Soul Survivor

Production

The cover of "You've Got a Friend" is a duet with Billy Preston. Green also covered the Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". A gospel choir backed Green on "The 23rd Psalm" and "Yield Not to Temptation".

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune deemed Soul Survivor "an album of richly moving and vibrant singing." The Gazette wrote that "it's nice to feel the power of [Green's] healing voice in real material again." The Globe and Mail called the album "a quixotic mixture [that] in every way reflects the rather schizophrenic nature of Green himself." The Dallas Morning News praised the "secular/funk texture" of the title track.

Track listing

"Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (Eban Kelly, Jimi Randolph) - 4:21

"Jesus Will Fix It" (Al Green) - 3:24

"You Know and I Know" (Green, Paul Zaleski) - 4:01

"Yield Not to Temptation" (Traditional) - 3:35

"So Real to Me" (Green) - 0:54

"Soul Survivor" (Kelly, Randolph) - 4:43

"You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) - 5:37 (duet with Billy Preston)

"He Ain't Heavy" (Sidney Russell, Bobby Scott) - 4:03

"23rd Psalm" (Green) - 3:46

Personnel

Al Green – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 3, 6), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 9), arrangements (2–5, 8, 9)

Jimi Randolph – all other instruments (1), arrangements (1, 6), all instruments (6)

P. Leon Thomas – keyboards (1)

Debra Carter – organ (4, 9)

Louis Paul – synthesizers (5)

Jonathan Cobert – synthesizers (7)

Billy Preston – Hammond B3 organ (7), lead vocals (7)

Jerry Peters – keyboards (8)

Michael Toles – electric guitar (2, 5), organ (5)

Bobby Manuel – guitars (8)

Paul Zaleski – bass guitar (2), percussion (2, 3), keyboards (3)

Francisco Centeno – bass guitar (7)

Willie Hall – drums (2–5, 9), percussion (5)

Jeff Vilinsky – drums (7), arrangements (7)

Steve Mergen – drums (8)

Errol Thomas – arrangements (3, 8), bass guitar (4, 8, 9)

Deborah McDuffie – arrangements (7)

Andrew Love – saxophone (8)

Berkley Buckles – backing vocals (1)