These songs showcased his ability as a vocalist to soar and then drop to an emotional sill. That same year also produced “Midnight Lace”, charting in the 50’s, and the flip-side, “I Ain’t No Fool”, which reached the upper 70’s. “The Story Behind The Story” charted the following year, reaching the Top 40 and then “Bring It On Home” reached the Top 20. Two years elapsed before he saw another hit, this time on the Team label. “I’ll Be Loving You” went to the Top 50, followed by “Darlene”, which reached the lower 60s, both in 1982. The following year, “It Takes Love” went Top 40, followed by “Let’s Sing About Love”, which peaked in the mid-60s. The “Best Of Families” reached the Top 50 in 1984, and that year saw Al’s final Team hit, “There’ll Never Be A Better Night For Being Wrong” which made the Top 80. In 1987, Big Al signed with the Vine Street label which released “Oh How Beautiful You Are (To Me)” and “Just One Night Won’t Do”, both reaching the Top 70. Two years later he signed with Door Knob Records and had the 1989 Top 100 hit “I Guess By Now” which was Al’s only chart entree with that label. Artists Bobby "Blue" Bland and Tom Jones even recorded Big Al's songs.  In all, his music style spanned the full spectrum of Disco, Pop, Rock 'n' Roll, R&B, Blues, Roots, Gospel and Country. He performed Rhythm and Blues and Disco in the 1960s and 1970s while living in the Washington DC area, but he eventually reclaimed his musical roots by turning to Country.

Big Al had one of the most chequered careers in show business, with stardom always slightly out of reach.  However, he is one of a few black performers to foray across the musical spectrum of Disco, Pop, Rhythm and Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Gospel and Country. He became one of the country's most prominent African American country artists, along with Charley Pride and Stoney Edwards. He had 15 songs that made Billboard's Top 100 country music chart, including three that reached the Top 20, and he appeared on hundreds of records. Big Al's impact on the country genre is far-reaching as his music, a soul-based "True" country sound, won this veteran songwriter, musician and performer fans around the globe. He appeared several times on Hee Haw and was a favorite on Nashville Now. From Germany to England, from Canada to Switzerland and the whole USA, millions knew and loved to watch the "Big Al Downing Show". As far away as the Virgin Islands and Australia the "Big Al Downing Show" was the act to see.