Lady Soul

it's aretha bitch

A classic and nothing else needs to be said

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!

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

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

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.

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).

Few things in life will give you the stank face quicker than Aretha singing. Especially when she hits those notes that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. This album is easily in the top 25 of this whole project. If you were to tell me Aretha Franklin is the greatest singer of all time I wouldn't argue with you. Damn near a religious experience.

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.

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.

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.

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"

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

Brilliant

Fake orgasm vocals

(5/5). Bow before the Queen. For all my lamenting that the great Diana Ross and her vital work with the SUPREMES is criminally absent from this list, Dimery and Co couldn't ignore this woman. It's like trying to deny there's a sun in the sky or that the sky is blue. You can't have a list of vital and important music ('listen before you die') without her in it. Her voice and her control of it should be governed by the Geneva Convention. It's a weapon that strikes deep into your soul. This is -- sadly but not unexpected -- only ONE of TWO of her albums on the list. For comparison, that wanker Morrissey gets FOUR (that's just his fucking solos, and excludes his work with other groups...). His pompous ass can go get bent. This woman SHITS better music than most of the Morrissey-types on the list and it looks like she's just here as a quota. Enjoy it, relish it, soak in the soul of it. She was a once-in-a-lifetime talent and we're all better off having her music in the world. This is as good as we'll get in this category. Plenty of hits on this one and even the other tracks just ooze soul and feeling.

I was very enthralled by this album. Her voice is powerful yet clear. Since You've Been Gone and Ain't No Way were my favorites, but all songs on the album are solid in their own right. Definitely would listen to again. 9.0/10

Aretha Franklin, the woman you were, simply extraordinary

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

The best thus 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.

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.

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

Je comprends mieux Janis Joplin et Ariana Grande Très groovy!

Where would we all be without a Urethra? Franklin owhere. Great pipes. Ha ha, I'm pissing myself!

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

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.

Album #142 Aretha Franklin - “Lady Soul” 5/5 So yesterday had James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, today we get Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Everyone bend the knee when this Queen enters. Now throughout this project soul music has been a wild card for me, ranging from ratings of 2 to 5. It’s not consistently a genre I’m comfortable in. Aretha, though, this I genuinely loved. I had a friend who does not like the sportsball once tell me that he liked watching Micheal Jordan because well even he could tell that guy was transcendently better than everyone else around him. Listening to this album was like watching Micheal Jordan play basketball, listening to her makes you aware you’re listening to the best to ever do it even if it isn’t your type of music. Aretha has such a masterful command of her voice that she assumes command of your emotions while you listen. A shame i only have one more of her albums to look forward to on this project. Maybe, I’ll appreciate Soul more properly by then.

Played this record for my 19 year old girlfriend. She had no idea who it was and thought I was crazy for liking it. I dunno, we don’t really have anything in common and there’s not much for us to talk about. Maybe I’m just getting old.

I got Ella and Aretha back to back? Super lucky! What a great 2 days of music. Amazing album from the Queen of Soul.

Simplesmente espetacular!

Phenomenal album. Best of the best. Aretha's voice will be known as one of the greats for generations to come. Her version of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is transcendental. "Chain of Fools" was my favorite this time around.

I love women

It's Aretha, nothing less than a 5 is acceptable.

The best to ever do it

Can’t go wrong with Aretha.

I never heard the rest of this album other than the really popular songs. Although I probably won’t listen to this a lot, I understand the talent of Aretha Franklin.

soul lady! the real deal

Beautiful, soulful, groovy, everything you could want from an artist like Aretha. Her voice can scream through the noise like no other, and the rest of the band deserves their credit as well for producing powerful rhythms to drive her through the record. You couldn’t get more timeless than this.

Breathtaking Best Song: Good to Me as I am to You Rating: 9/10 Stars: 5 Stars

amo a voz dela!!!!!!!

Excellent album from the Queen of Soul. I got to see her perform at the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games and she put on a great show

This is the kind of record that you don’t have to be in the mood for, because it just always fits the mood. Just amazing stuff from one of the legends of the genre. Best Track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Superb! I'm groovin in my seat 🤩 What a vocal range and much love ❤️ to the backup singers. Band keeps it tight and just right. Freaking love this album!

***** Classic Aretha album, classic Artetha songs. Hey, it's Aretha, so it is alway right. What a voice. Great album

Classic! I listened to this more than once as I never realized how great she was.

Outstanding. No bad tracks on the album. 26 year old Aretha sounds amazing. Chains of fools kicks off the album perfectly, Aretha is powerful yet restrained, almost too easy for her. Love this song. People get ready, grooving, and natural woman other standout.

So much of this is canon, I find it easy to miss how much brilliance and labour went into the making.

A short and sweet, very well produced album, with one of the greatest voices ever. What is here not to love? It absolutely deserves a 5.

The Queen of Soul!!!

There is no way I will give it below 5 stars. 🤩

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

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.

Saying Aretha Franklin is a great vocalist feels like kicking in a door so open it's just an empty frame. The queen of soul easily lives up to her title. What struck me on this album specifically is its theme of womanhood. Obviously, as an album from the '60s, there are some dated conceptions of a woman's role and place that find their way in. Yet, I can't help but be interested by how Franklin chooses to negotiate these positions. The best example of this, is the track Ain't No Way. In it, Franklin struggles with a failing relationship due to the emotional unavailability of her partner. Because of this, she feels like she can't take her rightful place in supporting him. The gender dynamics here are interesting, because traditional masculinity (including that of a lot of Christian churches) rewards this emotional detachment of men. In that sense, though not directly pushing back in her own position, Franklin does challenge traditional relationship dynamics.

Chain of Fools - Oh I know this one! Really good. I like this genre, so I already know I’m gonna enjoy these. Really gorgeous song, very smooth jam. Love the bass line. Money Won’t Change You - Oh I REALLY like this one. Very fun! Love the upbeat vibes of it. People Get Ready - A bit slower than I usually enjoy, but I still love this one. She just has such an incredible voice, every song is going to be beautiful. Niki Hoeky - Oh this one is fun! The instrumentals are sooo nice. This one makes me feel like dancing haha. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Of course I already know this one. Absolutely beautiful song, it’s a classic. Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Been Gone) - Oh this is another fun one! I love the piano/horn line that steps upwards, feels really nice to listen to. Been a huge fan of the horns on this whole album, but they feel especially present here. Really good song. Good To Me As I Am To You - This one’s pretty! Another one that’s a little slower than I usually like, but still very enjoyable. Absolutely gorgeous vocals in it too, although that goes for the whole album. Come Back Baby - I don’t know how to have more individual notes for these songs other than they’re all good and they’re all jams. This is another fun upbeat dancing song! Really good. Groovin’ - Ooh now this is the type of slow song I love! “Groovin’” is a very accurate description. Real smooth, real nice. Ain’t No Way - Another gorgeous slow song! The vocals really shine on this one, although again, that’s true of every song on here. Very pleasant. I like it. OVERALL: Easy 4 stars for me, would be a 4.5 if I could. My favorite album I’ve listened to from here so far. Absolutely gorgeous vocals, very nice instrumentals, especially the horns, this is a classic for a reason. Favorites were Chain of Fools, Money Won’t Change You, and Groovin’.

What can I say? Incredible this was an actual album and not a best-of. What a time to be alive

Lovely album, lovely voice, enjoyed it quite a lot. The songs varied a bit too so it didn’t really get boring and there were plenty of familiar songs. Would listen again

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

Probably not an intergalactic paedo

a massage for your inner ear

Not my cup of tea but fantastic vocals

Wow, people really go nuts for Aretha I guess. I think this is fine, just not really my kind of music. She's a fantastic singer of course, hits some crazy notes. But i'm going back to Iron Maiden :P.

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

Annoin viikko sitten Arethan albumille 2/5. Silllä albumilla maailmanluokan laulaja ei pelasta yhdentekevää musiikkia. Nyt on ihan eri meininki. Puoli tuntia toinen toistaan kovempia biisejä. Älyttömän kovaa soittoa ja tietysti Aretha Franklin. Paitsi tietysti Arethan laulu koko albumin läpi niin nostettakoon huippuhetkensä myös Niki Hoekyn bassolinja. Täydellistä. 5/5

I gave the other Aretha Franklin album on this list 4 stars because the production was below par. This one, 3 albums later (yes, she released 3 albums in 1967!), the production is much better.

Yes please!

The queen of queens, Aretha earned all of my R-E-S-P-E-C-T the first time I heard her amazing voice, and this one is just bursting at the seams with hit after hit. No need to drone on and on about how amazing this one is, I'm just going to go ahead and drop her 5/5 and press play on it a third time!

142. Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin (1968) 7.14.26 Variety: 5 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 5 = 5.0 Just a day after getting Hames Brown's Live at the Apollo album ( there's even a Brown penned song on here!), we get another titan of R&B and soul in the estimable Ms. Franklin. She's another legend that everyone of my generation grew up listening to even after her arguable rime had been a good couple decades before. She still remained relevant, unlike a lot of those 60s greats by continuing to put out new hits well into the 80s ("Freeway of Love", "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves", "Who's Zoomin' Who?") and then very late in her career becoming the de facto Diva Laureate of these United States, and even had a Billboard charting hit on the year of our lord 2014! While I've never been an Aretha obsessive, I've always admired her talent, and the hits she gifted to us are pretty unimpeachable. This album in particular is a MASSIVE blind spot in my music education though (I have heard a lot of these before, just never in a full album experience), so I'm not exactly sure what t expect, other than we're in very capable hands. THE TRACKS A Side "Chain of Fools" - Wow. What a stunner of an opening. Here we get a powerful bit of realization about a lover's .... indiscretions, and reaffirmation of strength and determination in spite of betrayal. I may be reading this wrong, but I get the impression that she's decided to use this guy up, just like he think's he's doing to her. And when that chain breaks, she's going to shrug it off. Maybe not so him though. It has lost none of its charm after maybe the 70 or 80th time hearing it. The tremolo heavy guitar licks, and the top tier backing vocals underline Franklin's vocals that are already absolutely DRIPPING with attitude. She does that like no other in my opinion, and is one of the keys to her appeal. She commits SO hard, and with the pipes to back it up that you actually believe whatever sentiment she's passing along in her songs. My favorite part is the breakdown at 1:20. It's the perfect punctuation on a perfect song. That's a are thing even among the pop music gods. Off the top of my head ( I'm sure I'm forgetting some big names) I'd put her up there with Marvin Haye, Freddie Mercury, Whitney Huston ( whose mom provides backing vocals here, and who is ALSO the aunt of Dionne Warwick!), and Robert Plant as one of those beings of pure charisma that were able to trick you, even momentarily, into feeling what they feel. This is the special sauce, y'all. Soak it in and revel in it as there's not a ton of it on the list. "Money Won't Change You" - Something of a breakup song I think, with a fairly universal message that you can't buy happiness with money. Simple enough, and the James Brown original plays this pretty straightforwardly, and is delivered in a very callous and singular fashion, where he tries to throw it off like he doesn't care anymore. Franklin changes the lyrics ever so slightly, and it becomes a much more regretful headshake of a tune, lacking the bitterness and resentment of Brown's version. I like both versions, but the backing vocals that mirror her interior thoughts and the more casual arrangement beat out Brown's sweaty and desperate bit of self-trickery. "People Get Ready" - My ( and most everyone's probably) favorite popular gospel song. A true stunner on an album of stunners and one of those songs that makes me regret just a tiny, tiny bit not believing in any sort of afterlife. Cause, man who wouldn't want these images of communal love, acceptance, and peace to be the ideal? Seriously though, if I ever make one of those late stage, just before desperation conversions just before I die - play this at the end of my funeral. That'll get them tearing up as they shuffle out of the funeral home. Beautiful and I think, the best version (just beating out the Chambers Brothers version imo) of a song that has a TON of great versions, including the original Curtis Mayfield penned Impressions song. Look some of these up, seriously - here's just a few: - Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG-KNy1MRTc - The Staple Singers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC3C9U8Sz_U - Bob Dylan( Basement Tapes version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNIKOk-n-OE - The Chambers Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCIaSoO07jM - The Persuasions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T-FNTOP8gk "Niki Hoeky" - A funky and fun bit of lowdown Cajun nonsense funk, written by the dudes who would go on to found Redbone. A bit of lightness and an already bright and soulful album serves as a nice little rest spot. No one's putting this on Ms. Franklin's greatest hits ( that's a bald-faced lie, as it appears on a few I think), but it's a good time. Someone needs to hook poor Niki up with Amos Moses and see if there's a love connection to be made. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - When we ( somewhat) recently listened to Carole King's Tapestry, I mentioned that both versions of this song exist simulstaneously as the iconinc versionm but I gave that one the edge. Just. Man, listening back again to this one I'm beginnning to doubt myself. The sweeping, uplifting strings at 1:47 and the divine backing vocals throughout, in addition to Franklin's strength makes this one sail in ways the original just can't. King's version feels so much more vulnerable, and solitary. I picture her singing it next to a window that's looking out into a rainstorm the whole run time. But in Franklin's version, when the bridge hits, the sun bursts through the clouds and the rain evaporates into brightness and triumph. Damn, we're in a tight spot. I think maybe one for sad days, one for happy. You pick though, I think either would work for whichever mood. B Side "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" - While not necessarily known as a prolific songwriter, Franklin penned or co-penned many great songs ( the two here with her husband), and this is a great specimen. I'd go so far as to say that interpreting and re-arranging a song, especially when you improve upon it, counts as writing though. This funky bit of Memphis soul is a pretty blistering example of her talents in that regard, and I think has maintained it's place as a minor hit for Franklin. Solid. "Good to Me As I Am To You" - Franklin slows way down to stuff about 100lbs of soul into a 10lb blues bag. This is a good thing. And we get a guest spot from Eric Clapton, who is as tasteful and restrained here as Franking is gloriously unbound by the chains of the genre. Excuse me while I dip out to give a full listen to Aretha Sings the Blues before coming back to finish this one out. "Come Back Baby" - A great, driving makeup song, and a textbook example of how a blues song can be transformed int a wailing, raucous, swinging R&B rave up. The life and energy on display here is only barely rivalled by the staid and mournful Ray Charles version. When comparing the original Walter Davis song to these two, in order of release you can see the Pokémon-like evolution. - Walter Davis( Charmander) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aZ9BEIMAPs - Ray Charles (Charmeleon) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgU4cJL6-3E - Aretha Franklin (skips right to Mega Charizard X): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzGo2opaWHw&list=OLAK5uy_nvqCtrRYIo5bCApiLEMUZbUKuSuHN1VKg&index=8 "Groovin'"- A stupdendous cover of the Rascal's laid back orginal, which might be the most successful pastiche of the Detroit soul and R&B sound, and must have been inspired by the Temptations, especially "Just My Imagination" ( not an original thought as it appears that Felix Cavaliere himself was known to play these in a medley at live shows). "Ain't No Way" - Franklin sticks teh landing with another gospel inspired number, written by Franklins little suster Carolyn, and featuring Cissy Houston's supernatural sounding high regster. The song buildsm and builds in layers before fading out and leaving us wanting more. HIGHLIGHTS - "Chain of Fools" - "Money Won't Change You" - "People Get Ready" - "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" - "Good to Me As I Am To You" - "Groovin'" - "Ain't No Way" MIDLIGHTS - "Niki Hoeky" LOWLIGHTS - Ha! FINAL THOUGHTS Turns out I have heard everything on here at some point, just never all together in order. And just as expected, there was barely anything worth mentioning that did not deliver. Even the lone "midlight" here is a blast, and only suffers in degree of heft when compared to everything else around it. This is one of those occasions where I find myself unable to offer up any kind of devil's advocate arguments against an album's all time beloved stature. Whether it be the Rolling Stone Top 500 at the 41st greatest album of all time, or one of only two (!) entries for her on this list, the accolades are well deserved. Aretha Franklin will be one of those voices who, along with the Beatles, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and a select few others, I think will live on into the next century or two as exemplars of the popular music of this era. She never fails to deliver, and might possibly have the perfect career. At least more so than anyone I can think of outside of Paul McCartney ( and maybe Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder), she got to actually live during and on through her status as a an unassailable legend. Go out and listen to any number of her albums after this, and chances are more than fair that the random throw of a dart will land upon something good. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - double-"Ha!" FURTHER LISTENING - Wish Someone Would Care by Irma Thomas - Carla by Carla Thomas - Tell Mama by Etta James - The Artistry of Brenda Holloway by Brenda Holloway - 'Nuff Said! by Nina Simone - Claudine by Gladys Knight & the Pips

Beautiful album by a wonderfully talented woman. Will definitely be revisiting this one!

Perfect. Just goddam perfect.

It was really good, would definitely listen again

I would say she is the top female vocalist of all time. Great album, I even went out and bought the vinyl after listening to this. 9/10 Top song Chain of fools

An album ahead of its time, in many ways. I can see how this influenced not just soul, but black music and black singers in general. If you want to see the predecessors of Michael Jackson and Prince, here it is

Beautiful stuff

AWESOME CLASSIC

Beautiful voice, classic, iconic, 10/10

Always imitated, never duplicated. A legend.

Great album!

Great

Wow, I had heard a few songs from this album but never the whole thing. Fantastic.

Great vocals. Good, smooth, relaxing sunday evening music. Good variety in songs, a couple of classics: Chain of fools and 'You make me feel'. Not much more you can ask for in a soul record. Brilliant

Loved getting the opportunity to listen to one of her albums in full, thank you list