February 23, 1974

Memorial Coliseum

From John Legend to Leon Bridges, talented contemporary soul singers owe a debt to Al Greene. The 1995 rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame came to Tuscaloosa on February 23, 1974, operating on an all-time high. The opening act was Bloodstone, who played a number of dates with Green. For his part, Greene played all the big hits of the day, including “You Ought to Be with Me,” “Call Me (Come Back Home),” “Here I Am,” “Tired of Being Alone,” and “Let’s Stay Together,” which was his signature song. The reaction to Greene’s smooth, sexy deliver was a cross between Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and Tom Jones. The front of the stage was populated by a large group of young fans who seemed to hang on every bump, grind and drop of sweat generated by the soulful singer. The audience lapped up his every move and showered him with flowers and articles of clothing previously reserved for the likes of show business players like Elvis Presley. Kansas City-bred Bloodstone was an R&B ensemble with a funky style of music. Their second album “Natural High,” was released in 1972, fueled by the hit single of the same name. It was a highlight of their brief set before Greene took the stage. Years later, “Natural High” would be included on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s motion picture, “Jackie Brown.”