Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign
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Music CD Cover Artist: Aretha Franklin Edition: Music CD Audio: English (Original Language) CD Release Date: 2007-10-16 Music Label: Rhino Soundtracks: Music CD 1
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Free Music Notes for Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign Album
Free Music Review: 3 Stars.... But Still A Must Have
Hit: 3 Stars
For those of us who knew of these "lost" recordings this compilation is long overdue, and frankly one that I feared would never see the light of day.
The one true jewel here (a cover version of My Way), was originally edited and released on an as seen on tv vinyl lp many many years ago, the unedited version included here stands as one of Aretha's best vocal and piano perforamces.
Although there are some engaging tracks i.e Mr. Big and a cover of You Keep Me Hanging On, it doesnt appear the folks at Atlantic saved any singles material for release at a later date. Don't get me wrong, as a hardcore Aretha fan, I'd rather listen to her B sides than most singers A sides.
The biggest surprise for me was that the included different versions of two previously released tracks (Lean On Me & Thats The Way I Feel About You), are superior to the versions released, the former as a B side and the latter on the Quincy Jones produced Hey Now Hey lp.
There are three songs on this disc that I have always thought Aretha should record. None of them lived up to my expectations. The first, Talk To Me, was recorded in the Soul 69 album sessions, that had Aretha singing with a jazz band that did not suit her. The other two, At Last and Love Letters, have Aretha straying so far from the melody line that these classic ballads become almost unrecognizable.
With all the above being said, let me make one thing clear, this disc is an absolute must have. The vocal performances on the demos of Sweet Bitter Love and Are You Leaving Me are themselves worth every penny you spend on this CD. But also these seven years of recordings add to the historical record of the evolution of one of the all time greats.
Hopefully the folks at Rhino and Atlantic have more saved for a volume 2....let's keep our fingers crossed.