Aretha Franklin - Original Album Series (2010)

Import only five CD box set containing a quintet of original albums from the legendary Soul diva: Aretha Now, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, Lady Soul, Live At The Fillmore and Spirit In The Dark. Warner. 2010.

Review : The difference is that I think there's enough good stuff here to outweigh some of the questionable song selections and kitschy arrangements. Almost every great artist has made recordings they shouldn't have. For instance, I have a recording of Ella Fitzgerald singing Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love". Believe me when I tell you these recordings by Aretha could have been far worse than they are. As it is they are products of their time and while some of the songs hold up really well others require a certain generosity of spirit.

Is this the great Aretha that we know from her Atlantic recordings? No, but it is a valuable glimpse of the Aretha that might have been. Aretha, herself, seems to be proud of these recordings. I remember several years ago listening to a radio interview when NPR's Terry Gross made a flip, disparaging remark regarding the string arrangements on Aretha's Columbia recordings and Aretha stopped her cold to praise the arrangements and the producer. Of course, it's also worth remembering that artists are not always the best judges of their own work.

Before dismissing Aretha's Columbia recordings altogether I recommend that you seek out the two best, "Laughing On The Outside" with her remarkable version of "Skylark" and "Unforgettable, A Tribute to Dinah Washington" with the best version I've ever heard of "What a Difference a Day Made"

Tracklist:

CD 01 - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

1-1 Respect
1-2 Drown In My Own Tears
1-3 I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
1-4 Soul Serenade
1-5 Don't Let Me Lose This Dream
1-6 Baby, Baby, Baby
1-7 Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)
1-8 Good Times
1-9 Do Right Woman - Do Right Man
1-10 Save Me
1-11 A Change Is Gonna Come

CD 02 - Lady Soul

2-1 Chain Of Fools
2-2 Money Won't Change You
2-3 People Get Ready
2-4 Niki Hoeky
2-5 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
2-6 Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
2-7 Good To Me As I Am To You
2-8 Come Back Baby
2-9 Groovin'
2-10 Ain't No Way

CD 03 - Aretha Now

3-1 Think
3-2 I Say A Little Prayer
3-3 See Saw
3-4 Night Time Is The Right Time
3-5 You Send Me
3-6 You're A Sweet Sweet Man
3-7 I Take What I Want
3-8 Hello Sunshine
3-9 A Change
3-10 I Can't See Myself Leaving You

CD 04 - Spirit In The Dark

4-1 Don't Play That Song
4-2 The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday's Kiss)
4-3 Pullin'
4-4 You And Me
4-5 Honest I Do
4-6 Spirit In The Dark
4-7 When The Battle Is Over
4-8 One Way Ticket
4-9 Try Matty's
4-10 That's All I Want From You
4-11 Oh No Not My Baby
4-12 Why I Sing The Blues

CD 05 - Live At Fillmore West

5-1 Respect
5-2 Love The One You're With
5-3 Bridge Over Troubled Water
5-4 Eleanor Rigby
5-5 Make It With You
5-6 Don't Play That Song
5-7 Dr. Feelgood
5-8 Spirit In The Dark
5-9 Spirit In The Dark (Reprise) Featuring [With] - Ray Charles
5-10 Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)