Al Green, Perfect Day | Track Review 🎵

Grammy winning soul icon Al Green releases his first single in five years covering (and transforming) the Lou Reed classic, “Perfect Day,” perfectly.

“Oh, just a perfect day / I’m glad I spent it with you / Such a perfect day / You just keep me hanging on.” Aww, so sweet, 🎙 Al Green! After an extended hiatus (understatement), one of soul’s greatest musicians returns epically with single, 🎵 “Perfect Day”.  “Perfect Day” isn’t an original, it’s a cover by the late, great, 🎙 Lou Reed.  “Perfect Day” famously appeared on Reed’s 1972 album, 💿 Transformer.  Even though the Reverend is covering, as always, he makes “Perfect Day” his own with a perfect rendition.

With Al Green at the helm, the soulfulness kicks up a million notches! How could it not? 🎛 Matthew Johnson and Bruce Watson give the iconic musician soulful, lush production.  The palette of sounds is utterly stupendous, including guitar (🎸Will Sexton), gospel-tinged organ (🎙 Reverend Charles Hodges), and a string quartet 🎻.  Obviously, he’s singing a 1970s song, and Green’s heyday in soul circles was the 70s, so, it makes sense the sound is retro.  Even so, hearing authentic soul in 2023 does NOT sound anachronistic but rather refreshing. As awesome as the sound is, the biggest reason why “Perfect Day” is so perfect is the stellar, true strong vocal performance by Al Green.  Sure, he’s a ripe young 77, but does he miss a beat let alone a note? Nope.  🎵 “Perfect Day”, hence is the perfect comeback from Green, period.  Also, shout out 🎙 Raye for those marvelous backing vocals!

🎙 Al Green • 🎵 “Perfect Day” • 🏷 Fat Possum • 🗓 8.21.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Fat Possum; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]