The Belle Album
Encyclopedia
The Belle Album is a studio album
by soul
musician Al Green
. It is his first album recorded without longtime producer Willie Mitchell, owner of Green's former label, Hi Records
. With Mitchell and his label Green also abandoned the famed Hi Rhythm Section
, which had previously played a large part in defining Green's distinctive musical style. This also marks the first instance in which Green plays lead guitar
on his records.
The Belle Album is one of the last in a string of secular recordings made by Green; he had recently converted to Christianity
and had been ordained as a pastor, and thereafter he began creating gospel
records exclusively.
, Fred Jordan
and Reuben Fairfax, Jr., except where noted.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musician Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
. It is his first album recorded without longtime producer Willie Mitchell, owner of Green's former label, Hi Records
Hi Records
Hi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
. With Mitchell and his label Green also abandoned the famed Hi Rhythm Section
Hi Rhythm Section
The Hi Rhythm Section was most notably the house band for hit soul albums by several artists, including Al Green and Ann Peebles, on Willie Mitchell's Hi Records label in the 1970s. The band included the three Hodges brothers, Charles Hodges , Leroy Hodges , and Mabon "Teenie" Hodges , together...
, which had previously played a large part in defining Green's distinctive musical style. This also marks the first instance in which Green plays lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
on his records.
The Belle Album is one of the last in a string of secular recordings made by Green; he had recently converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and had been ordained as a pastor, and thereafter he began creating gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
records exclusively.
Track listing
All songs written by Al GreenAl Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Fred Jordan
Fred Jordan
Fred Jordan currently serves as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.Jordan was born on January 3, 1974. He attended Dewey High School in Dewey. He is an Eagle Scout and continues to play an active role in the Boy Scouts....
and Reuben Fairfax, Jr., except where noted.
Side two
- "I Feel Good" – 5:20
- "All N All" (A. Green, S. Green) – 3:39
- "Chariots of Fire" – 3:50
- "Dream" – 7:33
Personnel
- Al GreenAl GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
– vocals, acoustic and electricElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Reuben Fairfax, Jr. – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, bell lyre - James Bass – electric guitar
- Margaret Foxworth, Linda JonesLinda JonesLinda Jones was an American soul singer.Jones was born in Newark, New Jersey. She started singing in her family's gospel group the Jones Singers at the age of six...
, Harvey JonesHarvey JonesHarvey Mabry Jones was an American football halfback and defensive back in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Baylor University....
– background vocals - Leon ThomasLeon ThomasAmos Leon Thomas Jr was an American avant garde jazz singer from East St. Louis, Illinois.Thomas studied music at Tennessee State University. In the 1960s he was a vocalist for Count Basie and others....
– clavinetClavinetA Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
, Fender Rhodes pianoRhodes pianoThe Rhodes piano is an electro-mechanical piano, invented by Harold Rhodes during the fifties and later manufactured in a number of models, first in collaboration with Fender and after 1965 by CBS.... - Johnny BrownJohnny BrownJohnny Brown is an American actor and singer. Brown is a nightclub and stage performer as well as a comic actor, and a regular cast member of the television series Laugh-in. Brown is mostly remembered for his chubby physique, wide ingratiating smile, mobile facial expressions, and easy pleasant...
– acoustic pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Fender Rhodes piano - Fred JordanFred JordanFred Jordan currently serves as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.Jordan was born on January 3, 1974. He attended Dewey High School in Dewey. He is an Eagle Scout and continues to play an active role in the Boy Scouts....
– Fender Rhodes piano, RolandRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
String Ensemble, Polyphonic Orchestration, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, flugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus... - John Toney – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, Syndrum - Rob PayneRob PayneRob Payne is a Canadian novelist.Payne is married and lives in Perth, Australia with his wife and daughter.He is the author of three dramatic-comedy novels for adults, and two science fiction, comedy-adventure novels for young adults...
– Syndrum - Ardis Hardin – drums
- Buddy Jarrett – alto sax
- Darryl Neely – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Ron Echols – tenor and baritone saxBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
External links
- The Belle Album at AcclaimedMusic
- The Belle Album at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...