Wikipedia

Love Is Reality

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

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)

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

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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

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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

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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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  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.
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