Love Is Reality is an album by the American musician Al Green, released in 1992.[2][3]
| Love Is Reality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Soul, gospel, R&B | |||
| Label | World/Epic[1] | |||
| Producer | Tim Miner | |||
| Al Green chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 edit
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 edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| Boston Herald | C+[14] |
| Calgary Herald | B+[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 edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Can Feel It" | Al Green, Tim Miner, Mark Stitts, Mike Stitts | 4:59 |
| 2. | "Love Is Reality" | Al Green, Mark Stitts, Mike Stitts | 4:34 |
| 3. | "Just Can't Let You Go" | Al Green, Tim Miner | 4:08 |
| 4. | "You Don't Know Me" | Cindy Cruse, Al Green, Tim Miner | 4:07 |
| 5. | "Again" | Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green | 4:52 |
| 6. | "Positive Attitude" | Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green | 4:30 |
| 7. | "Sure Feel Good" | Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green | 4:29 |
| 8. | "Long Time" | Al Green, Tim Miner | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Why" | Al Green, Tim Miner, John Wirtz, Robert Wirtz | 4:13 |
| 10. | "I Like It" | Angie Alan Ebensberger, David Ebensberger, Al Green | 4:02 |
Personnel edit
- 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 edit
- 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 edit
- ^ Hoekstra, Dave (June 11, 1993). "Praising the Gospel – Al Green Brings Soul to 9th Annual Fest". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 31.
- ^ "Al Green". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Iverem, Esther (2 Aug 1992). "Entertainment Best Bets". News. Newsday. p. 6.
- ^ "Al Green". Grammy Awards. November 23, 2020.
- ^ "Al Green". Billboard.
- ^ a b Norment, Lynn (Jul 1992). "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 47, no. 9. p. 18.
- ^ Nager, Larry (May 1, 1992). "Festivalgoers Will Witness 'Total' Singer". The Commercial Appeal. p. C1.
- ^ Snider, Eric (24 July 1992). "Gospel Truth". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 21.
- ^ Futch, Michael (April 10, 1992). "Only Al Green's Voice Saves 'Love Is Reality'". Entertainment. The Fayetteville Observer.
- ^ Booth, Philip (July 24, 1992). "Green rocks with the rock of ages". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 16.
- ^ a b Van Matre, Lynn (16 Apr 1992). "Al Green Love Is Reality". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 6.
- ^ Lustig, Jay (June 14, 1992). "Green Finds Love". News. The Star-Ledger.
- ^ a b "Love Is Reality". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Katz, Larry (April 17, 1992). "Al Green Love Is Reality". Boston Herald. p. S24.
- ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (12 Apr 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C4.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 888.
- ^ "Popular Music — Love Is Reality by Al Green". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 7. Jul 1992. p. 68.
- ^ Dahl, Bill (6 June 1993). "Musical conversion: The Rev. Al Green gives gospel an R&B punch". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
- ^ Jones IV, James T (30 Dec 1992). "R&B: Smooth Sade; drab Day". USA Today. p. 4D.
- ^ McLeod, Harriet (June 4, 1992). "Croonin' His Tunes with Spirit and Soul". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. E26.