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Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged. Her astonishing run of late-'60s hits with Atlantic Records—"Respect," "I Never Loved a Man," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Think," "The House That Jack Built," and several others—earned her the title "Lady Soul," which she has worn uncontested ever since. Yet as much of an international institution as she's become, much of her work—outside of her recordings for Atlantic in the late '60s and early '70s—is erratic and only fitfully inspired, making discretion a necessity when collecting her records.

Franklin's roots in gospel ran extremely deep. With her sisters Carolyn and Erma (both of whom would also have recording careers), she sang at the Detroit church of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, while growing up in the 1950s. In fact, she made her first recordings as a gospel artist at the age of 14. It has also been reported that Motown was interested in signing Aretha back in the days when it was a tiny start-up. Ultimately, however, Franklin ended up with Columbia, to which she was signed by the renowned talent scout John Hammond.

Franklin would record for Columbia constantly throughout the first half of the '60s, notching occasional R&B hits (and one Top Forty single, "Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody"), but never truly breaking out as a star. The Columbia period continues to generate considerable controversy among critics, many of whom feel that Aretha's true aspirations were being blunted by pop-oriented material and production. In fact there's a reasonable amount of fine items to be found on the Columbia sides, including the occasional song ("Lee Cross," "Soulville") where she belts out soul with real gusto. It's undeniably true, though, that her work at Columbia was considerably tamer than what was to follow, and suffered in general from a lack of direction and an apparent emphasis on trying to develop her as an all-around entertainer, rather than as an R&B/soul singer.

When Franklin left Columbia for Atlantic, producer Jerry Wexler was determined to bring out her most soulful, fiery traits. As part of that plan, he had her record her first single, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," at Muscle Shoals in Alabama with esteemed Southern R&B musicians. In fact, that was to be her only session actually at Muscle Shoals, but much of the remainder of her '60s work would be recorded with the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, although the sessions would actually take place in New York City. The combination was one of those magic instances of musical alchemy in pop: the backup musicians provided a much grittier, soulful, and R&B-based accompaniment for Aretha's voice, which soared with a passion and intensity suggesting a spirit that had been allowed to fly loose for the first time.

In the late '60s, Franklin became one of the biggest international recording stars in all of pop. Many also saw Franklin as a symbol of Black America itself, reflecting the increased confidence and pride of African-Americans in the decade of the civil rights movements and other triumphs for he Black community. The chart statistics are impressive in and of themselves: ten Top Ten hits in a roughly 18-month span between early 1967 and late 1968, for instance, and a steady stream of solid mid-to-large-size hits for the next five years after that. Her Atlantic albums were also huge sellers, and far more consistent artistically than those of most soul stars of the era. Franklin was able to maintain creative momentum, in part, because of her eclectic choice of material, which encompassed first-class originals and gospel, blues, pop, and rock covers, from the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel to Sam Cooke and the Drifters. She was also a fine, forceful, and somewhat underrated keyboardist.

Franklin's commercial and artistic success was unabated in the early '70s, during which she landed more huge hits with "Spanish Harlem," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and "Day Dreaming." She also produced two of her most respected, and earthiest, album releases with Live at Fillmore West and Amazing Grace. The latter, a 1972 double LP, was a reinvestigation of her gospel roots, recorded with James Cleveland & the Southern California Community Choir. Remarkably, it made the Top Ten, counting as one of the greatest gospel-pop crossover smashes of all time.

Franklin had a few more hits over the next few years—"Angel" and the Stevie Wonder cover "Until You Come Back to Me"—being the most notable—but generally her artistic inspiration seemed to be tapering off, and her focus drifting toward more pop-oriented material. Her Atlantic contract ended at the end of the 1970s, and since then she's managed to get intermittent hits — "Who's Zooming Who" and "Jump to It" are among the most famous — without remaining anything like the superstar she was at her peak. Many of her successes were duets, or crafted with the assistance of newer, glossier-minded contemporaries such as Luther Vandross. There was also another return to gospel in 1987 with One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.

Critically, as is the case with many '60s rock legends, there have been mixed responses to her later work. Some view it as little more than a magnificent voice wasted on mediocre material and production. Others seem to grasp for any excuse they can to praise her whenever there seems to be some kind of resurgence of her soul leanings. Most would agree that her post-mid-'70s recordings are fairly inconsequential when judged against her prime Atlantic era. The blame is often laid at the hands of unsuitable material, but it should also be remembered that — like Elvis Presley and Ray Charles — Franklin never thought of herself as confined to one genre. She always loved to sing straight pop songs, even if her early Atlantic records gave one the impression that her true home was earthy soul music. If for some reason she returned to straight soul shouting in the future, it's doubtful that the phase would last for more than an album or two. In the meantime, despite her lukewarm recent sales record, she's an institution, assured of the ability to draw live audiences and immense respect for the rest of her lifetime, regardless of whether there are any more triumphs on record in store. — Richie Unterberger
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New Spring Releases, More Celebrations For Sarah Vaughan Plus Shoutouts To Aretha Franklin, Hiromi, Mimi Jones, Tracey Chapman & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
April 8, 2024

This broadcast concludes Womens History Month with new releases from Ragan Whiteside, Kristin Korb, Nick Finzer, Abena Koomson--Davis, Julie Kelly, Lori Bell and Rachel Z, with birthday shoutouts to Karen Hammack, Aretha Franklin, Stacey Kent, Hiromi, Mimi Jones, Rachel Therrien, Sarah Vaughan (100!), Norah Jones and Tracey Chapman, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire.

Profile

Jerry Wexler e Aretha Franklin: quando la Soul Music conquistò il pianeta

by Angelo Leonardi
October 8, 2018

Nei giorni successivi il 16 agosto, tutti i media del mondo hanno commentato la morte di Aretha Franklin, la straordinaria soul singer e una delle massime voci del Novecento. Una scomparsa avvenuta in singolare coincidenza di quella di Jerry Wexler dieci anni prima. Il 15 agosto 2008 se n'era andato quel produttore dell'Atlantic Records che fece emergere l'espressione più vera della cantante e la sostenne nella fase folgorante della carriera. In quest'articolo vogliamo ricordare Wexler analizzando il ...

Radio & Podcasts

Honoring Aretha & Timeless Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh

by Mary Foster Conklin
September 15, 2018

This week we remember the legendary Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin in the second hour and enjoy a sampling of standards with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh plus songs by women who wrote with pianist Jimmy Rowles whose centennial is being celebrated this year. Playlist Lynne Arriale “Woodstock" from Give Us These Days (Challenge) 00:00 Debra Mann “Woodstock" from Full Circle: The Music of Joni Mitchell (Whaling City Sound) 06:13 Katie Bull “The Drive to Woodstock" from ...

Radio & Podcasts

Aretha in Jazz & New Releases

by Ludovico Granvassu
August 29, 2018

This week we pay homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, looking into her early jazz forays and her influence on many jazz musicians. We'll then dive into a bin full of extraordinary new albums. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" from Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill) (self-released) 0:00 Aretha Franklin “It Ain't Neccarily So" from Aretha: With the Ray Bryan Trio ...

Profile

Aretha Franklin, The Lady Soul: 1942 - 2018

by C. Michael Bailey
August 17, 2018

Soul Music may have been invented by others, but it was properly perfected only when Aretha Louise Franklin departed her modest success at Columbia Records for superstardom with Atlantic Records in 1966. On January 24, 1967, Franklin entered Rick Hall's (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" with the support of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. This song was released February 20, 1967 with the ...

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Extended Analysis

Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia

by C. Michael Bailey
July 1, 2011

Aretha FranklinTake a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on ColumbiaColumbia2011 Were we to limit our musical intelligence gathering to banal “classic rock" radio, we would believe that singer Aretha Franklin's career began in 1967, that she only recorded one song, Otis Redding's “Respect," and recorded for a single label, Atlantic. All these assumptions are light years from accurate as evidenced by Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia. At Columbia, Franklin ...

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Album Review

Aretha Franklin: Jazz Moods

Read "Jazz Moods " reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
August 21, 2005

What a difference a day makes. Aretha Franklin made her first recordings at age fourteen as a gospel artist in Detroit. And in no time she was sitting on top of the world, pleasing audiences everywhere with soulful anthems like the tender reveries that have been grouped together for this moody “midnight" compilation.

The slow and passionate program comes from her earlier recording years, before Franklin gained worldwide recognition for “Respect" and earned her title as “Queen of ...

Video / DVD

Aretha Franklin: Amsterdam 1968

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 3, 2015

In May 1968, Aretha Franklin was in her prime when she performed in Amsterdam during her first tour abroad. She was there to promote her new album, Lady Soul, after switching to Atlantic Records. Aretha and the Sweet Inspirations, her backup singers, were placed on a stage crowded with musicians and fans with little security down front at the city's famous Concertgebouw. There, she performed for a near-hysterical audience that had no problem throwing what appear to be flower petals ...
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Recording

Aretha Franklin: Columbia Years

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
March 25, 2011

Two weeks ago I wrote an advance review of Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia for the Wall Street Journall (here). It's an 11-CD box plus one DVD from Sony/Legacy that covers Franklin's entire 1960-65 output for the Columbia label. The mega box tells two stories concurrently. One details the singer's development as a singer who combined the American Songbook with the thump of the Holy Bible. The other story is about a label that at the time ...
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Recording

Columbia/Legacy Honors The 50th Anniversary Of Aretha Franklin's Pop Recording Career With A Deluxe Box Set

Source: Michael Ricci
February 12, 2011

TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA CELEBRATES THE QUEEN OF SOUL'S GROUNDBREAKING WORKS FROM 1960-1965 IN A 12-DISC BOX SET A golden anniversary collection containing original LPs with original album art, bonus tracks, mono mixes, alternate takes, studio conversations, newly-compiled sessions with legendary producers, and a DVD of rare televised performances from The Steve Allen Show TAKE A LOOK features:

Aretha (With The Ray Bryant Combo) (Her debut on Columbia, produced by John Hammond, released Feb. 27, 1961) ...
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Event

Condoleezza Rice, Aretha Franklin to Team up for Musical Benefit

Source: All About Jazz
June 30, 2010

Aretha Franklin will take the stage next month with an accomplished accompanist more famous for diplomacy: Condoleezza Rice.

The pair will play at Philadelphia's Mann Center for the Performing Arts on July 27 in show that will feature Franklin's music and classical composers.

The Mann Center's website says Rice, the former secretary of state, will accompany Franklin on piano for Say A Little Prayer,Natural Woman, selections from Mozart and more. Franklin says in a statement that “Rice is a consummate ...
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Event

Queen of Soul Brings Down the House

Source: All About Jazz
June 19, 2010

Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson honored at Apollo. Franklin and Tucker share a laugh at Harlem's Apollo Theater spring benefit. Emcee Jaime Foxx urges everyone to cut loose at the famous theater.

The Queen of Soul had the joint jumping. Leslie Uggams channeled Lena Horne to deliver a rousing “Stormy Weather." And emcee Jamie Foxx never stopped urging everyone to “Let it go" and get excited. Harlem's Apollo Theater spring benefit inducted Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson (posthumously) as Hall ...
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Performance / Tour

Aretha Franklin Cancels Jazz Fest Appearance

Source: All About Jazz
May 2, 2010

Soul legend Aretha Franklin has canceled her appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, but organizers and fans got lucky with a replacement. Earth, Wind & Fire happens to be in the area and offered to play on the popular music festival's largest stage on Friday night. Festival spokesman Louis Edwards says the “Queen of Soul" told organizers on Thursday that she wouldn't be able to perform. Edwards said she apologized to fans but wouldn't give a reason ...
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Music Industry

Ask Aretha Franklin

Source: All About Jazz
February 3, 2010

She hardly needs an introduction -- in fact, she doesn't even really need a last name.

Aretha -- also known as the Queen of Soul -- burst onto the scene in the 1960s, when she signed on with Atlantic Records to release hits like Chain of Fools, “Respect" and “Natural Woman." In 1987, she became the first woman to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has won 18 Grammy awards and performed at three ...
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Video / DVD

Aretha Franklin 1971 Concert Download Released on Wolfgang's Vault Today

Source: Wolfgang's Vault
October 2, 2009

Oct 2, 2009: Aretha Franklin's powerhouse 1971 performance from the Fillmore West highlights the download releases Wolfgang's Vault has posted today of some of the greatest women in music. Today's download releases also include Janis Joplin in 1969 and Bonnie Raitt from the Lenox Music Inn in 1973. Aretha's now downloadable show is one of her three recordings from that year available at Wolfgang's Vault. All were recorded at the Fillmore West, and the other two can currently be streamed ...
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Event

Nelson Mandela Endows His Birthday Celebration with a Purpose

Source: Michael Ricci
July 20, 2009

This year for the first time a Mandela Day concert was held in New York. It was a birthday party and fund-raiser for 46664, Mr. Mandelas AIDS organization.

“Happy 91st, Mr. Mandela," Aretha Franklin announced at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night, celebrating Nelson Mandelas birthday. She was among the dozens of musicians at Mandela Day, a benefit concert for 46664, Mr. Mandelas organization for AIDS and H.I.V. prevention. It is named for his prisoner number during his 27 ...
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Performance / Tour

Aretha Franklin at the Hollywood Bowl

Source: Michael Ricci
June 29, 2009

Everyone knows that Aretha Franklin supports President Barack Obama. Her appearance at his January inauguration, singing My Country Tis of Thee in a gray wool cloche with a spectacular bow, connected the celebrated singers work in the civil rights movement with the election of Americas first black president.

Franklin reiterated her admiration for Mr. Obama during Friday night's concert at the Hollywood Bowl -- even trotting out a sequined version of “The Hat" for her finale -- and added another ...
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