Lady Soul

it's aretha bitch

A classic and nothing else needs to be said

Aretha’s energy is absolutely infectious on this album. Something that surprised me on this is the instrumentals. Some really great horns, piano, bass, drums, strings, etc. It sounds a little dated, as far as recording goes. I wonder what it sounds like on vinyl. Man, this is so good

Not something I'd usually seek out on my own but absolutely loved this album. Some really funky tracks in alongside the more soulful stuff I was more familiar with.

Finally! An objectively fantastic album! From start to finish, an auditory pleasure!

Chain of fools - excellent Money won’t change you - very good People get ready - excellent Niki hoeky - good (You make me feel like) a natural woman - amazing Sweet sweet baby - very good Good to me as I am to you - good Come back baby - excellent Groovin - very good Ain’t no way - excellent 9.5/10

R&B was never the same after Aretha. Classic songs on this album still important today.

Beautiful voice, timeless rhythm and production

Amazing as always. Aretha Franklin had one of the most powerful voices in popular music. Lady Soul contains two of her greatest hits, but is enjoyable and explosive throughout. Her level of vocal control is remarkable and she never over or under sings. The musical backing is well arranged and highlights her voice well.

All I know are the singles. My first voyage into the deep cuts of Aretha World. Man, what a delight. Interesting to be reviewing this right after reviewing Pearl. Because the two have a lot of commonality and I'm sure Pearl never would have existed without the influence of Franklin (and this record's release just two years prior). The ladies are going "five stars" two reviews in a row. Only because there isn't an option for 6 stars.

The OG Diva - and I mean that in the post positive sense of the term. Aretha is the shit. All "divas" since her (for better or worse - Tina, Whitney, Mariah, Adele, Beyonce, Lizzo) are emulating her - or trying. There may not be a better female (or male?) vocalist. But - let's also talk about the songs as a whole. I was really impressed with the arrangement of almost every track. These can be very simple, straight-forward songs - but they didn't settle for that. The horns, the strings, the little "kicks" and syncopations and chord structures - very well done. And - though I know it wasn't written for me - there may not be a prettier song than Natural Woman. I'm leaning 4 on this, but The Queen is getting a 5 out of respect (that's , r-e-s-p-e-c-t).

Amazing, packed with soul and hits. These are lady singing songs that are fun to belt in the shower and around the house.

Brilliant

What a great album. Great musicianship, a great voice, and great vibes throughout. Loved it.

The best thus far.

I have always focused on Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald neglecting Aretha because she had a Soul sound and I focused on the jazz sounds that the formers brought. BUT THIS IS INCREDIBLE one of the best Soul albums I have ever heard, and these are beautiful just mixed and sounding songs. AINT NO WAY IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS I HAVE EVER HEARD GENUINELY. There is not a second a moment of filler anywhere on this album. The highs of Come Back Baby and the grooves of Sweet sweet baby. This is a template for what all the best music should be. I get actual goosebumps listening to this album over and over. Even slow songs like People Get Ready still feel beautiful and the drums feel like a train waiting in the station it is absolutely beautiful. I can hear all the music that has stemmed just from the lyrical and sonic genius of this. Money won't change me BUT THIS ALBUM HAS 5/5 one of my favorites so far.

I went into listening to this album not knowing exactly what to expect. Obviously I'm familiar with Aretha's most popular songs, but I am not at all familiar with her extended discography. So, I was a little worried that there'd be some songs I vibed with and others not so much, but boy was I absolutely proven wrong and I'm so glad I was. There's not much for me to say beyond I loved every single song on this album. Like, every single one. I didn't know Chain of Fools by name, but recognized it immediately as soon as it started, and it started things off on a high note(I highly recommend the unedited bonus version that follows Ain't No Way) with everything that followed keeping that momentum. Aretha has an incredible voice that gives these songs appropriate power and feeling. To the point of giving me chills at times. Straight from my listening notes: "I am a sucker for a good pouring of the heart and I just love this. You deserve someone who makes you feel like A Natural Woman, Aretha. Yes." "YOU TELL 'EM ARETHA. THEY BETTER BE AS GOOD TO YOU AS YOU ARE TO THEM. Fuckin' love this one." "You're gonna catch me Groovin' with my baby on a sunday afternoon to this track for sure." I had more notes for each song, but you get the idea. I was on board the entire time. Not only will I re-visit, I think this entire album is going into my liked songs on Spotify and I eagerly await hearing them again. No doubt in my mind in giving this a 5.

5 One of the only - or quite possibly - the only album on the list thus far to have given me goosebumps. Her voice, her energy, her star power - Rolling Stone has now twice named the woman the greatest singer of all-time, and it’s hard to argue with that after listening to this. The album is a constantly swinging pendulum of fun and beautiful, and Aretha manages to knock it out of the park each and every time. Chain of Fools and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman are classics, but the song that really moved me here was People Get Ready, a rendition of a song by The Impressions that was being used as the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Listening to perhaps the greatest singer of all-time spread a message of unity, pride, and power so beautifully during one of the most important chapters in US history… goosebumps. Just goosebumps, man. While that was my favorite moment of my listening, truthfully, every song here is a highlight. I loved everything I heard and could probably go on about each, but the last thing I’ll touch on here is the closer, Ain’t No Way. One thing that’s stuck out to me about a lot of these older albums is a lack of finality, like you’re given a sudden ending once your collection of music runs out, but man, the song just seems to effectively sum up everything that makes the album and woman so iconic - the kind of closer that makes you take a step back once you realize it’s all over and go “Wow”. Unfortunately, you don’t quite get that if you’re listening on Spotify, as the application bundles four bonus tracks at the end, but in the fairest of exchanges, you get more Aretha, and even though they’re four tracks you’ve already heard, the extended version of Chain of Fools may very well be better than the original. Great listen from front to back. As someone who’s never claimed to be the biggest fan of soul music, I’m not sure how someone couldn’t like this - at that point I think you just hate music. I really didn’t set out to give this album a 5 when I started listening, but to give it anything lower would feel like a disservice. Iconic all around.

Another extraordinary recording by Lady Soul, a magnificent showcase for her stunning, soulful, expressive voice. Unmatched as a vocalist, blessed with a warm, comforting tone, this is an album to sink into and enjoy not just the singing but the exemplary backing band (a special nod to Tommy Cogbill whose bass work is incredible). Chain of Fools and You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman are recordings for the ages. Rest in Peace, Miss Franklin, we miss you.

This is a powerful album, crammed to the brim with classic originals and covers. Each track shows Aretha's ability to connect the listener to the emotion and the meaning buried deep down in the soul of every song. The tracks 'Good to Me as I Am to You' and 'Ain't No Way' are so incredibly good.

Every song is a winner and Aretha smacks it out of the park, her vocals elevating already strong material even higher. I can’t find enough superlatives to describe just how good this album is. It’s close to, (if not) the perfect R&B/soul album.

Kind of hard to hate Aretha, right? The more I listened, the more I realized I couldn't really find any flaws in it. Smooth soul and gospel backing a one-of-a-kind voice. Favorite tracks: "Money Won't Change You", "Since You've Been Gone", "Ain't No Way"

Before going into this I knew Aretha Franklin had a good voice but damn. This was great - loved every track, great mixture of blues and amazing vocals.

Wow! This is amazing. Not a style of music I'd usually seek out, but I really enjoyed it and may well revisit. Incredibly, powerful, melodic, rhythmic and soulful. Not a weak track on the album. It's difficult to imagine how R&B music (or any music for that matter) could be better than this. Objectively and subjectively this can't be anything other than a 5.

Yeah, this is again in my favorite eras and genres of music, so I am a big fan of this. Also, I was surprised to see that this was her 12th studio album! I didn’t realize she had recorded so many by this time!

La grandeza artística que tienen algunas personas a veces es abrumadora y eso sucede con Aretha, vi que esté ya es un disco recopilatorio pero está tan bien mezclado que no tiene un pero; soul, funk, R&B, Gospel y su maravillosa voz son una mezcla perfecta

One of the most powerful voices in music. Just turn off the lights, stare at a wall and understand what music is all about

Love it

If there is a album with a more famed and established list of songwriters I would like to put it head to head with this one and watch the world explode. James Brown and Curtis Mayfield alone puts this album in a separate category, but you also have The Vegases and Jerry Wexler. And of course not to mention the combination of Carole King and Gerry Goffin who are one of the best songwriting combinations of all time. And I won't even begin to list out the legendary list of artists that played on this album, as I already know this review is going to be substantially long. But damn, is that just as impressive if not more impressive. "Chain of Fools" is a fantastic opening track followed by a couple of solid fillers. Then you have the one and only "(You Make Me Feels Like) A Natural Woman" the fact that this is just the end of the A-Side is possibly the one disappointment of this album. It rightfully belongs as the culmination of a fantastic album (as Carole did on her fellow 5 star album Tapestry). "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" is a great open to the B-Side. But the groove of "Good to Me as I Am to You" speaks to me in a special way. What a work of art on the bass! "Groovin'" is exactly what it claims to be. "Ain't No Way" is the only song that I can understand putting at the end over "A Natural Woman". The only way to end an album other than a song that powerful is with a song this heartfelt and powerful in a completely different way. All in all this is an album that you could apply every positive adjective you could ever think of to and it would be accurate. A masterpiece of an album! Anybody that gives it lower than a 4 star rating should be declared incompetent. That being said it should absolutely be a 5 star album!

Everyone deserves the privilege of hearing Aretha Franklin’s vocals at least once in their life. And this album (her twelfth, unbelievably) sees her on spellbinding form. There’s music for the head and music for the soul, and sometimes you can be so immersed in the groove or struck by such depth of feeling before even realising what you’ve been listening to. At its best, “Lady Soul” is one of those albums. Here are 28 words to summarise my thought process listening to its rapid 28 minutes: “I think Aretha’s quite overra- wha? whaaa? How does she do that?! Wow. She’s going… it went higher! Christ. All that GRIT! And she’s ROCKING! She’s a storm! She’s an icon! Holy shit.” The album is a lot more upbeat than I expected, though two of its strongest cuts are showstopping ballads (“People Get Ready” and, of course, “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”). Across the board, Aretha, the band and the backing vocalists (Sweet Inspirations, who last blew me away in “Dusty in Memphis) give performances overflowing with passion and power. There’s four-to-the-floor rock, brassy Motown, lush soul ballads and smoky blues. On first listen, I was ready to nitpick and say it wasn’t flawless (the meandering blues of “Good To Me As I Am To You” lost me a bit). But sometimes, I should stop trying to dissect everything and write ten paragraphs per album, and just let myself be swept away. “Lady Soul” is one of those albums, and they don’t come around very often. What a thrill to spend half an hour with talent like this.

This is a glorious album and is well deserving of a Five Star rating. Aretha near the peak of her powers. Her voice throughout is strong and powerful, yet she can ease back when required, as in a controlled rendering of Curtis Mayfield's 'People Get Ready'. There is a surprise hint of tape hiss, and as a result it brings a bit more warmth and heart to the performances.

You got a problem with Aretha? Yeah? Then you have a problem with me. Don't mess with the Queen of Soul.

Nove. Os miúdos estão deitados. A sala já não tem desenhos espalhados, uma casa no campo, figuras de pauzinhos sem mãos dadas, pétalas do tamanho do sol. Ele já dorme, ou acorda, ou luta de olho semiaberto contra um loop de televendas que ninguém vai comprar. Os copos vão para a gaveta, os talheres para o alumínio, iluminado o frigorífico que me acolhe as marmitas, cada vez mais curtas. Amanhã começa-se cedo, em casas que não a minha. O sol já não me desperta há muito. A noite acolhe-me com alento, no barulho incessante dos camiões do lixo e o bruto arrancar do padeiro que não põe mudanças desde '97. Amanhã, como sempre, o mundo começa cedo. Abro a rolha, pop!, gulp gulp gulp da garrafa, não acorda ninguém. Um copo para o caminho. Um dia havemos de chegar. MotA: Chain of Fools (extended cut) "For five long years, I thought you were my man / But I found out, love, I'm just a link in your chain"

Dato inútil: este disco lo conocí gracias a Selma Bouvier. Ok, vamos a lo importante. Existe el Soul.... y existe Aretha Franklin. Está en otro nivel propio y es de esas contadísimas cantantes que de verdad sí se ganaron a pulso esos títulos como "Reina del Soul" o ser nombradas una diva. Nadie puede cantar como ella, la potencia, la emoción, la cadencia. A Natural Woman es de esas canciones icónicas que de manera perfecta reflejan como fotografía musical perfecta toda una época y género. En realidad creo que no puedo ni tengo que decir mucho más... es un disco que dudo haya alguien que no pueda apreciar su calidad. Voz espectacular. Una banda de estudio maravillosa con un punto de funk perdido en detalles, una cantidad perfecta de metales sin exagerarlos. Coristas de fondo excelentes, también en su perfecta medida sin opacar pero con suficiente presencia. La música puro soul puro, algunas rápidas, algunas lentas, algunas modernas algunas que se les siente el fondo de su origen en gospel. No hay pero para este disco.

Nr. 173/1001 Chain of Fools 3/5 Money Won't Change You 4/5 People Get Ready 4/5 Niki Hoeki 3/5 A Natural Woman 5/5 Since You've Been Gone 4/5 Good to Me As I Am to You 3/5 Come Back Baby 4/5 Groovin' 4/5 Aint No Way 4/5 Average: 3,8 Probably the finest voice in popular music.

J'ai bien aimé cet album mais j'en veux à cette dame d'avoir popularisé les expressions "Où est le respect ?" et "C'est le cousin à qui encore ??"

gude

I'm familiar with a few Aretha Franklin songs, but this will be my first time listening to one of her albums from start to finish. Soul has been one of my favorite genres so far on this project, so I have high hopes that I'll enjoy this album. Overall, I found this album to be pretty middle of the road. Aretha Franklin is undoubtedly one of the best vocalists in music history, and she showcases a wide range of vocal abilities on this album. She harmonizes, she croons, and she can wails at the top of her lungs, all with a level of control that few singers can duplicate. On top of that, this album has some simple but well executed musical arrangements. The bass line on "Niki Hoeky" is fantastic, and "Money Won't Change You" and "Come Back Baby" have some fantastic horns. But rarely did the vocals and music combine to create something new and interesting. It's not that this album is bad, but I just wasn't wowed by it. Of course, the shining exception to this is "Natural Woman." Aretha delicately sings the verse before delivering the powerful chorus. Her intensity picks up perfectly over the course of the song, as she lets her emotion steer the song. The orchestral arrangements compliment her perfectly, and even though the strings and horns are beautiful, they never once steal the spotlight from Aretha's singing. As much as I love the Carole King version of this song, Aretha's version is something else entirely, worthy of all the praise it gets. Even though this album wasn't really my jam, I know it represents a watershed moment for Aretha Franklin, and it's a massive influence on soul music. Aretha opened the door for so many black women to be able to shine on their own, and her influence as a vocalist still reaches into popular music today.

This is the album that has two of the four Aretha Franklin songs that you know (Chain of Fools & Natural Woman). I was expecting to really love the album. But when it was over (it's only half an hour), I was a little disappointed. I didn't think it was bad. Aretha is in fine form. And I know Jerry Wexler is a legend of a producer. But I didn't hear anything in the song arrangements or the playing that I felt rose to the same level as the Stax or Motown recordings of the same period. The songs written for Aretha/the album (Chain of Fools, Natural Woman, Since You've Been Gone, and Ain't No Way) all sound vital. The covers (Money Won't Change You, People Get Ready, Come Back Baby, and Groovin') all sound like filler. This is a rare occasion when I wish there were half-stars. I don't think the album warrants a 4-star rating. But 3-stars feels a bit low. I wish there had been more of the fresh new songs, and less of the filler covers. The singles are great. The album is mid.

Probably not an intergalactic paedo

a massage for your inner ear

Not my cup of tea but fantastic vocals

A gorgeous voice from such an immense talent. The style just isn't for me, but that doesn't away from being able to objectively see what made Aretha so great

Classic voice. Great album

Rich. Rich richness. Ain't No Way...I can't even. Would be number one except for the short number of tracks / repeats. Wow.

Amazing

I have it five out of R-E-S-P-E-C-T but I don’t enjoy 60s R&B and am very tired of the hits off this album.

Absolutely incredible

Perfect, no notes. 10/10

Excellent! Easy 5 stars. Excellent vocals and fun instrumentals. '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' was my fave.

Tremendo disco. El soul es el precursor de lo que luego los blancos llamarían rock, y se nota bastante tiene mucha potencia este disco, es muy adaptado al oído de hoy en día, a diferencia del de Janis Joplin que es una tortura. Me encantó, tiene temas muy buenos.

El disco de Soul perfecto. Desde la apertura gloriosa de un clásico como Chains of Fools hasta ese maravilloso final que es Ain't No Way (compuesto por su hermana que le hace un coro majestuoso). Por el medio versiones estupendas como People Get Ready, Groovin o (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, esta última se puede decir que es la mejor versión del tema. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone es una joya, no muy conocida pero que tiene una calidad imparable. Es uno de lo discos de cabecera de cualquier interprete del Soul. Imprescindible.

Amazing to listen to a full album

Top drawer

A truly one of a kind voice. The production hasn't aged a day. It's lush. it's grand, it's groovy, it's comforting. Wonderful

Aretha has one of the most distinctive and individual voices in music. And she also plays piano and saxophone. This album contains the classics “Chain of Fools”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Been Gone)” and excellent versions of “People Get Ready” and “Groovin’”. The remainder of the album sparkles almost as brightly, Aretha’s stunning gospel vocals raising even lesser numbers close to the heights of the hits. Such was her talent that there was no such thing as filler on Aretha’s late ‘60s and early ‘70s albums.

Love her work.

Absolutely loved this! Only issue I had was walking into work feeling like a natural black woman in chains, at least I think that’s what she was singing about. In all seriousness, I have a real affinity with this era of music. I grew up listening to a lot of these songs thanks to my mom. Chain of fools, A Natural Woman and Aint No Way are 3 classics but People Get Ready is one of my favourite songs of all time. Admittedly I prefer the original and I was in horror when I covered that Bob Dylan had the sheer audacity to cover the song, if I die having never heard that version I will count that as a successful life. Good to Me as I Am to You starts so beautifully and only gets better when Aretha starts to belt and shows why she is the queen of soul. I appreciated the sprinkling of more upbeat “poppy” songs like Come Back Baby and Niki Hoeky intertwined with soul and talent across the rest of the album. I struggle to listen to aretha without being in awe of her power as a vocalist mixed with such soothing tones in her softer register

So gut kann R&B sein!

A perfect album I think. Captures the essence of the Muscle Shoals sound and Aretha Franklin gets to showcase every aspect of what makes her so incredible. Special mention to the Franklin sisters who give a masterful performance on backing vocals. Ain’t No Way is probably top 5 love songs of all time and needs more, well, love

It’s just nice to break out of man rock sometimes innit. Classic, classy and timeless. Other than Nina Simone, so far no vocal performance touches this, and doubt will on this list. Some bangin tunes too. Fantastic album.

very funky and lovely with many favorites.

I put this in moments before getting on absolutely packed train. I was having a bad time, but then I just focused a bit more on the music and how much Aretha's performing prowess comes through. Even stood in that carriage sandwiched between people dressed in our winter coats like some kind of human sardine, I was still made to feel like a natural woman. (nb I am a man)

Turn it up, and drink it in. Aha, Aretha covered the Young Rascals! I never knew.

An amazing singer and performer at the top of her game, the best session players in the world at that time who had the sound of the moment, solid songwriting and choices of covers, and the genius to limit your album to ten songs and thirty minutes. Everything about this album was done right. An absolute masterpiece.

Zarąbiste, 5/5. Na bardzo miłe wieczorki wspólne romantyczne

SO GOOD!!!!!!

Amazing album, I dare anyone listening to this to try keeping for foot from tappin or your hips from groovin. Add me to the chain

It's been a while. As good as I remember.

I had other albums by Mrs. Franklin. But this to me is the epitome!

Amazing album. Of course, the classics "Chain of Fools" and "A Natural Woman" are great, but I don't know how one cannot also be moved by "Good to Me as I Am to You", "Come Back Baby", and "Ain't No Way". Also deserving of special mention are "People Get Ready" and "Groovin'".

Good

Impossible to have a bad word to say about this soul masterclass.

A really great record filled with a mix of soulful and funky tracks. The power and energy of Aretha’s voice really shines in her more soulful songs and the instrumentals are top-notch throughout the record. From the funky bassline and upbeat drums of “Come Back Baby” to the uplifting accompaniment of strings, horns, and piano in “Ain’t No Way” and “A Natural Woman”. Aretha is truly one of the GOATs of Soul music. Favorite Track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Strangely enough I was given another female singer's album from the late 60s, Dusty Springfield's in Memphis right before this one. I enjoyed it but it didn't blow me away. This album on the other hand is a masterpiece. It only took a few songs in before I realized what I was listening to was absolutely the type of work that should appear on a list like this. There's not a bad track on it, and a great variety from more soulful tracks to funk to slow jams. Aretha Franklin can really, really sing and she goes all out on this one. Truly a classic.

A great album that probably should be in more lists but doesn’t. I wonder if it is because the album cover isn’t iconic? It feels like it was thrown together without any thought.

A masterpiece of soul. The standard for which every soul singer should set for themselves. This is outstanding. 5/5.

absolute slapper

Don't normally listen to this type of songs but this is just so entertaining and so beautiful! Her voice is such a bless. Simple good music. 4.5/5. My favorites are Ain't No Way and People Get Ready.

Incredible - excellent from start to finish.

This is going to be short: it’s friggen Aretha Franklin being the Queen of Soul. This album is a testament to her raw talent. You don’t listen to it, you feel it. Key tracks for me (all) are especially Chain of Fools and Since You’ve Been Gone, particularly because I love Tommy Cogbill’s bass playing.

What's there to say, enjoyable and classic!

GOAT

So beautiful

less poppy then the earlier album i rolled from her, goes further on the harder rnb/deep soul edge to rly amazing results i think even those who werent into that other album could appreciate. just extremely vivacious and lively music, barnburners all over the place, even in its slower ballady moments it kinda makes me sweat just from the grit and weight. been acquainting and re-acquainting with a lot of legendary soul vocalists over the course of this project, and while nina simone is prob my personal fave there's nobody who quite matches aretha's Bright Belting , feels like the sun

Yeah, this is the good stuff.

Engage all 25,000 in-ear nerve-endings. Listen to it, savor it, soar it up. The high notes, that energy. Pure soul. Angelic. Mmm. That's a ten!

Queen of soul!

Soul is in everyone. The feeling we get when we listen to soul music, is what makes us, US.

Amazing vocals gorgeous instrumentals and feminist lyrics. It's hard to not love Aretha Franklin 9.1/10

Day 49 - No idea when this album was generated lmao In Aretha Franklin we trust o7! 5/5

You can just list listen to an "average" track on this and it just slays everything you've listened to in the previous week. Joyous.

Aretha Franklin has the greatest singing voice of all time. Combine that with some beautiful instruments, her high energy, and deep lyrics, you have one fantastic album. I thoroughly enjoy every song. Favorite Song: "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".

Classic 5/5

Come on it’s the Queen of Soul, when Rock and R/B were fighting for the top of the charts. FYI, just learned today that Whitney Houston’s mother did the incredibly high backing vocals on Ain’t No Way, she passed today at 99, RIP Cissy Houston.

Some modern day singers couldn’t hold a candle to this voice and no tricks to help out with the sound. Super.

Amazing.

Great album. Aretha is so smooth, yet powerful in delivery. Chain of Fools so so so good.

no finess smh smh