Hear Al Green Cover R.E.M.’s ‘Everybody Hurts’

After breaking a five-year hiatus from releasing music with a late 2023 cover of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day,” soul icon Al Green is back today (Nov. 19) with his interpretation of the 1992 R.E.M. classic “Everybody Hurts” on Fat Possum Records.

As with “Perfect Day,” Green tapped former members of his Hi Rhythm Section for “Everybody Hurts,” including Reverend Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Archie “Hubbie” Turner on piano. The Memphis sessions were produced by Clay Jones and Fat Possum, with strings arranged by Stax veteran Lester Snell. Guitarist Will Sexton and Booker T & the MG’s drummer Steve Potts also lent a hand.

“While we were in the studio recording ‘Everybody Hurts,’ I could really feel the heaviness of the song and I wanted to inject a little touch of hope and light into it,” the 78-year-old Green says. “There’s always a presence of light that can break through those times of darkness.”

The gravity of the cover was not lost on the members of R.E.M., who briefly reunited this summer during their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction. “Speaking on behalf of the entire band, we could not be more honored, more flattered, more humbled,” said vocalist Michael Stipe. “This is an epic moment for us.”

Green has only played live on a handful of occasions since 2019, with his lone major performance of 2024 coming at the Fool in Love festival in Los Angeles in late August. The artist’s most recent full-length studio album, 2008’s Lay It Down, was produced by the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and James Poyser and won two Grammy awards.