Al Green ~ Love And Happiness 1977 Disco Purrfection Version

Well, its Victoria Day in Canada, a national holiday so I decided to put out the last entry for "The Nice Guys" remix project, Al Green's "Love And Happiness" recorded for his 1972 LP "I'm Still In Love With You". The single was put out in the UK in 1973, but did not see release in the US until 1977, long after Al's career had faded from the charts and as a result it bubbled under the American pop charts at #104. While the public was blissfully unaware of it, critics heralded the song as "one of the greatest soul songs of all time." Green reports that there was some trouble getting the elements right while recording it. The take that got released had co writer Teenie Hodges counting off on a cardboard box with his foot, and that is the sound you hear at the start of this remix. He also noted that the tempo was the most important part to producer Willie Mitchell, and that it was like "mixing explosive chemicals, everything had to be added at just the right time and just the right dose." Earnest Jackson covered the song in 1973, it entered the chart June 2, 1973 at 100, then it surged up to #70, #65, and began its chart descent its fourth week dropping to #72 and then off the chart the following week. Since then, the song has been covered by a wide array of artists like Etta James, Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Graham Central Station, Toots and the Maytals, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Morgan Heritage and Living Colour. It also made it onto the soundtrack of the 2016 movie, "The Nice Guys" starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe.