Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul

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 Amazon.com

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

This tells it all. This truly is a must have for any "true" Aretha fan. I have been a fan of Aretha since day one. This could have been named "Aretha Raw & Released". It surely cuts right to the Soul. I am 62y/o and never thought I would hear Aretha sing like this again but thanks to this release, I feel 22 again. It makes me remember the 60's when we enjoyed "house parties" listening to Aretha's albums. It also remined me of being in Viet Nam (when back in base camp) how all us fellows couldn't get enough listening to Aretha on our "tape decks".
Thank you once again Ms.Franklin
Your Fan for Life!!!!!!!!!! January 11, 2008

Another Gem Released.

Full marks for this album - long awaited. There is one album though, which has yet to be re-released and that is her 1975 album "You". Many people at the time said it wasn't one of her best, but I fell in love with it from the first time I heard it. Could someone please re-release and re-master this album. January 3, 2008

die-hard aretha fans have to get this!

the true aretha fan(like myself) will have to have this b/c it's mostly fresh or rarely heard aretha at her vocal peak. all the stuff alluded to in jerry wexler's autobiography i believe is here. but my goodness, so many exhausting takes makes these cd's not as enjoyable as one of her many hits compilations - casual aretha fans watch out. i think these were left off the original releases for a reason. truly memorable are aretha's version of the supremes "keep me hanging on" and maybe melba moore's "lean on me". it is what we've all been hearing about and waiting for. i hope their is more in the vaults. a lot of it is not essential but important and influential artists such as ms franklin deserve to have it all out there. definitely worth having. another great purchase would be the limited edition "live in philly 1972 concert" for sale on the rhino records website. while it's not "filmore west", i found it excellent also. grab it while u can, fellow aretha-heads! December 28, 2007

My Cup Runneth Over

Oh My God--I worship at the altar of Aretha Franklin. Could she be more heartbreakingly brilliant, soulful, beautiful, funky? I have not fallen in love this hard since I heard Aretha's "Amazing Grace" California recordings of 1973. BUY IT! DO WHATEVER you must to immediately have this--I promise you that your cup will runneth over! December 19, 2007

WOW

First - Finally a collection of previously unreleased materials from the Queen of Soul!!! From these demo and live versions of some of our favorites makes this 2-disc set feel like a brand new album with a familiar feel. For the diehard fan, a MUST have in order for the collection to be complete. I love hearing her start and stop on some of the tracks as she is creating her genius and masterminding the anthems we all snap our fingers too and gleefully sing with every time we hear them.

Being that these songs were on the "shelf" for so long - we are getting a brand new album!!!

She is just plain wonderful, can't wait to see her again here in LA on Valentine's Day!!!

Long live the Queen!!! December 16, 2007

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