Love Is Reality is an album by the American musician Al Green, released in 1992.[1][2]

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album".[3] It peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart.[4]

Production

Recorded in Dallas, Love Is Reality was produced by Tim Miner.[5][6] It was an attempt to marry Green's traditional gospel and soul sounds to new jack swing.[7][8] Kirk Whalum played saxophone on the album; El DeBarge contributed backing vocals.[5][9]

Green cowrote all of the album's songs.[10] He raps on "You Don't Know Me".[11]

Critical reception

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."[12] 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."[13]

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."[14] USA Today called the album "a disappointment," and listed it as the third worst R&B album of 1992.[15] The Richmond Times-Dispatch deemed it a "high-tech, contemporary R&B gospel album."[16] The Boston Herald considered it to be "the weakest album of Green's career."[17]

AllMusic wrote that "Christian dance-pop producer Tim Miner works from formulas, while Green runs on inspiration."[18]

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