Aretha Franklin

[discorecordplayer]

What Aretha Franklin albums do you own?
How old is she now?
what are her best songs and albums?

I only have the whos zoomion who record. Im hoping Ill find some 70s stuff some day.

[visuals]

Aretha Now (1969 ) **** This and most of her other late 60's albums finds Aretha in her gospel/soul inspired roots. Some regard this period as her best.


Spirit In The Dark (1970)****Considered by many to be the height of Aretha's vocal prowess. Another southern gospel/soul/r&b offering. This time with backings of the "Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section". I think this is also the one that has the guitar player from the "Allman Brothers". Dave Allman maybe?



Young,Gifted & Black (1971)****Early 70's Atlantic Records release that still holds Aretha in gospel/soul mode. This was a pivot point for Aretha as this was also the album that delivered the funk/soul track "Rock Steady" and "Day Dreaming". She collaborates with the likes of many heavyweights such as "Donny Hathaway",The Late "Al Jackson Jr." & "Bernard Purdie" on drums, "Billy Preston" and "Hubert Laws".



Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)(1973)*****This is one of the most interesting offerings of early Re-Re. Produced by Quincy Jones, This album has Aretha dabbling away from her roots and settling into a bluesy/jazzy background. Still singing with equal regards to her past gospel/soul inspired work, Hey Now Hey has an orchestrated-type feel to it....and I dare say, psychedelic. This one reminds me of Esther Phillips "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" in terms of free-flowing. While going over the top with jazzy string arrangements, This one comes off as a fusion of soul/jazz/blues as the finished product.


Let Me In Your Life (1974)****This album sports "Ernie Royal" & "Deodato" with an encore for "Bernard Purdie". Aretha goes back to her roots but takes on smooth ballad-styled cuts in a more soulful approach than earlier releases. Old school r&b is most definately appropriate as Aretha does renditions of Bobby Womack's "I'm In Love", Leon Russell's "Song For You" and the Nick Ashford/Val Simpson Motown classic "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"...Also done by "The Dynamic Superiors".




Aretha (1980)***This was Aretha's first album with Clive Davis's Arista Records after departing Atlantic Records and numerous failed attempts (those most notable was after 1976's Curtis Mayfield produced "Sparkle" Motion Picture Soundtrack. In my opinion, I believe that this album was an attempt to continue her journey within her roots but with a pop/disco approach which really didn't work to well for her at the time. She does a rendition of Michael McDonald's "What A Fool Believes" on this album. By today's standards though, Upon listening, This album isn't as bad as it was at that time (although a commercial success). Out of print on cd*


Jump To It (1982)****produced by the late Luther Vandross. This shows Re already re-establishing herself as willing and able to survive in the disco-pop oriented 80's. I have to say that this was one album that I absolutely HATED back when it first came out but after years of listening to how music of recent years up to today is steadily deteriorating, I find myself reaching back and embracing lost gems like this. This is one that is not availible on CD unless you find a used one floating around. Very good 80's release that deserves a formal re-issue.



Get It Right (1983)****Another Vandross production. Very much in the same vein as "Jump To It", The album has Mr.Vandross written all over it. This was the same year that Vandross's "Forever, For Always, For Love" album was released. Lush arrangements with uptempo disco-ish styles laced with a couple nicely composed ballads make this one a keeper. at the time, this was definately Aretha as a force to reckon with alongside other great female singers from the era such as Anita Baker, Stephanie Mills, Patti Labelle etc. Also out of print on cd. If these two albums were to be re-issued on cd, I would be one of the first to cop. Good stuff.
This is all the Aretha I own on cd (minus the last two which I have both vinyl & cassette). Re-issue these please. To sum this all up, If you are looking to delve into the "total" Aretha, Any of her older albums from the late 60's on through the early-mid 70's are very good. You really won't go too wrong during this period. but when you get up into the late 70's material (around 76-79), beware as there is definately some weaker material. If you want the disco-ish type re-re such as the "Who's Zoomin' Who" album that you already own, Then the last 3 on this list (preferrably the last two) will be excellent accomplices to add. Good Luck.

[Nano]

All the albums from her golden period with Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler (1967-72) are very good and worth having. However, for me the ones absolutely essential from these are:

(I NEVER LOVED A MAN) THE WAY I LOVE YOU (1967)
LADY SOUL (1968) with "Eric Clapton from Cream" on guitar
SPIRIT IN THE DARK (1970)

The first track of SPIRIT IN THE DARK, "Don't play that song", is one of her best vocal interpretations ever and my current favorite. Listen to Aretha interact with her sisters and grow impatient and desperate as the song goes on, it's absolutely SUBLIME... One of the best soul recordings of all time.

From her next period (still in Atlantic but trying other producers) my pick would be SPARKLE (1976), produced by Curtis Mayfield, who made her try very hard and high, and supposedly ended fighting with her over some vocal arrangements (see liner notes in Rhino's CD reissue).
I would reccomend SPARKLE over HEY NOW HEY and LET ME INTO YOUR LIFE any day.

From here on don't know that much, the ARETHA album Visuals mentioned is usually praised over the others in this widely-seen-as-not-so-bright period. Remember the cover, because on these years there were several albums named ARETHA.

Last suggestion: avoid any Columbia material until you get these. The Sony reissues are all recordings from her early years (before 1967), when producer John Hammond constricted her to torch songs and Tin Pan Alley material. She had to get out of that contract to re-discover her soul roots. They wouldn't even let her play the piano! :O

Of course all this IMHO.

[eddie]

Yes some of her Columbia material is a tad weak. However my favorite song by Aretha is from this era called "One step ahead". I would probably start with her Atlantic material first but the Arista Cds all of which were reissued in 1998 are becoming extemely scarce and approach a three digit price tag.

These are the CDs that I have of her.

Columbia-original albums
First 12 sides
Sweet bitter love
Aretha sings the blues
The tender, the moving, the swinging
Soft and beautiful
Unforgettable: A tribute to Dinah Washington

Columbia compilations
The Queen in waiting: Columbia years 1960-65 2cd
This is Jazz 34
Jazz to soul 2cd
Soul Sister: the classic Aretha Franklin
Gold (Varese)
The Great Aretha Franklin 3cd set
Love Songs

Atlantic Lps
Aretha Arrives
I never loved a man the way I loved you
Lady soul
Aretha now
Aretha in Paris
Soul '69
This girl's in love with you
Spirit in the Dark
Live at the Fillmore west
Hey now hey the other side of the sky
Amazing Grace: The complete recordings 2cd gospel set
Young, Gifted, and Black
Let me in your life
Sparkle

Atlantic compilations
Aretha's Jazz
Delta meets Detroit: Aretha's blues
30 Greatest hits
Aretha's gold
Very best of Vol 1 and 2 (Rhino)
Love songs (Rhino)
Queen of soul: the Atlantic recordings box 4cd set***(Rhino)

Arista original albums
Aretha 1980!
Love all the hurt away
Jump to it
Get it right
Who's zoomin' who
Through the storm
What you see is what you sweat
Greatest hits 1980-94 (many new tracks)
A rose is still a rose
So damn happy

I think there was another Lp titled Aretha from 1985-86ish which featured George Michael and also spawned the hit "Jimmy Lee". About 3-4 of her mid to late 70's albums which are mostly disco have not unfortunately been reissued. Other than that this is a pretty complete discography.

There's one best of on Rhino that includes about 20 tracks on 1 disc and pulls from all or most of the labels she recorded on. I would not recommend it because some of the tracks are edited. I would probably start with the 4 disc set The Queen of soul: Atlantic recordings which captures her at her height on Atlantic only and also does have a few exclusive tracks from her late 70's disco years.

Don't forget about her sisters Carolyn and Erma!!!!!

[discorecordplayer]

Thanks For The Info.

This Is Interesting

Good Answer

[markydefad]

Aretha is one artist that is well-served by a box set of her greatest hits: "Queen Of Soul" (Rhino/1992) is a great place to start...86 tracks on 4 cds. then you can get the later period on two Arista Greatest Hits packages.

Highly recommended.:)

[tony98]

To me Aretha's Arista product is patchy to say the least.But there is an indemand track on the U.K modern soul scene by her - Integrity-the B-side of Jumpin Jack Flash.