Al Green covers Lou Reed’s most beautiful song

“Perfect Day” might be the most perfect song Lou Reed ever wrote. Originally released as a track on the 1972 album “Transformer” (segregated as a B-side from “Walk On The Wild Side”), the track has had a life of its own over the decades and is one of the most covered songs by the Velvet Underground member.

Now there are supreme consecrations from Preacher Al Green, who re-recorded “Perfect Day” with members of the Hi Rhythm Section at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis. For the cover version, which is Green’s first single in five years, he also brought in British alto R&B singers RAYE for backing vocals.

With elegantly swelling strings and a powerful organ, Al Green begins with a soul from the sensitive song, which, in addition to its ballad-like appearance, has always been understood as a drug anthem, but which Lou Reed often described as the sung contrast between beauty and darkness in life number to make.

“I loved Lou’s original ‘Perfect Day,'” Green said in a statement. “The song immediately puts you in a good mood. We wanted to keep that vibe while adding our own twist and style.”

In 2018, Green also attempted a cover. At that time he sang Freddy Fender’s “Before the Next Teardrop Falls”.