Gospel According To Al Green

When one of R&B’s greatest answered a higher calling.

Al Green was arguably the most vital, creative soul singer of the 1970s, turning out a string of chart-topping hits like Tired Of Being Alone and Let’s Stay Together. Then, midway through that decade, he experienced a religious epiphany and turned toward gospel music. It took some doing but in 1983 documentary film-maker Robert Mugge convinced Green to allow the cameras to capture one of his Sunday church services. The resulting music, not surprisingly, is electrifying, providing the most memorable moments of the film, originally released the following year. Just as fascinating, though, are the interview segments, Green recalling how he wrote his most beloved songs and his transformation from R&B icon to singing preacher. Revealing and emotionally fraught, Mugge’s film is riveting both for the deep self-examination of the man and its vivid presentation of his raw talent. Jeff Tamarkin