The Gospel According to Al

What was your sermon about?
We're at Zechariah now. So for all the NEWSWEEK readers, we're in Zechariah and Matthew, just so you know.

Do your parishioners give you a hard time when you record a secular album?
That used to be the case. So I take my CD down and let the church hear it. And I let them tell me what they think. And Miss Gant, she says, "Whew, that's hot." And when Mother Cross tells me, "Hey, that's the bomb," then I'm not worried about the rest of it, man.

Barack Obama had some trouble due to his former pastor. Would you be his new spiritual adviser?
He's a great man in politics. I'm just a little kid from Grand Rapids with a brown bag with some songs in it. I couldn't be his adviser; I'd point him to someone who could advise him in certain areas.

But the spiritual stuff, you could handle that, I think.
Well, I know the things that the working-class, everyday people know, the stuff the Lord knows. He's gotta already know that. I watched his wife speak the other day, and himself being so knowledgeable and having such a great background, they are great. He's good at what he's good at, getting all these superdelegates and stuff. I don't know much about politics. I know about the politics of love.

There are politics of love?
Oh, yes, I want NEWSWEEK'S readership to know people play politics with love all the time. But love will whoop your ass.

When people want to get romantic, they put on an Al Green record. What does Al Green put on?
I'll put on "I'm Still in Love With You," or maybe "Let's Stay Together" is good. But there are other artists, too; it's not a me-me-me thing all the time. I just like the idea of having love, having someone to love you. That's important, man—that's very important. 'Cause without love, nothing else makes sense.

© 2008