[News] Aretha Franklin RIP

[Is it PotG?]

It's taken me a few days to come to terms with the loss of one of my greatest heroines of my teen age years. I first encountered Aretha (for at least her recordings) in a record shop in George Street, Hove which no longer exists. The album was her first secular LP. I fell in love with the voice and the beautiful face on the album cover. She was then billed as a Jazz Artist and this proceeded the time Columbia Records followed up this disc with unsuitable material for her which provoked her move to Atlantic Records where she did indeed become the "Queen Of Soul". I loved all her recordings but my favourite is still that first one. RIP beautiful lady who was only a few months older than me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtB0WVWHOv4&frags=pl,wn

Now THAT is an album. Stunning.

 

[marlowe]

There's been a lot of Aretha being played in various places over the past few days in various places, not just the classics but lesser known album tracks. As a result many people have probably discovered songs by her that they were previously unaware of. I discovered one today being played in a shop which I didn't realise she had done. I've always loved this song by Gladys Knight and the Pips but I now love this version by Aretha too. Her vocals on it in places are quite idiosyncratic and un-Aretha like and have a certain masculine quality to them. The tone of her voice on this track reminded me of certain male soul singers when they sing with a falsetto rasp. This particularly kicks in on the two minute mark. Say a Little Prayer has always been one of those goosebumps inducing records for me and now this is having a similar effect.

https://youtu.be/m9V1r2RV_V8

 

[Albion my Albion]

The real story behind this great singer is that she always feared for her belongings and well being her whole career. During one interview with an American TV announcer she said she wore her mink coat and purse on stage for a tribute to another singer at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC because she feared they would be stolen in the changing room. This was long after she was recognized as the "Queen of Soul."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwF1-xJwZM

 

[Weststander]

The real story behind this great singer is that she always feared for her belongings and well being her whole career. During one interview with an American TV announcer she said she wore her mink coat and purse on stage for a tribute to another singer at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC because she feared they would be stolen in the changing room. This was long after she was recognized as the "Queen of Soul."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwF1-xJwZM

What a beautiful voice, the greatest. Lovely to see the effect on Obama.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Until you come back to me, sung by Aretha and written by Stevie Wonder is definitely in my top 5 of all time great songs.
If you really listen to every word, the backing singers and the melody, it's a fantastic piece of music.

 

[The Large One]

Until you come back to me, sung by Aretha and written by Stevie Wonder is definitely in my top 5 of all time great songs.
If you really listen to every word, the backing singers and the melody, it's a fantastic piece of music.

I finished my most recent radio show with it. Incredible song.

https://www.mixcloud.com/LargeAl/move-on-up-ep25-aretha-franklin-tribute/

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

I finished my most recent radio show with it. Incredible song.

https://www.mixcloud.com/LargeAl/move-on-up-ep25-aretha-franklin-tribute/

Your taste in music is mostly right up my street.