The Memphis Sound took its greatest steps toward "70s smoothness with Al Green. Let"s Stay Together is a showcase of the combination of grit and honey that made the singer one of the decade"s foremost artist-hitmakers. In addition to the classic title single--a pop and R&B No. 1 in 1972--the album offers prime early examples of other Green trademarks: an unexpected cover (the Bee Gees" "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart") and the outright eccentricity of "So You"re Leaving," which answers gossips with the assurance that if "they"ll lie on Jesus, can"t you see they"ll lie on you and me." --Rickey Wright