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In the early and mid 1970s, the release of songs like "Let's Stay Together," "Love and Happiness," "Tired of Being Alone," and "Take Me to The River" made Al Green one of the most successful soul and pop singers in the world. However, as the decade progressed, Green suffered an existential crisis, prompted by a questioning of his own increasingly decadent lifestyle, as well as by the death of a girlfriend who scalded him with hot grits before shooting and killing herself. He also claims to have had a religious reawakening after performing a concert at Disneyland, as well as periodic meltdowns on stage. All of this led to his abandonment of popular music, his purchase of a Memphis church building, his installation of himself as the pastor of that church, and the start of a part-time career as gospel artist. Robert Mugge's 1984 film GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN documented the seventh-anniversary service at Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle Church, a rehearsal in his Memphis recording studio, an extended interview, and a concert at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. Also interviewed for the film were legendary record producer Willie Mitchell, who produced and co-wrote Green's most famous soul hits, and music and TV critic Ken Tucker, who helped to place Green's accomplishments in a larger cultural context. In short, as presented in the film, Green's story is a mythic tale about a rhythm and blues artist who started out singing love songs to women, but ended up singing similar songs to God. In other words, as Mugge once said when introducing screenings of GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN, "This is a film about love; a film about the connections between soul music and gospel; and a film about a man who flew too close to the sun, got his eyeballs burned, and has been singing ever since with fire coming out of his mouth." Thanks to the film's 4K remastering, the power of Green's performances, and the intimacy of his storytelling, have never shone more brightly.

Media

Watch Robert Mugge interviewed courtesy of REEL BLACK »

Track Listing

Bonus Materials

• 90-minute audio interview, reflections by director Robert Mugge, concert excerpts, extended song, extended audio excerpt of church service, and original theatrical trailer.

Sales Points

• The definitive portrait of legendary soul and gospel artist Al Green.

Press Quotes

Mr. Mugge's handsome film...captures [Green's] full wattage - and that's saying a lot. Extraordinary singing and performing.

     —Jon Pareles, New York Times

You'll probably never hear a more powerful vocal spectacle; it's James Brown times ten. This is an amazing movie, packed with astonishing music. It's also a riveting exploration of the psychology of pop ambition.

     —David Chute, Los Angeles Herald Examiner

One of the most powerful 'live' performances ever captured on film. It's frightening. An electrifying new film.

     —Greg Quill, Toronto Star

Electrifying. Intelligent. Really fascinating. An absorbing film that illustrates soul music's debt to gospel and offers an in-depth look at one of soul and gospel's most compelling performers.

     —Lynn Van Matre, Chicago Tribune

This is transcendent Al Green, as fully connected to the glory of singing as anything higher. Joy is at hand. Compelling entertainment.

     —Lloyd Sachs, Chicago Sun-Times

In the fascinating, musically overwhelming GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN...Mugge creates an unexpectedly whole and various picture of an enigmatic, striking personality.

     —Michael Sragow, San Francisco Examiner

A unique and fascinating glimpse into the life and memory of one of soul music's most perplexing figures. Quite shocking in its intimacy. Essential viewing.

     —Andy Gill, New Musical Express (U.K.)

Al Green remains one of the most potent singers of the era, even if he's singing for God now. Screaming, moaning, sweating through his suit, Green offers his voice in total supplication to the Lord...wailing until he's in danger of bursting a vein.

     —G. Brown, Denver Post

A revelation. Pure musical electricity. GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN, which explores the aftermath of Green's conversion, lets you share that electricity, as well as the palpable bliss of the man who generates it. Fascinating.

     —Owen Gleiberman, Boston Phoenix

An extraordinary film. Alternately touching, funny, fiery, evasive and spacy, Green comes across as a real happy-go-lucky evangelist. Dramatic. An artful job.

     —Steve Morse, Boston Globe