Al Green vs. Talking Heads | Head 2 Head

In the 4^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Al Green and Talking Heads contend for the best rendition of “Take Me to the River.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 4^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Al Green and Talking Heads contend for the best rendition of “Take Me to the River”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Al Green, “Take Me to the River”

💿 Al Green Explores Your Mind • 🏷 Hi / Fat Possum • 🗓 1974

“Take Me to the River” is one of the most beloved songs by legendary soul icon, Al Green. It appears on his 1974 album, Al Green Explores Your Mind.  A groovy record, chocked-full of soul – Green don’t do nothing but soulfulness – the non-single charted nowhere.  However, a cover by Talking Heads would become a hit four years later.  Just to reiterate, everyone considers this to be among Green’s best.

The music is a big reason why “Take Me to the River” is electrifying.  The accompaniment oozes with Memphis soul. Appearing on the record is standard rhythm section, alongside exuberant horns and The Memphis Strings.  This gives Al Green, the main reason why “Take Me to the River” is the soul bop that it is, fuel for the fire.  He wrote this record alongside Mabon “Teenie” Hodges, who plays guitar on the album.  “I don’t why I love you like I do / After all these changes that you put me through,” Green sings in the first verse, continuing, “You stole my money and my cigarettes / And I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you yet.” Woo! In the second verse, it’s more of the same, with Green singing, “I don’t know why she treated me so bad / Look at all the things that we could have had.” In the chorus, the centerpiece, he sings, “Take me to the river and wash me down / Won’t you cleanse my soul? Put my feet on the ground.”  As he has throughout his career, Green balances the worldly and the spiritual.  Spiritually, on the brilliant “Take Me to the River”, he needs a cleanse.

Appears in 🔻:

• Al Green, Take Me to the River: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 5 (2024)

2. Talking Heads, “Take Me to the River”

💿 More Songs About Buildings and Food • 🏷 Sire • 🗓 1978 

Sometimes, an original song doesn’t get the same buzz as a cover, at least, initially. It even happens to a musical giant like Al Green who wrote (alongside Mabon “Teenie” Hodges) and recorded  “Take Me to the River” first for his 1974 album, Al Green Explores Your Mind.  It wasn’t released as a single, and was recorded by another soul artist, Syl Johnson, who earned moderate chart success.  However, Johnson’s success was ultimately eclipsed by the rock band, Talking Heads, who earned top-40 success with their cover (no. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979).  “Take Me to the River” appears as the 10^th track on their 1978, gold certified album, More Songs About Buildings and Food.

So, how did Talking Heads make “Take Me to the River,” a great, if initially underappreciated Al Green song, their own? In their hands, the tempo is slower. The band takes their time establishing the groove – letting it cook if you will.  Even though it’s a departure from the overt, gospel-infused, Memphis soul sound, this cover still has ample soul.  Some of the sounds that truly fuel the fire is the use of bluesy organ, distorted guitars, and its own, irresistible groove anchoring things down.  Perhaps the biggest shoes to fill are the vocals considering the anointed, once-in-a-lifetime pipes of Green.  Ultimately, David Byrne shines, serving up incredibly playful vocals dipped in S-O-U-L.  As “Take Me to the River” progresses, his pipes grow more dynamic with some of his best moments occurring in the bridge. Speaking of the bridge, this section has the argument as the crowning achievement in this epic take. Look at it this way, if the original version couldn’t get its just due, what rendition of “Take Me to the River” is more deserving than Talking Heads? It totally rocks!

Appears in 🔻:

• Talking Heads, Take Me to the River: Covers No. 3 (2024)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, who owns the definitive version of “Take Me to the River”? Is it the original by Al Green that wasn’t released as a single, or it the transformative cover by Talking Heads?  This one is a difficult call – more so than other Head 2 Head battles.  That said, Talking Heads take top honors on this one.  The source material by Green is epic, as is his own, Memphis soul take.  Still, the soulful rock take by David Byrne and company is nothing short of legendary.

Al Green vs. Talking Heads: Head 2 Head No. 4 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Hi / Fat Possum, Sire; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]