Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign
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Free Music Notes for Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign
Free Music Review: Golden Reign Indeed!
Hit: 5 Stars
Anyone reading this who is half as big a fan of Aretha's as I am should investigate this one at the very least. I bought it unheard, with only Rhino Handmade's review to guide me (and they, naturally, were trying to sell it to me). I did order it and got it in time to listen before it's wider-distribution street date.
This is an unqualified, studpendous Aretha-Fest. There is no one like her, and most of these tracks are from her greatest years. Many have never been heard before, outside of the circle of folks who produced the recordings. It's about time Aretha got her from-the-vaults Atlantic Records out-takes, demos and b-sides package. Other than the fact that the first few tracks are of poor sound quality (and mono), there is nothing to criticize here. It's Aretha at her peak, with some nice photos and fascinating notes co-written by Jerry Wexler and David Ritz, and most of all, wonderful songs, performances and arrangements. Some tracks are re-makes, others demos, and most are outtakes from many of Franklin's famous Atlantic LP's. I can only agree with the many who are already wondering aloud why some of these marvelous slices of soul-pop never saw the light of day, 'til now.
The ones that floored me the most were "Talk To Me, Talk To Me" (a SOUL '69 album outtake), and a knockout, original, almost jazzy rendering of the Lennon-McCartney classic, "Fool On The Hill." Aretha shows us all how a cover should be done (she makes it her own - I like several other versions of this song, but Aretha's is very different from any of the others). A medley of "Pledging My Love" and "The Clock" is distingushed by a very interesting vocal approach by Aretha in which she creates a new work of art from two others, quite unlike the originals. As far as I'm concerned, Aretha's "You Keep Me Hangin' On" blows Diana's sacred version out of the water, and hearing the unedited version of "Rock Steady," I wondered why it was ever edited to begin with. Ditto with "Chain Of Fools" (another great, previously unreleased full-length of a hit song, recently included as a bonus track on the re-issue of Lady Soul). All I have to say about "My Cup Runneth Over" and "My Way" is, WOW! Ed Ames and Frank Sinatra would have smiled with pride, had they heard how Aretha honored their respective signature tunes. Aretha even holds her own against Etta James' definitive version of "At Last" (Aretha's is an outtake from LET ME IN YOUR LIFE, recorded in 1973). One of the most unusual covers here is Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne," which is given some rhythm and sped up. I have never heard it done this way, but in Aretha's capable hands, It works. Something is missing, though, possibly due to Aretha not really understanding the song (just my opinion; I love Cohen, but he was ever the cryptic one in those days). Doesn't matter; Aretha's go at this oft-covered song is still worth hearing.
This CD is a special gift to the music world. I highly recommend it.
Free Music Review: A REMINDER OF WHY SHE'S THE QUEEN
Hit: 5 Stars
This new 2-CD set of lost gems by the one and only Miss Ree is much more than just a batch of leftovers. I'd say that about 85% of this is as good as anything she released commercially during her Glory Days at Atlantic Records. It's hard to know where to begin....but the three demos that begin the collection are just awe-inspiring. You can hear the voice of a gigantic talent that seems to know its time has come. On the unreleased versions of "I Never Loved A Man" and "Dr. Feelgood", Aretha sounds like a woman unleashed. These songs (with just a small backing combo) shed new light on two old warhorses. Both of them have extra lyrics not heard in the well-known versions, and both are sublime. From
there it's a time trip through the 60's as we hear cut after cut of prime
soul, sung with passion and intensity, but NEVER oversung (hello, "divas" of today!). There are too many highlights to mention, but her take on "My Way" is one you won't forget. The 2nd CD starts with a remix of
"Rock Steady" and continues through the mid-70s. I was surprised by how much I liked the outtakes from her Quincy Jones-produced album "Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)", considering that the original lp was not
one of my faves. I think many of those songs are more interesting and well-produced than the tracks on the actual lp. It just astounds you to hear that voice, on cut after cut, soaring to the heavens with a purity and "realness" that seems, to me, to be so lacking in today's "product".
Suffice it to say that if you're an Aretha fan, you'll love this. If you're a fan of classic soul music, you'll love it. Truthfully, I think anyone with ears and a heart will love it! Thanks, Rhino Records!
Free Music Review: FINALLY AVAILABLE!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a must have for any/all fans of Aretha! An ultimate great listening experience beginning to end. We tend to forget how great a piano player Aretha really is aside of her powerful, soulful singing. A lot of these songs could have been hits and/or made some of her albums even more interesting. I love hearing the demo recordings of songs like: I Never Loved a Man(would you believe there was another added verse?!!), Dr. Feelgood, You're All I Need to Get By, Sweet Bitter Love, Are You Leaving Me. Other hilights such as--At Last, Lean On Me, So Soon, I Need A Strong Man, I Want To Be with You, It was You, Mr Big, Fool on the Hill, Heavenly Father, That's the Way I Feel About'cha. Just as I was so eager to hear her and Ray Charles on Ain't But the One, it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. It seems it's Duke Ellington's lyrics but set to the music of Aretha's Spirit in The Dark!!?? The vocals are killer though but....?
Overall there's a lot to like here. Columbia records did not know what to do with her but Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd sure did! The 20's and 30's gave us Bessie Smith, the 40's and 50's gave us the Queen of the Blues, Dinah Washington. Aretha picked up that torch in early 60's and is still running with it! She is still the one and only, Queen of Soul. (After her we'll only have Chaka and Kelly Price with that kind of range and soul again....yeah I said it!)
I am glad these songs are finally available, it took over 40 years! I hope Rhino decides to release all the unreleased stuff on Roberta Flack as well.
Free Music Review: Aretha, I'm blown away!
Hit: 5 Stars
I must say that I am a long time fan, but Aretha has managed to blow my mind again. I cannot stop listening to "Tree of life" and "I wanna be with you", which Aretha sang often live in concert. Those two IMO are vocal masterpieces. "Can you love again", OMG! Aretha is the greatest singer to ever pick up a microphone. "You keep me hanging on", another cover where Aretha picks up the original singer (Diana Ross) and uses her for a microphone. "Suzanne" was an unexpected treat, as was the live version of "Aint but the one". Listening to the end of the latter is testament of the spirit Aretha possesed and shared with any audience at that time, and when singing gospel, still does to this very day. This set is incredible, to say the least!
I made the mistake of listening to the 2nd cd first, so I am unable to elaborate on the first one. I am still under the arrest of the two songs formentioned. I have not been this pleased in quite some time with any new release, by anybody, but today my mind is blown!!!!!!!
Free Music Review: NO COMPLAINTS HERE!!! THIS CD WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRT!!!!! FOR SURE
Hit: 5 Stars
WELL, I WAS VERY PLEASE WHEN I LISTENED TO THE FIRST CD OF THIS 2 DISC SET. SONGS LIKE "THE LETTER", "MY WAY" AND "LEAN ON ME" ARE AWESOME.
BUT IT WASNT UNTIL I LISTEN TO THE SECOND CD WAS WHEN I WAS BLOWN AWAY. ESPECIALLY BY THE UNRELEASED SONGS FROM "HEY NOW, HEY(THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY") WHICH WAS DEEMED ARETHA'S MOST DIFFENT RECORDING.
WHY THESE SONGS DIDNT MAKE THE ALBUM IS BEYOND ME. BUT IM SO GLAD THEY ARE RELEASED NOW. NOW, IM ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. BUT I SURE DO WISH WE HAD SINGERS LIKE THIS NOW.
BUT YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPPOINTED BY THIS CD.
MY FAVORITES.
I NEED A STRONG MAN
HEAVENLY FATHER
LEAN ON ME
THIS TREE OF LIFE
CAN YOU LOVE AGAIN
I WANT TO BE WITH YOU
SUZANNE
LOVE LETTERS
AT LAST
IM IN LOVE
ARE YOU LEAVING ME
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER
PRETTY MUCH EVERY SONG IS A LISTENER!!!!