Al Green & RAYE, Perfect Day | Dazzling Duets

In the seventh edition of Dazzling Duets (2026), iconic musician Al Green and Grammy-nominated British standout RAYE collaborate on “Perfect Day.”

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight striking songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column. In the seventh edition of Dazzling Duets (2026), Al Green and RAYE collaborate on “Perfect Day”. Let the dazzle begin!

That is nothing short of sweet, Al Green (b. 1946), or should I say, Rev. Al Green! After an extended hiatus, the legendary soul and gospel musician returned epically in 2023 with the single, “Perfect Day”.  Although Green covered the 1972 Lou Reed gem (R.I.P.), he made “Perfect Day” his own with a perfect rendition.  With the release of his To Love Somebody (EP) in 2026, Green released a duet version featuring the high-flying vocals of Grammy-nominated British singer-songwriter, RAYE (Rachel Keen). This remixed edition is nothing short of dazzling!

With Al Green at the helm, the soulfulness is lit! Matthew Johnson and Bruce Watson give the iconic musician a soulful, lush production.  The palette of sounds is utterly stupendous, including guitar (Will Sexton), gospel-tinged organ (Reverend Charles Hodges), and a string quartet.   The retro soul sounds refreshing in the 2020s rather than anachronistic. Beyond the amazing accompaniment, the star of the show is Al Green.  His vocal performance is compelling – strong to the nth degree. 77, when the cover was originally recorded, he doesn’t miss a beat, wowing with his once-in-a-lifetime, distinct voice.  In the first verse, he makes this rock classic sound brand-new, reincarnated as a Memphis soul cut, of course.  The chorus, excerpted earlier, is where his bread is truly buttered.  RAYE takes the reins during the second verse, replacing Green’s verse in his original cover.  Listening to her sing, she confirms just how brilliant she is as a vocalist.  Her nuances are elegant, sophisticated, and spot-on.  I love how she never forces things, delivering a playful performance that oozes with soulfulness, even given its coolness, playfulness, and restraint, etc.  There is an element of talk-singing, which ups the ante with Keen never needing to deliver gospel histrionics. Beyond her lead in the second verse, her background vocals, accompanying herself and the Rev, contribute greatly to the marvelous, utterly sublime nature of this cover.  Those higher vocals – ooh-wee, they’re nice, RAYE!  While Green and RAYE never have a huge collaborative moment where both let ‘er rip simultaneously, this duet version of “Perfect Day” gives soul enthusiasts even more to sink their teeth into.

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Al Green » To Love Somebody (EP) » Fat Possum » 2026

Al Green & RAYE, Perfect Day: Dazzling Duets No. 7 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Fat Possum ; ANTONI SHKRABA production from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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