Iconic soul singer Al Green is back with new music. The 79-year-old singer has released his EP, To Love Somebody, via Fat Possum Records.
The four-track set features Green’s rendition of music staples, including the 1967 Bee Gees classic that the project is named after. The EP also includes a collaboration with rising star RAYE, who appears on the alternate version of Green’s 2023 single “Perfect Day.”
Elsewhere is Green’s cover of The Velvet Underground’s “I Found A Reason” and his previously released interpretation of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.”
“When Fat Possum came to my studio and played me ‘To Love Somebody’ and ‘I Found A Reason,’ I felt this instant connection and harmonies immediately filled me,” said Green. “The music spoke to me, so we immediately went to work.”
Produced by Matthew Johnson and Clay Jones, To Love Somebody includes instrumentation by Reverend Charles Hodges (organ), Leroy Hodges (bass), Archie “Hubbie” Turner (piano), Will Sexton (guitar), Steve Potts [drums], and string section arrangements from Stax Records legend Lester Snell.
In November 2024, Green released his cover of “Everybody Hurts,” three months after Maxwell shared his rendition of Green’s timeless record “Simply Beautiful.” Michael Stipe from R.E.M. shared, “Speaking on behalf of the entire band—we could not be more honored, more flattered, more humbled…this is an epic moment for us.”
To Love Somebody is the “Let’s Stay Together” singer’s first non-compilation project since his 2008 album, Lay It Down. The album debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It included collaborations with John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, with production handled exclusively by Green, Questlove and James Poyser.
Stream Al Green’s new EP To Love Somebody below.
