"Take Me To the River" (Green - Hodges) first appeared on the 1974 Al Green album "Explores Your Mind" as produced by Willie Mitchell. The song was not issued as a single.

The 1978 Talking Heads album "More Songs About Buildings and Food" contains the most successful cover of "Take Me To the River". the single hit Billboard's top thirty the following year. Lead singer David Byrne wrote: "Coincidence or conspiracy? There were at least four cover versions of this song out at the same time: Foghat, Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm, and us. More money for Mr Green's full gospel tabernacle church." I think it would be impossible not to move while listening to this release.