Al Green Sings on 'Good Morning America'

March 15, 2005 — -- Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Al Green celebrated the release of his new album, "Everything's OK" today by performing on "Good Morning America."

The album, on Blue Note Records, is the follow-up to "I Can't Stop," Green's best-selling and best-reviewed album in a generation, and continues his return to traditional soul music after more than two decades of recording only gospel. The album may be "secular," but the soul icon hasn't given up his religion -- he embraces both worlds by releasing it under the name the Rev. Al Green.

"I wanted to put on this album who I am -- to 'fess up to it," Green said. "I'm the Reverend Al Green, and everybody calls me that, from Argentina all the way to the Catskills. So that's who I am."

Musically, "Everything's OK" draws on classic R&B and pop, and the lyrics speak of love relationships and life lessons. Green, 58, said he feels it is time to spread his message beyond the pulpit.

"I've got people in the church saying, 'That's a secular song,' and I'm saying, 'Yeah, but you've got Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday to be anything other than spiritual. You've got to live those days, too!' " Green said. "Everybody still needs love, needs happiness in the family, needs to keep the kids on track."

The new album features 12 new songs, including 11 originals written or co-written by Green, plus an interpretation of the soul standard "You Are So Beautiful."

The album was recorded from June to September 2004, at Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios in Memphis, Tenn., where Green recorded his string of 1970s hits, including "Tired of Being Alone," "Let's Stay Together," "I Can't Get Next to You," "I'm Still in Love With You," "Call Me," "Here I Am," "Let's Get Married," and "Love and Happiness."

Despite their early success together, Green and Mitchell had not worked together since the 1985 gospel album "He Is the Light."