Aretha Franklin

Gospel Greats
$5.99
very good quality. no scratches plays well and it's used? Sold as used who knew!

This Christmas
$11.98
In a word, Terrible!!

I love Aretha, but it must be the old Aretha, cause I could barely force myself to listen to this CD all the way thru.
About once in each song, did I find a symbolence of a soulful beat, the rest came off as just a bunch of high volume yelling.
I would return the darn thing in an instant and try to find some good Christmas music, but unfortunately these days you can't return
CD's. Aretha, I want my money back!!!
Please, Please do yourself a favor and listen to this before you put your hard earned money on the table.
Don't say I didn't warn you.

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You/Including Respect
$7.98
Aretha Franklin made it big with this incredibly wonderful soul album back in the day--and every song still sounds wonderful in our times! Aretha's voice is in excellent form here; and I love every minute of this album. The quality of the sound is excellent and that artwork is magnificent.

The CD starts off with one of Aretha's greatest hits ever, "Respect." "Respect" has an awesome beat; this tune is the best and Aretha sings it with all her heart and soul! I love it! The percussion is used very well and those backup singers harmonize faultlessly. "Drown in My Own Tears" is quite strong and memorable; Aretha gives this a most sensitive treatment again from the heart and she never skips a beat, either. "Drown in My Own Tears" has an excellent piano arrangement and it just doesn't lack anything--this music is all THAT good.

"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" is excellent music by the great Aretha Franklin; she belts this out and she stays squarely front and center which is quite all right by me! "Soul Serenade" impresses me with its natural beauty; and I think you'll like this number if you haven't heard it before. How's about that brass? In addition, "Baby, Baby, Baby" gets the royal treatment from Aretha and the backup vocalists; this number has a great beat and it's perfect for anytime listening. The percussion and drums work wonders for this one, too.

"Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" features Aretha at her very best with a perfect musical arrangement as she sings; and I really like this song. "Good Times" has Aretha swinging gently as she delivers this tune to perfection--and beyond! "Good Times" is easily a major highlight of this album and that electric guitar just sounds so good. "Save Me" strikes me with its fine arrangement; Aretha makes this her own with a singularly beautiful interpretation. Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" shines brighter than silver and gold when Aretha handles it; and that's mighty fine.

We get three bonus tracks on this album. There's a stereo version of "Respect" that will amaze you just as much as it did me; and I like the stereo cut of "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)." The album ends wonderfully with the stereo version of Aretha Franklin performing "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man." What a fine ending for this superlative CD!

Aretha Franklin continues to enjoy great success to this day; and she will always rank very high in my book. She could sing out the phone book and I'd be standing there applauding her with a standing ovation, begging her for more! This is clearly a must-have for any Aretha Franklin fan; and it makes a fine starter CD for people just discovering Aretha's talent. It's also a stupendous album for anyone who appreciates classic soul music.

Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings
$19.98
Originally recorded as an LP in 1972, "Amazing Grace" remains one of my favorite recordings. In this expanded CD version, David Nathan in his liner notes says that "Amazing Grace" was Aretha's best-selling album, information that should not come as a surprise to anyone who has ever heard it. She recorded it live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles with the Southern California Community Choir directed by the Reverend James Cleveland on two consecutive nights, January 13 and 14, 1972.

The CD has everything going for it: the enthusiasm of the audience, the spontaneity possible only in a live performance, the beautiful gospel piano accompaniment by Cleveland (except for two songs), the commentary by both Cleveland and Aretha's father, the Reverend C. L. Franklin ("Aretha never left the church"), the angelic voices of the choir and finally that voice. No one ever said that Ms. Franklin sounds like anyone else on earth, and she never sang better than in this recording session. She has a tremendous range and can do anything she wants to do with a melody, even to singing an acceptable version of Puccini's "Nessum Dorma."

Besides the title song, Aretha sings a glorious arrangement of Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy," the Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone," and "How I Got Over." She turns Carol King's "You've Got A Friend" into gospel and then seques into Tommy Dorsey's familiar "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Ms. Franklin sings "Precious Memories with Cleveland and does a fantastic version of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus." If I had to pick a favorite, a difficult decision, I would have to go with "Never Grow Old" with Aretha accompanying herself on the piano.

This music arises above gospel music and appeals to music lovers of all colors and religions. The CD should be put in a time capsule.