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Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged. Her astonishing run of late-'60s hits with Atlantic Records—"Respect," "I Never Loved a Man," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Think," "The House That Jack Built," and several others—earned her the title "Lady Soul," which she has worn uncontested ever since. Yet as much of an international institution as she's become, much of her work—outside of her recordings for Atlantic in the late '60s and early '70s—is erratic and only fitfully inspired, making discretion a necessity when collecting her records.

Franklin's roots in gospel ran extremely deep. With her sisters Carolyn and Erma (both of whom would also have recording careers), she sang at the Detroit church of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, while growing up in the 1950s. In fact, she made her first recordings as a gospel artist at the age of 14. It has also been reported that Motown was interested in signing Aretha back in the days when it was a tiny start-up. Ultimately, however, Franklin ended up with Columbia, to which she was signed by the renowned talent scout John Hammond.

Franklin would record for Columbia constantly throughout the first half of the '60s, notching occasional R&B hits (and one Top Forty single, "Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody"), but never truly breaking out as a star. The Columbia period continues to generate considerable controversy among critics, many of whom feel that Aretha's true aspirations were being blunted by pop-oriented material and production. In fact there's a reasonable amount of fine items to be found on the Columbia sides, including the occasional song ("Lee Cross," "Soulville") where she belts out soul with real gusto. It's undeniably true, though, that her work at Columbia was considerably tamer than what was to follow, and suffered in general from a lack of direction and an apparent emphasis on trying to develop her as an all-around entertainer, rather than as an R&B/soul singer.

When Franklin left Columbia for Atlantic, producer Jerry Wexler was determined to bring out her most soulful, fiery traits. As part of that plan, he had her record her first single, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," at Muscle Shoals in Alabama with esteemed Southern R&B musicians. In fact, that was to be her only session actually at Muscle Shoals, but much of the remainder of her '60s work would be recorded with the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, although the sessions would actually take place in New York City. The combination was one of those magic instances of musical alchemy in pop: the backup musicians provided a much grittier, soulful, and R&B-based accompaniment for Aretha's voice, which soared with a passion and intensity suggesting a spirit that had been allowed to fly loose for the first time.

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Jerry Wexler e Aretha Franklin: quando la Soul Music conquistò il pianeta

Read "Jerry Wexler e Aretha Franklin: quando la Soul Music conquistò il pianeta" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Nei giorni successivi il 16 agosto, tutti i media del mondo hanno commentato la morte di Aretha Franklin, la straordinaria soul singer e una delle massime voci del Novecento. Una scomparsa avvenuta in singolare coincidenza di quella di Jerry Wexler dieci anni prima. Il 15 agosto 2008 se n'era andato quel produttore dell'Atlantic Records che fece emergere l'espressione più vera della cantante e la sostenne nella fase folgorante della carriera. In quest'articolo vogliamo ricordare Wexler analizzando il ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Honoring Aretha & Timeless Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh

Read "Honoring Aretha & Timeless Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This week we remember the legendary Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in the second hour and enjoy a sampling of standards with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh plus songs by women who wrote with pianist Jimmy Rowles whose centennial is being celebrated this year. Playlist Lynne Arriale “Woodstock" from Give Us These Days (Challenge) 00:00 Debra Mann “Woodstock" from Full Circle: The Music of Joni Mitchell (Whaling City Sound) 06:13 Katie Bull “The Drive to Woodstock" from ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Aretha in Jazz & New Releases

Read "Aretha in Jazz & New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


This week we pay homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, looking into her early jazz forays and her influence on many jazz musicians. We'll then dive into a bin full of extraordinary new albums. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" from Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill) (self-released) 0:00 Aretha Franklin “It Ain't Neccarily So" from Aretha: With the Ray Bryan Trio ...

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Profile

Aretha Franklin, The Lady Soul: 1942 - 2018

Read "Aretha Franklin, The Lady Soul: 1942 - 2018" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Soul Music may have been invented by others, but it was properly perfected only when Aretha Louise Franklin departed her modest success at Columbia Records for superstardom with Atlantic Records in 1966. On January 24, 1967, Franklin entered Rick Hall's (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" with the support of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. This song was released February 20, 1967 with the ...

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Extended Analysis

Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia

Read "Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Aretha FranklinTake a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on ColumbiaColumbia2011 Were we to limit our musical intelligence gathering to banal “classic rock" radio, we would believe that singer Aretha Franklin's career began in 1967, that she only recorded one song, Otis Redding's “Respect," and recorded for a single label, Atlantic. All these assumptions are light years from accurate as evidenced by Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia. At Columbia, Franklin ...

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Album Review

Aretha Franklin: Jazz Moods

Read "Jazz Moods " reviewed by Jim Santella


What a difference a day makes. Aretha Franklin made her first recordings at age fourteen as a gospel artist in Detroit. And in no time she was sitting on top of the world, pleasing audiences everywhere with soulful anthems like the tender reveries that have been grouped together for this moody “midnight" compilation.

The slow and passionate program comes from her earlier recording years, before Franklin gained worldwide recognition for “Respect" and earned her title as “Queen of ...

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Obituary

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Aretha Franklin, long considered the undisputed “Queen of Soul” and one of America's most emotional and spiritual interpreters of pop, jazz and soul songs, died on Thursday at her home in Detroit. She was 76. The cause was advanced pancreatic cancer. My Franklin obituary and appreciation for The Wall Street Journal can be found here. Yesterday, I spoke by phone with singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson about her feelings for Franklin. Valerie, who began in New York as a gospel singer and ...

Video / DVD

Aretha Franklin: Amsterdam 1968

Aretha Franklin: Amsterdam 1968

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In May 1968, Aretha Franklin was in her prime when she performed in Amsterdam during her first tour abroad. She was there to promote her new album, Lady Soul, after switching to Atlantic Records. Aretha and the Sweet Inspirations, her backup singers, were placed on a stage crowded with musicians and fans with little security down front at the city's famous Concertgebouw. There, she performed for a near-hysterical audience that had no problem throwing what appear to be flower petals ...

Festival

Montreal Jazz Festival to Feature Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis & More

Montreal Jazz Festival to Feature Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Wynton Marsalis & More

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto Alcan, has announced some of the initial concerts scheduled for the 34th edition which runs from June 28 to July 7. With a program featuring artists ranging from the music legends to bright new stars, this year’s participants includes Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, Nikki Yanofski, Dr. John, Ravi Coltraine and more. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring ...

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Recording

Aretha Franklin: Columbia Years

Aretha Franklin: Columbia Years

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Two weeks ago I wrote an advance review of Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia for the Wall Street Journall (here). It's an 11-CD box plus one DVD from Sony/Legacy that covers Franklin's entire 1960-65 output for the Columbia label. The mega box tells two stories concurrently. One details the singer's development as a singer who combined the American Songbook with the thump of the Holy Bible. The other story is about a label that at the time ...

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Recording

Columbia/Legacy Honors The 50th Anniversary Of Aretha Franklin's Pop Recording Career With A Deluxe Box Set

Columbia/Legacy Honors The 50th Anniversary Of Aretha Franklin's Pop Recording Career With A Deluxe Box Set

Source: Michael Ricci

TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA CELEBRATES THE QUEEN OF SOUL'S GROUNDBREAKING WORKS FROM 1960-1965 IN A 12-DISC BOX SET A golden anniversary collection containing original LPs with original album art, bonus tracks, mono mixes, alternate takes, studio conversations, newly-compiled sessions with legendary producers, and a DVD of rare televised performances from The Steve Allen Show TAKE A LOOK features:

Aretha (With The Ray Bryant Combo) (Her debut on Columbia, produced by John Hammond, released Feb. 27, 1961) ...

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Event

Condoleezza Rice, Aretha Franklin to Team up for Musical Benefit

Condoleezza Rice, Aretha Franklin to Team up for Musical Benefit

Source: All About Jazz

Aretha Franklin will take the stage next month with an accomplished accompanist more famous for diplomacy: Condoleezza Rice.

The pair will play at Philadelphia's Mann Center for the Performing Arts on July 27 in show that will feature Franklin's music and classical composers.

The Mann Center's website says Rice, the former secretary of state, will accompany Franklin on piano for Say A Little Prayer,Natural Woman, selections from Mozart and more. Franklin says in a statement that “Rice is a consummate ...

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Festival

Pearl Jam to Join Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin at New Orleans

Pearl Jam to Join Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin at New Orleans

Source: Michael Ricci

They may call it the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, but a lineup of pop and rock performers including Pearl Jam, Drake and My Morning Jacket will be making their debuts at that annual Louisiana music series next year.

On Tuesday, organizers of the 41st edition of Jazz Fest said that Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, the Black Crowes and B.B. King would be among the festival veterans returning in the spring; ...

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Event

Queen of Soul Brings Down the House

Queen of Soul Brings Down the House

Source: All About Jazz

Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson honored at Apollo. Franklin and Tucker share a laugh at Harlem's Apollo Theater spring benefit. Emcee Jaime Foxx urges everyone to cut loose at the famous theater.

The Queen of Soul had the joint jumping. Leslie Uggams channeled Lena Horne to deliver a rousing “Stormy Weather." And emcee Jamie Foxx never stopped urging everyone to “Let it go" and get excited. Harlem's Apollo Theater spring benefit inducted Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson (posthumously) as Hall ...

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Performance / Tour

Aretha Franklin Cancels Jazz Fest Appearance

Aretha Franklin Cancels Jazz Fest Appearance

Source: All About Jazz

Soul legend Aretha Franklin has canceled her appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, but organizers and fans got lucky with a replacement. Earth, Wind & Fire happens to be in the area and offered to play on the popular music festival's largest stage on Friday night. Festival spokesman Louis Edwards says the “Queen of Soul" told organizers on Thursday that she wouldn't be able to perform. Edwards said she apologized to fans but wouldn't give a reason ...

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Music Industry

Ask Aretha Franklin

Ask Aretha Franklin

Source: All About Jazz

She hardly needs an introduction -- in fact, she doesn't even really need a last name.

Aretha -- also known as the Queen of Soul -- burst onto the scene in the 1960s, when she signed on with Atlantic Records to release hits like Chain of Fools, “Respect" and “Natural Woman." In 1987, she became the first woman to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has won 18 Grammy awards and performed at three ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Take a Look: Aretha...

Columbia Records
2011

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Sunday Morning...

Hallmark Records
2009

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Unforgettable. A...

Hallmark Records
2009

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Collections

Hallmark Records
2005

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Jazz Moods

Sony Music
2005

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