larry (May 1, 1992). "Festivalgoers Will Witness 'Total' Singer". The Commercial Appeal. p. C1.
  8. ^ Snider, Eric (24 July 1992). "Gospel Truth". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 21.
  9. ^ Futch, Michael (April 10, 1992). "Only Al Green's Voice Saves 'Love Is Reality'". Entertainment. The Fayetteville Observer.
  10. ^ Booth, Philip (July 24, 1992). "Green rocks with the rock of ages". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 16.
  11. ^ a b Van Matre, Lynn (16 Apr 1992). "Al Green Love Is Reality". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
  12. ^ Lustig, Jay (June 14, 1992). "Green Finds Love". News. The Star-Ledger.
  13. ^ a b "Love Is Reality". AllMusic.
  14. ^ a b Katz, Larry (April 17, 1992). "Al Green Love Is Reality". Boston Herald. p. S24.
  15. ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (12 Apr 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C4.
  16. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 888.
  17. ^ "Popular Music — Love Is Reality by Al Green". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 7. Jul 1992. p. 68.
  18. ^ Dahl, Bill (6 June 1993). "Musical conversion: The Rev. Al Green gives gospel an R&B punch". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
  19. ^ Jones IV, James T (30 Dec 1992). "R&B: Smooth Sade; drab Day". USA Today. p. 4D.
  20. ^ McLeod, Harriet (June 4, 1992). "Croonin' His Tunes with Spirit and Soul". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. E26.