Al Green Shares Soulful Cover of Lou Reed Classic Perfect Day

by | Aug 21, 2023

Eleven time GRAMMY® Award-winning soul icon and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame® inductee Al Green has returned with his first new single in five years. Perfect Day is out digitally now on Fat Possum Records. A simmering and soulful cover of Lou Reed’s 1972 classic – originally produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson – now, it heralds the dawn of Green’s next chapter.

Al Green (Todd Nakamine)

Al Green (Todd Nakamine)

About Perfect Day, Al Green commented, “I loved Lou’s original Perfect Day. The song immediately puts you in a good mood. We wanted to preserve that spirit, while adding our own sauce and style.”

During February 2023, Al Green recorded Perfect Day at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN. The track is produced by Matthew Johnson and Bruce Watson. Green notably reunited with members of the classic Hi Rhythm Section who powered up some of his most seminal hits from the seventies. The track finds him back with Reverend Charles Hodges (organ), Leroy Hodges (bass), and Archie “Hubbie” Turner (piano) for the first time since 2005, while Steve Potts (drums) and Will Sexton (guitar) also return. Adding new blood to the mix, the single also features U.K. alternative R&B artist RAYE on background vocals. Over a backdrop of lush cinematic strings, swooning organ, and eloquent guitar, Green’s instantly recognisable voice simply soars, ringing out on the final crescendo as he promises, “You’re gonna reap just what you sow,” in a call-and-response with RAYE.

Raye @ Glastonbury Festival 2023

Raye @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)
Raye @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

Listen to Al Green’s superb rendition of the Lou Reed classic below:

For this fall, Al Green adds two special Midwest shows over Thanksgiving weekend, including Detroit’s Fox Theatre on 24th November and at St. Charles’ The Family Arena in St. Charles, MO on 25th November with special guest Bettye Lavette as support. The public on-sale starts on Friday, 25th August at 10am local time. Notes Green: “I’ll be looking for everybody that has heard “Love and Happiness” and “Let’s Stay Together” at the concert tours.”

Perfect Day notably follows his 2018 cover of Freddy Fender’s Before The Next Teardrop Falls. Al Green recently played two packed shows in July with a first-time performance at the Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, CA on 30th September. Tickets are available HERE.

Upcoming U.S. Tour Dates:

SEPTEMBER
30th – Yaamava’ Theater, Highland, CA

NOVEMBER
24th – Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI25th – The Family Arena, St. Charles, MO

Elton John Brings The Curtain Down On Glastonbury 2023 And His Career With Joyous Elegance

Bastille @ The O2 (Louise Phillips)

Good Grief, Bastille Show No Bad Blood At The O2 Arena

Tonight was a night of reflection. Of celebration. Fifteen years in, Bastille sound as good, and appeal to more people than ever. The fourth time the London band have played the biggest arena in the capital and they feel at home on this stage this size, with their visuals, their anthems and their devout relationship with their fans, they belong here.

Amy Macdonald @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Amy Macdonald Warms A Frozen Hammersmith Apollo With Heart, Humour & Huge Hits

“Are we having a nice time so far? Are we getting a bit warmer?” Amy Macdonald grins, peering out at a Hammersmith Apollo audience bundled into coats and scarves. It’s a question that becomes a running joke throughout the night — because despite the November chill and the decidedly frugal heating, Macdonald sets about warming the 5,000-capacity venue the only way she knows how: with humour, heart, and a powerhouse performance that leaves no seat unshaken.

&U&I @ Muthers Studio (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

&U&I: Back From The Break, In The Room, And In Their Element

There’s a particular kind of electricity that happens when a band reunites after years apart. Sometimes it’s cautious,...
&U&I @ Muthers Studio (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

&U&I, Back In Birmingham As If They Never Left

Some gigs feel significant before they even begin. The return of &U&I, after nearly a decade off the radar,...
Bad Nerves @ O2 Institute, Birmingham (Nick Allan)

Never Mind A Wet Night In Stoke, Bad Nerves Made The Best Of A Cold Tuesday Night At The O2 Institute Birmingham

Bad Nerves rolled into theBad Nerves tonight armed with a setlist built for chaos, and although the room was a little quieter than expected, the people who were there lit the place up. A smaller Tuesday night crowd didn’t dull the spark – instead it made the gig feel like a secret show shared only between the band and the diehards. And the band fed off it.

Police Dog Hogan (Press)

Police Dog Hogan Announce New Album The Light At The Top Of The Stairs And 2026 UK Tour

Beloved Americana collective Police Dog Hogan will return this spring with their most emotionally resonant work to date. The band have confirmed that their new album, The Light At The Top Of The Stairs, will be released on 10th April, accompanied by the reflective new single Passing Through.

Killerstar (Briony Graham-Rudd)

KillerStar Announce Second Album ‘The Afterglow’, Lead Single ‘So Easy’, And Two-Night 100 Club Residency

London art-rock outfit KillerStar have announced details of their anticipated second album, The Afterglow, set for release on 20th March. The news arrives alongside the record’s lead single, So Easy, and confirmation that the band will celebrate the album with two intimate launch shows at London’s legendary 100 Club on 6th and 7th March.

Hot Milk @ Roundhouse (Kalpesh Patel)

Hot Milk Bring Fire, Fury & Pure Catharsis To London’s Roundhouse

On a bitterly cold Wednesday night in Camden, Manchester hard rockers Hot Milk turned London’s Roundhouse into a...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing