Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign

Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign

Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign
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CD Details

Artist: Aretha Franklin
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2007-10-16
Music Label: Rhino
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
  2. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Challenge)
  3. Sweet Bitter Love
  4. It Was You
  5. The Letter
  6. So Soon
  7. Mr. Big
  8. Talk To Me, Talk To Me
  9. The Fool On the Hill
  10. Pledging My Love/The Clock
  11. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place
  12. You Keep Me Hangin' On
  13. I'm Trying To Overcome
  14. My Way
  15. My Cup Runneth Over
  16. You're All I Need To Get By
  17. You're All I Need To Get By
  18. Lean On me
Music CD 2
  1. Rock Steady
  2. I Need a Strong Man (The To-To Song)
  3. Heavenly Father
  4. Sweetest Smile And the Funkiest Style
  5. This Is
  6. Tree Of Life
  7. Do You Know
  8. Can You Love Again
  9. I Want To Be With You
  10. Suzanne
  11. That's the Way I Feel About Cha
  12. Ain't But the One
  13. The Happy Blues
  14. At Last
  15. Love Letters
  16. I'm In Love
  17. Are You Leaving Me

Music reviews of Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign

Music Review: An absolute must-have for Franklin fans
Rating: 4 Stars

Let's make one thing clear right off the bat: "Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul" is essential for any fan of Aretha Franklin's, period. But it's also recommended for any lover of genuine soul music in general.

Some of us who are Aretha Franklin fans have been awaiting this particular set for a long, long time. We'd read all about the canned tracks recorded during this session or that session, usually described on each of Aretha's Atlantic releases in detail by the Ambassador of Soul, David Nathan. But we've only been able to imagine what they sounded like, wondering all the while why at least a few of them just couldn't have been included as bonus tracks.

Only able to imagine until now, that is. Finally, an excellent sampling of the demos or out of print B-sides the Queen cut during THE years of 1966-1973 are commercially available. And what a sampling it is. From the opening demos on the first disc (which range from firecrackers to dynamite) to the closing ballads which have arrangements reminiscent of her Columbia period, these are songs which any casual to hardcore fan of Aretha Franklin's MUST have.

To be certain, there are revelatory moments. Some cuts are truly artistic in every sense of the word with a depth of feeling and musicianship beyond compare (Trying To Overcome, Pledging My Love/The Clock, and the "WOW!" duet with Ray Charles). After all, Aretha earned and deserved -- and still deserves -- her crown as the Queen Of Soul, getting that feeling, that emotion, that can-you-feel-what-I'm-saying vibe across. She gets that across even in 2007 when she is feeling it, although it doesn't come across on studio recordings like it used to. But the focus, passion and intensity that plainly and consistently marked the pre-1974 phase of her career is present on 75% of the songs in this collection.

Other tracks simply let you marvel at the quality of Aretha's unusual vocal gifts during her prime (Love Letters, At Last). The same vocal range and abilities that allowed her to convey soul better than just about anyone could also override restraint at times. A case can be made that is something that happens at times in gospel and soul music in general, and Aretha is not exempt. It goes with the territory. Overall though, there is comparatively little self-indulgence or just singing for singing's sake ... although one can tell that the mind-blowing passion and intensity referenced earlier started to wane a tad by the time you get to the second half of disc 2, which would only be natural over time.

Virtually every song here affirms why Aretha holds the place in musical history that she does, but there is nothing here that outdoes what's already been commercially released. Obviously, Aretha would have earned every accolade she already did if these songs had never seen the light of the day (although a couple of these seem Grammy-ready for the time, lol). Further, some of these may be eye-openers for people that are only familiar with the mega-hits like Respect and Think. But it's doubtful that folks who own Aretha's greatest hits sets and other compilations from the Atlantic era will become any more of a fan based solely on these tracks, since it mirrors so much of her other work.

But -- that's precisely the same reason why any real Aretha fan can't be without this Golden Reign collection: it's simply more of the same from that super-creative time period that in many ways defined that classic Aretha sound. There are a few rough edges to be sure. These are called demos and outtakes for a reason. But there are only a few rough edges, and they are not enough to ruin the listening experience, as has happened with other veteran artists' tapes that have finally been "released from the vaults."

Many thanks to Rhino, David Nathan, Jerry Wexler, and the Queen herself for making this project possible. Now, people the world over can hear a just a few more examples of genuine, heartfelt soul music from a period in history that is not likely to be repeated again.

Long live the one and only Queen Of Soul, Aretha Louise Franklin.
More Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign free music reviews:
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Description of Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign

35 great tracks on two discs in a slimline double jewelbox. STILL SEALED with small drill hole into title spine.
Nearly every music legend leaves behind a slew of unreleased songs, alternate takes of released tunes, and live and demo material. To collectors, such detritus from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and others is manna from heaven. Aretha Franklin's first six years with Atlantic Records generated its own sheaf of unreleased songs and rarities, lovingly compiled into a chronological two-CD collection. Raw 1966 demos of her first Atlantic hit "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" and "Dr. Feelgood" from her debut album open the gates to an embarrassment of riches from 1967 to 1973, most eventually recorded for other albums. The explosive, gospel-flavored "The Letter" and "It Was You," recorded during the Aretha Arrives sessions, are masterpieces, as is her extraordinary spin on the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill," given to Franklin by Paul McCartney and released on Magical Mystery Tour only after her version never appeared. Her soulful take on "My Cup Runneth Over" renders Ed Ames's syrupy '60s-pop version irrelevant and it's difficult to see why the down-and-dirty blues "Do You Know" from her Other Side of the Sky sessions never appeared. A live duet with Ray Charles on Duke Ellington's "Ain't But the One" from a 1973 Ellington salute on CBS is followed by an eloquent takes on Etta James's hit "At Last" and Nat King Cole's "Love Letters." With knowing, poignant reminiscences from Atlantic's legendary Jerry Wexler, Franklin's producer during these years, it's an overdue, eminently fulfilling journey beyond her classics. --Rich Kienzle

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