Let's Stay Together (Al Green song)

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"Let's Stay Together"
Al-green-lets-stay-together-1971-US-vinyl.jpg
A-side label of US vinyl single
Single by Al Green
from the album Let's Stay Together
B-side"Tomorrow's Dream"
ReleasedNovember 1971
Recorded1971
GenreSoul
Length3:18
LabelHi (2202)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Al Green
  • Willie Mitchell
Audio sample
Menu
0:00
"Let's Stay Together"
  • file
  • help

"Let's Stay Together" is a song by American singer Al Green from his 1972 album of the same name. It was produced and recorded by Willie Mitchell, and mixed by Mitchell and Terry Manning. Released as a single in 1971, "Let's Stay Together" reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 16 weeks and also topped Billboard's R&B chart for nine weeks.[1] Billboard ranked it as the number 11 song of 1972.[2]

It was ranked the 60th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine on their 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[3] and has been covered by numerous other performers, most notably Tina Turner.

It was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[4] The song went on to claim the number 1 position on the Billboard Year-End chart as an R&B song for 1972.

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[10] Gold 25,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Platinum 600,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Tina Turner version[]

"Let's Stay Together"
Tina Turner - Let's Stay Together.jpg
One of cover arts
Single by Tina Turner
from the album Private Dancer
B-side"I Wrote a Letter"
ReleasedNovember 7, 1983 (1983-11-07) (UK)[13]
January 1984 (US)[14]
Recorded1983
Genre
Length5:16 (album version)
3:36 (single edit)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Tina Turner singles chronology
"Ball of Confusion"
(1982) 		"Let's Stay Together"
(1983) 		"Help!"
(1984)
Music video
"Let's Stay Together" on YouTube
Audio sample
Menu
0:00
"Let's Stay Together"
  • file
  • help

"Let's Stay Together" was later covered by Tina Turner, her second collaboration with the British Heaven 17 and British Electric Foundation production team after "Ball of Confusion" in 1982, and served as her comeback single in late 1983. Unlike Al Green's version, Turner sings verse 2 first, then verse 1 when the band starts playing.

Released by Capitol Records in November 1983, the single charted at number 6 in the UK (one place higher than Al Green's original) and became the third time she reached the UK top ten, the first two being with former husband Ike Turner on "River Deep, Mountain High" and "Nutbush City Limits". Following the US release in January 1984,[14] the single reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart.[15][16]

At the time, the song was the most successful solo single Turner had released. It was included on her multi-platinum selling album Private Dancer, released a few months later in the spring of 1984. The music video was directed by David Mallet. The cover photography was by Norman Seeff.

Personnel[]

  • Tina Turner – lead vocals
  • Gary Barnacle – saxophone
  • Glenn Gregory – background vocals
  • Rupert Hine – percussion
  • Frank Ricotti – percussion
  • Ray Russell – guitar
  • Martyn Ware – programming, electronic drums, arrangements, background vocals
  • Greg Walsh – programming, arrangements
  • Nick Plytas – piano, synthesizer

Production

  • Greg Walsh – producer & engineer
  • Martyn Ware – producer
  • Walter Samuel – engineer
  • Alan Yoshida – mastering
  • Akira Taguchi – compilation producer
  • Sam Gay – creative director
  • Roy Kohara – art direction
  • John O'Brien – design
  • Peter Ashworth – photography
  • Roger Davies – management
  • Chip Lightman – management

Formats and track listings[]

Worldwide 7" single

  1. "Let's Stay Together" (Edit) – 3:36
  2. "I Wrote a Letter" – 3:24

Worldwide 12" single

  1. "Let's Stay Together" – 5:14
  2. "I Wrote a Letter" – 3:24

Charts and certifications[]

Other cover versions[]

"Let's Stay Together" has been covered by:

  • Isaac Hayes as B-side of the single "Soulsville" in 1972.
  • Billy Paul on his 1972 album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul.
  • Organist Ronnie Foster recorded an instrumental version for his 1972 studio album Two Headed Freap.
  • Margie Joseph on her 1973 album Margie Joseph. She had also recorded in Memphis contemporaneous to Green, but offered a Philly-inspired version produced by Arif Mardin).[34]
  • Al Jarreau on his 1979 album Call Me.[35]
  • Jimmy Smith instrumental version on his 1972 album Root Down.
  • The Rippingtons on their 1989 album Tourist in Paradise.[36]
  • Former Hong Kong singer Yvonne Lau Man-Kuen (Chinese: 劉文娟) covered it under the title "Don't leave gaps when young" (Chinese: 年輕不要留白) in 1991.
  • An instrumental version very close to the Al Green original was recorded by The Memphis Horns on their 1992 album Flame Out.[37]
  • The Pasadenas covered the song as a 1992 non-album single.
  • Roberta Flack on her 1994 album Roberta.
  • Bobby Ross Avila on his 1995 album Into My Life.[38]
  • Shirley Bassey covered the song on her 1995 album Sings the Movies.
  • Big Mountain on their 1997 album Free Up.[39]
  • Michael Bolton covered the song on his 1999 album Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2.
  • Saxophonist Eric Alexander recorded a jazz instrumental version for his 1999 studio album Alexander the Great.
  • Ms. Marilyn Marshall on her 1999 album Hold On.[40]
  • In 2002 Justin Guarini performed the song on the first season of American Idol.
  • In 2003 Trenyce performed the song on the second season of American Idol and a version appears on the various artists compilation album American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs.
  • It was covered by English soul singer Lemar on his 2003 debut album Dedicated.
  • In 2004 Leah LaBelle performed the song on the third season of American Idol.
  • Boyz II Men on their 2004 covers album Throwback.
  • In 2004, saxophonist Eric Darius performed a rendition of "Let's Stay Together". Eric's version was from the album Night on the Town.[41]
  • In 2005 Joseph Murena performed the song on the fourth season of American Idol.
  • Michelle Williams on 2005 various artists compilation album GAP - Favorite Songs (Fall 2005).[42]
  • At Last performed it a cappella on the 2006 first season of America's Got Talent.
  • Donny Osmond on his album 2007 Love Songs of the '70s.
  • Australian soul singer Guy Sebastian recorded a cover version on his 2007 covers album The Memphis Album.
  • Brian Kennedy on his 2008 album Interpretations.
  • Robin Thicke has covered the song live many times on his concerts at least since 2008.
  • Ian Moss released a version of "Let's Stay Together" as the lead single from his 2009 sixth studio album, Soul on West 53rd.[43]
  • British singer Craig David covers his very own version of the song on his 2010 album Signed Sealed Delivered.
  • On December 15, 2010 on The Sing-Off, it was performed a cappella by season 2 winners Committed.
  • Seal on his 2011 album Soul 2.
  • Lynda Carter covered this song for her 2011 album Crazy Little Things.
  • In 2012 Elise Testone performed the song on the eleventh season of American Idol.
  • Maroon 5 on their 2012 album Overexposed [Deluxe Limited Edition]
  • American pop singer Katy Perry performed the song at Barack Obama Fundraising Concert in Best Buy Theater, New York City on October 7, 2012.
  • Terry Manning on his 2015 album Heaven Knows.
  • American indie rock band Low covered the song in 2018.

Appearance in other media[]

The song has been used in the films:

The song has been featured in various television shows:

  • It was performed in an episode of Ally McBeal (1997–2002).
  • The song has featured twice in the UK version of Stars in Their Eyes. The first, notably by soul and swing singer George Anthony in 1998's episode 4 and also the series 9 Grand Final in the same year.
  • An instrumental version of the song appears in episode 23 of the anime adaptation of Monster (Japanese on September 8, 2004 and English on January 4, 2010).
  • It was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 2.06, "Earthling" (November 5, 2009).[45]
  • It was played in the Parks and Recreation episode "Road Trip" (May 12, 2011). During Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt's road trip, as assigned by Chris Traeger, they listen to a series of unusual songs, until Let's Stay Together plays. It is later confirmed that Ann Perkins had burned the song in order to get them together.
  • In 2011 Kermit Ruffins and his band cover the song in season 2, episode 9 "What Is New Orleans?" of the HBO series Treme.[citation needed]
  • United States President Barack Obama performed a brief phrase of the song during an appearance at the Apollo Theater in New York City on January 19, 2012, for a campaign fundraiser that included Al Green as an opening act.[46] In the week following, sales of Green's recording of the song increased by 490%.[citation needed]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 237.
  2. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
  3. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003.
  4. ^ "The National Recording Registry 2010". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  6. ^ "Al Green Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "Al Green Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  8. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972" Archived April 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Music Outfitters.
  9. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1972".
  10. ^ "Italian single certifications – Al Green – Let's Stay Together" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 25, 2020. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Let's Stay Together" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  11. ^ "British single certifications – Al Green – Let's Stay Together". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Al Green – Let's Stay Together". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  13. ^ British release date
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b "Feature Picks: Black Contemporary" (PDF). Cash box: 9. January 14, 1984.
  15. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 265.
  16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 593.
  17. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. Australia: St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Tina Turner – Let's Stay Together" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4454." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  20. ^ "Singlet 1983-12 joulukuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  21. ^ "Tina Turner - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let's Stay Together". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  24. ^ "Charts.nz – Tina Turner – Let's Stay Together". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tina Turner – Let's Stay Together". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  26. ^ "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  27. ^ "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tina Turner Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  29. ^ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1984). "Top 100 singles: 1983". BPI Year Book 1984. British Phonographic Industry. pp. 42–43. ISBN 0-906154-04-9.
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  31. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1984". RIANZ. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Year in Music: 1984" (PDF). Billboard. December 22, 1984. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – Tina Turner – Let's Stay Together". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  34. ^ Margie Joseph - Margie Joseph (1973) album at AllMusic
  35. ^ [Al Jarreau - Call Me (1979) album] at Discogs
  36. ^ The Rippingtons (1989-05-15). ""Tourist in Paradise 1989" from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  37. ^ The Memphis Horns - Flame Out (1992) album at AllMusic
  38. ^ Bobby Ross Avila Into My Life (1995) album at Discogs
  39. ^ album at AllMusic
  40. ^ Ms. Marilyn Marshall - Hold On (1999) album at AllMusic
  41. ^ "Night on the Town - Eric Darius" from Billboard.com.
  42. ^ Various - GAP - Favorite Songs (Fall 2005) album at Discogs
  43. ^ "Shake/ Let's Stay Together". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  44. ^ "Surf Music and Seventies Soul: The Songs of 'Pulp Fiction'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  45. ^ "Fringemunks Web site". Davidwumusic.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  46. ^ Michael A. Memoli (January 20, 2012). "Obama, crooner in chief, sings some Al Green at N.Y. fundraiser". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2012.

External links[]

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