Let's Stay Together (Al Green song)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Tina Turner version

| B-side = I Wrote a Letter

January 1984 (US)

• dance-pop 5:14 (album version)

"Let's Stay Together" was later covered by American singer and actress Tina Turner, her second collaboration with the British Heaven 17 and British Electric Foundation production team after "Ball of Confusion" in 1982, and served as her comeback single in late 1983. Unlike Al Green's version, Turner sings verse 2 first, then verse 1 when the band starts playing.

Released by Capitol Records in November 1983, the single charted at number 6 in the UK (one place higher than Al Green's original) and became the third time she reached the UK top ten, the first two being with former husband Ike Turner on "River Deep, Mountain High" and "Nutbush City Limits". Following the US release in January 1984, the single reached #24 in Cash Box, #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

At the time, the song was the most successful solo single Turner had released. It was included on her multi-platinum selling album Private Dancer, released a few months later in the spring of 1984. The music video was directed by David Mallet. The cover photography was by Norman Seeff.

Personnel

• Tina Turner – lead vocals
• Gary Barnacle – saxophone
• Glenn Gregory – background vocals
• Rupert Hine – percussion
• Frank Ricotti – percussion
• Ray Russell – guitar
• Martyn Ware – programming, electronic drums, arrangements, background vocals
• Greg Walsh – programming, arrangements
• Nick Plytas – piano, synthesizer

Production

• Greg Walsh – producer & engineer
• Martyn Ware – producer
• Walter Samuel – engineer
• Alan Yoshida – mastering
• Akira Taguchi – compilation producer
• Sam Gay – creative director
• Roy Kohara – art direction
• John O'Brien – design
• Peter Ashworth – photography
• Roger Davies – management
• Chip Lightman – management

Track listing and formats

• 7-inch single

1. "Let's Stay Together" – 3:36
2. "I Wrote a Letter" – 3:24

• 12-inch single

1. "Let's Stay Together" (Extended Version) – 5:14
2. "I Wrote a Letter" – 3:24

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Other notable cover versions

"Let's Stay Together" has been covered by many artists. The most widely heard versions include:

• A version by Margie Joseph was recorded for her 1973 album Margie Joseph. She had also recorded in Memphis contemporaneous to Green, but offered a Philly-inspired version produced by Arif Mardin.
• A version by Bobby Militello with Jean Carn on his 1982 album Blow reached number 74 on the U.S. R&B chart.
• An instrumental version with Andrew Love covering the melody on saxophone was recorded by the Memphis Horns on their 1992 album Flame Out.
• British R&B group the Pasadenas released their version in 1992 which reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 43 on the UK Airplay Chart.
• A version by Michelle Williams, produced by Jazze Pha appears on the Roll Bounce (2005) soundtrack. In a 2006 interview, Williams stated that the track was originally recorded for a campaign with GAP. A demo video, believed to be linked to the campaign was shared online.

Other appearances

The song has been used in the films, including:

• Quentin Tarantino film Pulp Fiction (1994).
• US President Barack Obama sang a brief phrase of the song during an appearance at the Apollo Theater in New York City on January 19, 2012, for a campaign fundraiser that included Al Green as an opening act.

References

References

1. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004". Record Research.
2. [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972]]
3. (December 11, 2003). "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
4. "The National Recording Registry 2010". Library of Congress.
5. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com".
6. "Al Green Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".
7. [http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972"] {{Webarchive. link. (April 27, 2017 , Music Outfitters.)
8. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1972".
9. (August 2025). "British release date}}{{Dead link".
10. Rolling Stone Staff. (May 24, 2023). "Tina Turner: 15 Essential Songs".
11. Breihan, Tom. (April 30, 2021). "The Number Ones: Terence Trent D'Arby's "Wishing Well".
12. (January 14, 1984). "Feature Picks: Black Contemporary". Cash Box.
13. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003". Record Research.
14. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004". Record Research.
15. David Kent. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". St Ives, N.S.W. : Australian Chart Book.
16. "Singlet 1983-12 joulukuu". [[Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland]].
17. "Tina Turner – Top Titel". [[GfK Entertainment]].
18. "Tina Turner Awards".
19. (1984-04-14). "Cash Box".
20. (1984). "BPI Year Book 1984". [[British Phonographic Industry]].
21. "Jaaroverzichten 1984". [[Ultratop]].
22. "Top Selling Singles of 1984". RIANZ.
23. (December 22, 1984). "The Year in Music: 1984".
24. [https://www.allmusic.com/album/margie-joseph-mw0000495126 Margie Joseph – ''Margie Joseph'' (1973) album] {{Webarchive. link. (January 17, 2021 at [[AllMusic]])
25. [https://www.allmusic.com/album/flame-out-mw0000094836 The Memphis Horns – ''Flame Out'' (1992) album] {{Webarchive. link. (November 28, 2021 at [[AllMusic]])
26. (November 21, 1992). "LET'S STAY TOGETHER".
27. (December 12, 1992). "Top 50 Airplay Chart".
28. "Let's Stay Together by Michelle Williams".
29. Moss, Corey. (September 21, 2005). "Destiny's Child Look Back With #1's Before Going Their Separate Ways". [[MTV]].
30. "Michelle Williams – Let's Stay Together (Demo Video)".
31. "Surf Music and Seventies Soul: The Songs of 'Pulp Fiction'".
32. Michael A. Memoli. (January 20, 2012). "Obama, crooner in chief, sings some Al Green at N.Y. fundraiser". Los Angeles Times.