Review #75: Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin
#75: Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin
Another album that schooled me a little bit when I looked into it. According to the RS blurb, this was her third album in two years?! Whitney Houston’s mom and Eric Clapton were on this record??
This is the second time we’ve heard “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” the first time being on Carole King’s Tapestry (Review #25). Definitely take the time to listen to both in a row sometime — it’s just two really moving, really different versions of the same thing.
Fun fact, King wrote this for Aretha, who recorded it in 1968, but King recorded it for Tapestry in 1971. (She also recorded songs she wrote for artists like The Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”) Have you seen the Aretha rendition of it at Carole King’s 2015 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony? Amazing.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Chain of Fools” — I had no idea this was her, but I love the girl who does it in School of Rock! (My friend told me that I shouldn’t admit this.) I especially loved the 4-minute unedited version.
“Money Won’t Change You” — This song is like a lot of the other ones on here: a brief bop.
“People Get Ready” — This record sounds so different than I Never Loved A Man… (#13). As usual, all her backup singers are amazing — it’s actually Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s mom!) and the Sweet Inspirations.
“Niki Hoeky” — I got a man on the chain gang … Niki Hoeky did time in the pokey. Ban penitentiaries and bring back pokies.
“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” — To tell you the truth, I actually don’t prefer this one OR the Carole King one. They’re both so great!
“(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” — Oh my gosh, these melismatic runs, I’m in love.
“Good to Me as I Am to You” — ERIC CLAPTON plays guitar on this! Oh it’s so good. He was in Cream at the time!
“Ain’t No Way” — This song is gorgeous. Every instrument and voice in this is so beautiful.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Come Back Baby” — When I take notes when listening to these albums, I use a heart to mark the songs I like, an X to mark the songs I dislike, and a checkmark on the songs that I have nothing to say about. This song had a checkmark.
“Groovin’” — This song also had a checkmark.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
Of course not! The Queen is dead; Long live the Queen.
