Take Me to the River explained

Take Me to the River
Artist:Al Green
Album:Al Green Explores Your Mind
Recorded:1974, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre:
Length:3:45
Label:Hi
Producer:Willie Mitchell

"Take Me to the River" is a 1974 song written by singer Al Green and guitarist Mabon "Teenie" Hodges. Hit versions were recorded by Syl Johnson, Talking Heads and Delbert McClinton.[2] In 2004, Green's original version was ranked number 117 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[3] Green's 1974 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.[4]

Recording and composition

Al Green originally recorded the song for his 1974 album, Al Green Explores Your Mind, produced by Willie Mitchell and featuring musicians Charles, Leroy and Mabon Hodges (The Hodges Brothers), drummer Howard Grimes, and the Memphis Horns.[5] Green and Mabon Hodges wrote the song while staying in a rented house at Lake Hamilton, Arkansas, for three days in 1973 in order to come up with new material.[3] According to Mitchell, Green wrote the words and Green and Hodges wrote the tune together.[6] Green dedicated his performance on the record to "...Little Junior Parker, a cousin of mine, he's gone on but we'd like to kinda carry on in his name."[7] According to one writer, "Green's song squares the singer's early religious convictions with more earthly interests", but when the singer became a pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in 1976, he dropped the song from his repertoire.[8]

Writing in The Independent in 1994, Tim de Lisle wrote: "Musically, it was much like any other track sung by Green and produced by Willie Mitchell, the Southern-soul maestro who ran Hi Records, the Memphis Horns and the Memphis Strings: R'n'B with lashings of subtlety, a light, easy, late-night sound, in which the strings, the horns, the organ, the guitars and that wild-honey voice blend into a single swinging, winning thing. It doesn't sound like a band playing: it sounds like a lot of instruments humming."

The song was released as a single in the U.S. in 1982, in the "Motown Yesteryear Series".[9]

Reception and legacy

Al Green also used the title Take Me to the River for his autobiography, published in 2000.[10]

In 2004, Green's original recording was ranked number 117 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.[3] The song was used as the title track of the award-winning 2008 compilation album Take Me to the River: A Southern Soul Story 1961–1977.[11] [12]

In 1999 the tune was used in the popular animatronic singing toy "Big Mouth Billy Bass". This recording sung by Steve Haas was arranged and produced for the toy's manufacturers, Gemmy Industries.[13] According to Teenie Hodges, he made more money in royalties from that version than from any previous versions.[14] [15]

The song played a prominent role in two episodes of the HBO series The Sopranos, by way of the Big Mouth Billy Bass. It was also used in the 1993 movie Blood In Blood Out and also featured in the 1991 film The Commitments, sung on stage by the group of the same name.[16]

Personnel

Noteworthy cover versions

The record company, Hi Records, did not release Green's track as a single, but instead passed the song to his labelmate, Syl Johnson. Johnson's recording of the song, also produced by Willie Mitchell and featuring most of the same musicians as on Green's version, but with additional harmonica and a grittier vocal performance,[6] reached #48 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, and #7 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart,[17] [18] but reached just #95 in Canada.[19]

"Take Me to the River" has also been notably recorded and performed by other artists:

Talking Heads version

Take Me to the River
Cover:Talking Heads Take Me to the River.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Talking Heads
Album:More Songs About Buildings and Food
B-Side:Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
Released:June 30, 1978
Genre:
Length:5:01
Label:Sire
Producer:
Prev Title:Pulled Up
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Life During Wartime
Next Year:1979

The band Talking Heads recorded the song for their second album More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978). Their version, recorded with co-producer Brian Eno in Nassau, Bahamas, was initially resisted by Byrne who felt the band should not release a cover. Eventually convinced, Eno suggested that they play the song as slow as possible, before adding his own effects to it. The song was edited and released as a single, and reached #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1979,[6] [17] [31] as well as hitting the singles charts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Thomas Ryan wrote of Talking Heads' version that it "broadsided the status quo by combining the best ingredients of conventional pop music and classic soul music, stirring them together, and then presenting the mix in the guise of punk rock."[32]

In the liner notes for , singer David Byrne writes: "Coincidence or conspiracy? There were at least four cover versions of this song out at the same time: Foghat, Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm, and us. More money for Mr Green's full gospel tabernacle church, I suppose. A song that combines teenage lust with baptism. Not equates, you understand, but throws them in the same stew, at least. A potent blend. All praise the mighty spurtin' Jesus." Live versions were included on Talking Heads' albums The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads and Stop Making Sense.[6] A live version was played at the end credits of the 1998 film A Civil Action.

The track was remastered when Warner Music Group re-released and remastered the album in 2005, on its Warner Bros., Sire and Rhino Records labels in DualDisc format. The DVD-Audio side includes both stereo and 5.1 surround high resolution (96 kHz/24bit) mixes. The reissue was produced by Andy Zax with Talking Heads.

Charts

Chart (1978–1979)Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[33] 58
Canadian Singles Chart[34] 34
New Zealand Singles Chart[35] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 26

Notes and References

  1. This Ain't No Party?! Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. October 14, 2023. November 10, 2023.
  2. Book: Padgett, Ray . Cover me : the stories behind the greatest cover songs of all time . 2017 . 978-1-4549-2250-6 . New York . 114–127 . 978537907.
  3. Web site: News . https://web.archive.org/web/20070823155502/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595962/take_me_to_the_river . dead . August 23, 2007 . . 2016-10-10.
  4. Web site: GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Award . GRAMMY Awards . 22 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Jason. Elias . Explores Your Mind - Al Green | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . October 10, 2016.
  6. News: Lives of the Great Songs: Soul with plenty of body: Take Me to the River: Some songs are born great, and some have greatness thrust upon them by clever art-school graduates. Tim de Lisle follows the path of an elastic classic. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/lives-of-the-great-songs-soul-with-plenty-of-body-take-me-to-the-river-some-songs-are-born-great-and-some-have-greatness-thrust-upon-them-by-clever-artschool-graduates-tim-de-lisle-follows-the-path-of-an-elastic-classic-1392391.html . 2022-05-26 . subscription . live. Tim. de Lisle. The Independent. 6 February 1994.
  7. Talking Heads' Take Me to the River. Paul. Williams. Paul Williams (journalist). Crawdaddy!. February 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717205509/http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2009/02/18/talking-heads-take-me-to-the-river/#more-12288 . July 17, 2011 .
  8. Web site: Michael. Inscoe. Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle Church. Atlas Obscura. August 16, 2021.
  9. Web site: 45cat - Al Green - Take Me To The River / Have A Good Time - Motown Yesteryear Series - USA - Y 653F.
  10. Web site: CBSi . FindArticles.com . 2016-10-10.
  11. Web site: Steve. Leggett . Take Me to the River: A Southern Soul Story 1961–1977 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . October 14, 2008 . August 16, 2021.
  12. Web site: Latest Big Music News, Features & Stories | MOJO . Mojo4music.com . 2016-10-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225132356/http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2009/06/mojo_honours_list_09_the_winne.html . February 25, 2012.
  13. Web site: Big Mouth Billy Bass-15th Anniversary Edition . Gemmy.com . October 10, 2016 . October 11, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161011140037/http://www.gemmy.com/Big_Mouth_Billy_Bass_15th_Anniversary_Edition_p/47957.htm . dead .
  14. Phillips . Bianca . 50 years of rock-and-roll. Memphis Flyer. July 2, 2004. October 10, 2016.
  15. Web site: Guy Turns His Big Mouth Billy Bass into an Alexa! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011817/http://www.thehawkyakima.com/GUY-TURNS-HIS-BIG-MOUTH-BILLY-BASS-INTO-AN-ALEXA-/19871535?pid=534663 . November 7, 2017 . November 4, 2017 . 105.7 The Hawk.
  16. Web site: Commitments Soundtrack CD Album. CD Universe. 4 July 2016.
  17. Book: Whitburn, Joel. 2003. Top Pop Singles 1955–2002. 1st. Record Research Inc.. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 0-89820-155-1.
  18. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004 . Joel Whitburn . 1996 . Record Research . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . 0-89820-115-2 .
  19. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - July 5, 1975. Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  20. Web site: grateful dead set list 4/1/1995. cs.cmu.edu. April 1, 1995.
  21. Book: Malvinni, David. Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation. February 28, 2013. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Maryland. 978-0-8108-8348-2. en.
  22. Top Acts Shine at Billboard's Blast . December 23, 1995 . . . November 11, 2016 .
  23. Book: Martell, Nevin . 2004 . The Lillywhite Sessions . https://books.google.com/books?id=CRyn2i06jo0C&pg=PA135. Dave Matthews Band: Music for the People . 135 . Revised trade paperback . Pocket Books . New York City. November 11, 2016 . Google Books . 0-7434-9382-6 .
  24. Book: Marsh, Dave . 2004 . https://books.google.com/books?id=lK2SAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA506. The Price of the Ticket . Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts – The Definitive Biography, 1972–2003 . . Abingdon, England. 506 . 9781135880484 . November 11, 2016 . .
  25. Book: Werner, Craig . 2006 . 1998 . 'Holler If Ya Hear Me' . https://books.google.com/books?id=TRnEdRBTih4C&pg=PA350. A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of America . . Ann Arbor, Michigan. 350 . 0472031473 . November 11, 2016 . .
  26. News: Huetteman . Emmarie . Kennedy Center Honors Five, Second to None . . December 8, 2014.
  27. Brittany . Spanos . Brittany Spanos . February 10, 2015 . Courtney Love Channels Al Green for 'Take Me to the River' Cover . Rolling Stone. November 11, 2016 .
  28. Rob . Sheffield . February 26, 2015 . Why Fox's 'Empire' Is Unstoppable . . November 11, 2016 .
  29. News: Pilley . Max . 28 March 2024 . Lorde releases "Take Me to the River" for Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense . May 5, 2024 . NME.
  30. Web site: Playlist: 10 best new wave singles of 1978. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/best-songs-1978-new-wave-post-punk-singles-spotify-playlist-a8385766.html . 2022-05-26 . subscription . live. 7 June 2018. The Independent.
  31. Web site: Billboard. 10 February 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 24 February 2022. Google Books.
  32. Web site: "Take Me To The River" - Talking Heads . Superseventies.com . October 10, 2016.
  33. Web site: Top100singles.net . Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1979 . 20 March 2024 .
  34. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - February 17, 1979.
  35. Web site: Talking Heads — Take Me to the River . charts.nz . 13 August 2011.
  36. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=talking heads|chart=all}} Talking Heads Album & Song Chart History ]. Billboard . 13 August 2011.

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