Lay It Down | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 27, 2008 | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 44:31 | |||
Label |
Blue Note B2-48449 | |||
Producer | Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, James Poyser | |||
Al Green chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | (A-) [3] |
Los Angeles Times | [4] |
MSN Music ( Consumer Guide) | (A-) [2] |
The New York Times | (favorable) [5] |
Pitchfork Media | (6.8/10) [6] |
Rolling Stone | [7] |
Spin | (8/10) [8] |
The Times | [9] |
The Village Voice | (favorable) [10] |
Lay It Down is the 29th studio album by American singer Al Green, released May 27, 2008, on Blue Note Records. [11] The album was produced by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and James Poyser. The album features guest vocals from Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Corinne Bailey Rae. [1]
Lay It Down peaked at number 9 on Billboard's Top Album charts, [12] and has received widespread acclaim from critics. At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best R&B Album but lost to Jennifer Hudson's self-titled album. "Stay With Me (By the Sea)" won Al Green and John Legend the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal award, and "You've Got the Love I Need" won Green and Anthony Hamilton the award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. [13] [14]
Lay It Down has received much critical acclaim. It currently holds a rating of 81/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic, based on 22 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [15]
The album was applauded for bringing in younger producers which critics claimed gave the album a more youthful sound. Thom Jurek for Allmusic commented: "What happens when you put that amazing soul-drenched voice in the hands of hip-hop producers Questlove and James Poyser, and add a slew of superstar guests? Answer: a killer Al Green soul album". [1] In a review for Blender, Ben Ratliff remarked that Green had "created a natural-sounding album with occasional horns and strings, taking cues directly from [his] best old records". [16] "Lay It Down" was number 15 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. [17]
All tracks are written by Al Green
No. | Title | Featured vocalist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lay It Down" | Anthony Hamilton | 4:30 |
2. | "Just for Me" | 3:58 | |
3. | "You've Got the Love I Need" | Anthony Hamilton | 4:14 |
4. | "No One Like You" | 4:31 | |
5. | "What More Do You Want From Me" | 4:13 | |
6. | "Take Your Time" | Corinne Bailey Rae | 4:37 |
7. | "Too Much" | 3:30 | |
8. | "Stay With Me (By the Sea)" | John Legend | 3:23 |
9. | "All I Need" | 3:41 | |
10. | "I'm Wild About You" | 4:51 | |
11. | "Standing in the Rain" | 3:03 | |
Total length: | 44:31 |
Adapted from CD liner notes. [18]
Additional personnel
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Lay It Down | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 27, 2008 | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 44:31 | |||
Label |
Blue Note B2-48449 | |||
Producer | Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, James Poyser | |||
Al Green chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | (A-) [3] |
Los Angeles Times | [4] |
MSN Music ( Consumer Guide) | (A-) [2] |
The New York Times | (favorable) [5] |
Pitchfork Media | (6.8/10) [6] |
Rolling Stone | [7] |
Spin | (8/10) [8] |
The Times | [9] |
The Village Voice | (favorable) [10] |
Lay It Down is the 29th studio album by American singer Al Green, released May 27, 2008, on Blue Note Records. [11] The album was produced by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and James Poyser. The album features guest vocals from Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, and Corinne Bailey Rae. [1]
Lay It Down peaked at number 9 on Billboard's Top Album charts, [12] and has received widespread acclaim from critics. At the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best R&B Album but lost to Jennifer Hudson's self-titled album. "Stay With Me (By the Sea)" won Al Green and John Legend the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal award, and "You've Got the Love I Need" won Green and Anthony Hamilton the award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. [13] [14]
Lay It Down has received much critical acclaim. It currently holds a rating of 81/100 on review aggregator website Metacritic, based on 22 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [15]
The album was applauded for bringing in younger producers which critics claimed gave the album a more youthful sound. Thom Jurek for Allmusic commented: "What happens when you put that amazing soul-drenched voice in the hands of hip-hop producers Questlove and James Poyser, and add a slew of superstar guests? Answer: a killer Al Green soul album". [1] In a review for Blender, Ben Ratliff remarked that Green had "created a natural-sounding album with occasional horns and strings, taking cues directly from [his] best old records". [16] "Lay It Down" was number 15 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. [17]
All tracks are written by Al Green
No. | Title | Featured vocalist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lay It Down" | Anthony Hamilton | 4:30 |
2. | "Just for Me" | 3:58 | |
3. | "You've Got the Love I Need" | Anthony Hamilton | 4:14 |
4. | "No One Like You" | 4:31 | |
5. | "What More Do You Want From Me" | 4:13 | |
6. | "Take Your Time" | Corinne Bailey Rae | 4:37 |
7. | "Too Much" | 3:30 | |
8. | "Stay With Me (By the Sea)" | John Legend | 3:23 |
9. | "All I Need" | 3:41 | |
10. | "I'm Wild About You" | 4:51 | |
11. | "Standing in the Rain" | 3:03 | |
Total length: | 44:31 |
Adapted from CD liner notes. [18]
Additional personnel
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|