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Let's Stay Together (Al Green song)

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For the Lyfe Jennings song, see Let's Stay Together (Lyfe Jennings song). For the Ludacris song, see Theater of the Mind.
"Let's Stay Together"
Song
B-side"Tomorrow's Dreams"
"Let's Stay Together"
Song
B-side"I Wrote a Letter"

"Let's Stay Together" is a song by Al Green on his 1972 album of the same name. Released as a single in 1971, the song reached #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.[3] It was ranked the 60th greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[4] 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".[5] The song went on to claim the number-one position on the Billboard Year-End chart as an R&B song for 1972.

Tina Turner version

"Let's Stay Together" was later covered by Tina Turner, her second collaboration with the British Heaven 17/B.E.F. production team after "Ball of Confusion" in 1982, and served as her comeback single in late 1983, charting at #26 on the US Hot 100.[6] It placed #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". Tina Turner's version also hit #1 on the US Dance Chart.[7] At the time, the song was the most successful solo single she had released and 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.

Versions and mixes (Tina Turner version)
  • 7" edit – 3:38
  • Extended 12" Mix/Private Dancer album version – 5:14

Other cover versions

"Let's Stay Together" has also been covered by Margie Joseph (who had also recorded in Memphis contemporaneous to Green, but offered a Philly-inspired version produced by Arif Mardin), Roberta Flack,[8] Michael Bolton, Ms. Marilyn Marshall (Club version), Donny Osmond, Jimmy Smith, Seal Michelle Williams, Boyz II Men, Big Mountain, Isaac Hayes, Robin Thicke, Brian Kennedy, as well as by At Last on the first season of America's Got Talent, who performed it a cappella. It has also been covered by soul singer Lemar. Shirley Bassey covered the song on her 1995 album Sings the Movies. An instrumental version very close to the Al Green original was recorded by The Memphis Horns. The song has been performed on American Idol by Justin Guarini, Trenyce, Leah LaBelle, and Joseph Murena. Australian soul singer Guy Sebastian recorded a cover version on his covers album The Memphis Album. UK R&B artist Craig David covers his very own version of the song on his album "Signed Sealed Delivered". Michael Bolton covered the song on his 1999 album Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2. In 1989, a group by the name of The Rippingtons released an album titled "Tourist in Paradise", on that album is featured the song "Let's Stay Together".[9] In 2004, saxophonist Eric Darius performed a rendition of the "Let's Stay Together". Eric's version was from the album Night on the Town.[10]

Appearance in other media

The song was used in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction and the 2005 film Munich.[citation needed]

The song was parodied by The Fringemunks to recap Fringe episode 2.06, "Earthling".[11]

The song was performed in an episode of Ally McBeal (in which Al Green guest starred).[citation needed]

The song was also used in the 2003 romantic comedy film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.[citation needed]

The song can also be heard in the film Down To You.

Kermit Ruffins and his band cover the song in Season 2, Episode 9 of the HBO series, Treme.[citation needed]

Likewise, an instrumental version of the song appears in episode 23 of the anime adaptation of Monster.

The song appears in the movie Blue Chips starring Nick Nolte and Shaquille O'Neal.

United States President Barack Obama performed a verse of the song during an appearance at the Apollo Theater in New York City for a campaign fundraiser that included Al Green as an opening act.[12]

Chart performance

Al Green (1972)

Chart Peak
position
UK 7
US Hot 100 1
US R&B 1

Tina Turner (1983)

Chart Peak
position
Australia 19
Germany 18
Ireland 15
Netherlands 5
New Zealand 4
Switzerland 28
UK 6
US Hot 100 26
US R&B 3
US Dance 1

See also

References

  1. ^ British release date
  2. ^ British certification
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 237.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ "The National Recording Registry 2010". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 593.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 265.
  8. ^ Robert Flack album, Roberta, released 1994. See Roberta (album)
  9. ^ "Tourist in Paradise 1989" from Answers.com
  10. ^ "Night on the Town - Eric Darius" from Billboard.com
  11. ^ Fringemunks Web site
  12. ^ "Obama, crooner in chief, sings some Al Green at N.Y. fundraiser". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Al Green version)
February 12, 1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles number-one single (Al Green version)
January 8 – March 4, 1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (Tina Turner version)
March 10–17, 1984 		Succeeded by
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