• > Home
  • > Artists
  • > Aretha Franklin
  • > Albums
  • > Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul

    • Aretha Franklin

    Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul

    10/16/2007 | Rhino / Wea 

    Submit Your Review

    • CD

      $16.99

      RARE & UNRELEASED RECORDINGS FROM THE GOLDEN REIGN

      Add to Cart

    All Music Guide Review

    Aretha Franklin's recordings for Atlantic in the late 1960s and early 1970s are universally acknowledged as her best, and this two-CD set draws exclusively from that era, spanning late 1966 to 1973. Aside from the B-sides "Pledging My Love/The Clock" and "Lean on Me," everything here is a demo, outtake, or alternate version -- a real hoard of largely previously unheard material from the prime of one of the greatest soul singers. Franklin and Atlantic did exercise sound judgment as to what to select for release, however. So these recordings, as valuable as they'll be for soul fans to hear, are neither on par with her best official work nor revelatory insofar as uncovering hidden gems or unsuspected stylistic detours. Still, what's here is characteristic Franklin soul, which is satisfying enough. Historically speaking, the most fascinating of these vault finds may be the three late-1966 demos that lead off the set, including early versions of "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" and "Dr. Feelgood," although the rudimentary arrangements (just voice, piano, bass, and drums) illustrate how vital Jerry Wexler's production was to getting the most out of the material. Otherwise the tracks reflect the diversity of the songs Aretha was putting on her official Atlantic releases, encompassing covers of tunes penned by James Brown, her sister Carolyn Franklin, Motown, Van McCoy, Leonard Cohen, and Gene McDaniels, and even including a pass at "My Way" (as well as several items whose composers remain unknown). Stylistically the palette is broad, too, from wailing near-bluesy soul to near-pop, usually played with tight soul combos, but wrapping up with a solo piano demo of "Are You Leaving Me." The early-'70s recordings on the second disc don't have quite the energy and quality of the first, though they're still performances most artists would envy, taking in mild funk, earthy gospel, and a slight creeping slick pop influence. As for the track that seems most inexplicably passed over for release back in the day, that would be the bold, pounding McCoy-authored 1968 outtake "So Soon." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

    Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • time
  • 1
  • I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) (#)(Demo Version)
  • 4:04

  • 2
  • Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business) (#)(Demo Version)
  • 4:42

  • 3
  • Sweet Bitter Love (#)(Demo Version)
  • 5:11

  • 4
  • It Was You (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:45

  • 5
  • The Letter (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:37

  • 6
  • So Soon (#)(Outtake)
  • 2:46

  • 7
  • Mr. Big (#)(Outtake)
  • 2:40

  • 8
  • Talk to Me, Talk to Me (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:29

  • 9
  • The Fool on the Hill (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:30

  • 10
  • Pledging My Love/The Clock (Single B-Side)
  • 4:13

  • 11
  • You're Talking Up Another Man's Place (Outtake)
  • 3:29

  • 12
  • You Keep Me Hangin' On (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:09

  • 13
  • I'm Trying to Overcome (#)(Outtake)
  • 5:06

  • 14
  • My Way (Outtake)
  • 4:08

  • 15
  • My Cup Runneth Over (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:21

  • 16
  • You're All I Need to Get By (Take 1)(#)
  • 0:42

  • 17
  • You're All I Need to Get By (Take 2)(#)
  • 3:36

  • 18
  • Lean on Me (Single B-Side)
  • 4:37

  • 19 (2)
  • Rock Steady (Alternate Mix - Outtake)
  • 4:30

  • 20 (2)
  • I Need a Strong Man (The To-To Song) (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:56

  • 21 (2)
  • Heavenly Father (#)(Outtake)
  • 5:37

  • 22 (2)
  • Sweetest Smile and the Funkiest Style (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:47

  • 23 (2)
  • This Is (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:36

  • 24 (2)
  • Tree of Life (#)(Outtake)
  • 5:12

  • 25 (2)
  • Do You Know (#)(Outtake)
  • 2:48

  • 26 (2)
  • Can You Love Again (#)(Outtake)
  • 2:40

  • 27 (2)
  • I Want to Be with You (#)(Outtake)
  • 6:02

  • 28 (2)
  • Suzanne (#)(Outtake)
  • 5:13

  • 29 (2)
  • That's the Way I Feel About Cha (Alternate Version - Outtake)
  • 5:45

  • 30 (2)
  • Ain't But the One (#)
  • 6:07

  • 31 (2)
  • The Happy Blues (#)(Outtake)
  • 2:28

  • 32 (2)
  • At Last (#)(Outtake)
  • 3:24

  • 33 (2)
  • Love Letters (#)(Outtake)
  • 4:02

  • 34 (2)
  • I'm in Love (Alternate Vocal - Outtake)
  • 3:01

  • 35 (2)
  • Are You Leaving Me (#)(Demo Version)
  • 4:22

    • Similar Albums

    Credits

    • Arif Mardin
    • Arranger, Director, String Arrangements, Producer, Conductor


    ARTISTdirect plus

    What's Hot from ARTISTdirect