Al Green might not be crowned the greatest singer in the world, but he undeniably stands in the top echelon of vocalists. The Reverend’s voice – smooth and rich like aural caramel – once dominated the soul scene before unforeseen tragedies in the late 1970s disrupted his iconic career.
Among his unforgettable hits, “Let’s Stay Together” stands tall as an absolute classic. Released in 1971, this song oozes sensual groove from the very first horn note, a feeling so mesmerizing that no contender has fully rivaled it since. What shocks many, however, is the revelation that Al Green composed this timeless masterpiece in merely five minutes!
The track’s producer, Willie Mitchell, was experimenting in the studio with drummer Al Jackson, crafting a smooth soul arrangement. When Green received the demo, he was unimpressed; he swiftly delivered the lyrics in nearly the same time span as the song itself and dismissed the track altogether.
Mitchell recalls a striking battle of wills: for two full days, he had to persuade Green that the arrangement was the missing piece of a guaranteed hit. They even argued fervently over it! Eventually, Green reluctantly agreed to record the piece — on a Friday night, no less, amidst the weekend energy buzzing through the air.
That recording captured a unique swinging catharsis and free-flowing goodwill that resonated instantly. By the following Monday, Mitchell barely had to do any polishing before the track was pressed and ready. And then — almost unbelievably — on Thursday, the song soared into the charts at number eight! Remarkably, just a week prior, Green had barely accepted it, and only two weeks later the song clinched his first and only number-one hit.
The story of “Let’s Stay Together” is baffling not just for how effortlessly it was created but also for how deeply its beauty captivated a generation. The smooth yet powerful tone, the heartfelt lyrics, and that iconic groove seem to defy the slow, grinding nature of hit-making typically expected.
Adding to the saga, in 1983, Tina Turner’s cover of “Let’s Stay Together” propelled her back into the charts in the UK and US after a decade-long absence, revitalizing her career and lining Green’s pockets anew for those few minutes of musical magic in 1971.
In a powerful statement about lasting love, the song’s lyrics plead:
“Let’s stay together
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…”
The emotional weight, the groove, and the history all unfold in this song, ensuring it remains one of the greatest soul anthems ever recorded. And the fact it emerged with such lightning speed ties the creation of a legendary masterpiece to a near-miraculous event in music history, leaving fans and historians alike amazed and intrigued.