Aretha Franklin 30 Greatest Hits CD

The title may not be 100-percent accurate, since the songs here are culled from Franklin's soul years, roughly between 1967 and 1974, and she's had lots more hits since then. That nit picked, however, this is a genuine embarrassment of riches, with Aretha's soaring voice and under-appreciated piano decorating one wonderful genre-defining song ("Respect," "Chain of Fools," "Natural Woman," "Since You've Been Gone") after another. The most revelatory cut is probably "I Say a Little Prayer," in which Franklin imbues the song with a spine-tingling gospel flavor without ever losing the pop delicacy of the original Dionne Warwick version. But just about everything else here is essential listening.

This compilation spans the late-'60s to the mid-'70s. Aretha's impassioned voice soars with unbridled spirit through each classic performance. This release opens with "Baby I Love You," an R&B hit from the summer of 1967. From 1972's Grammy-winning YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK comes "Day Dreaming," featuring gospel maven Cissy Houston providing ethereal backing vocals. Other gems include the Bacharach/David song Franklin made famous in 1968, "I Say A Little Prayer."

The strength and energy behind Aretha's performance in "(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman" make it an anthem. On her own "You Don't Think," her voice evokes tears as she pleads for the faith of her true love. Franklin's 1974 version of Ashford and Simpson's "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" is arranged as a ballad, a brilliant showcase for this diva's divine range.

Includes liner notes by Norma Edwards.

Compilation producer: Kim Cooke.

Producers: Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield.

Compilation producers: Norma Edwards, David Nathan.

Personnel includes: Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano); Chips Moman, Jimmy Johnson, Eddie Hinton, Jerry Weaver, Charlie Freeman, Hugh McCracken, Cornell Dupree, Don Arnone, David Spinozza (guitar); Joe Farrell (flute, tenor saxophone); Hubert Laws (flute); The Memphis Horns (horns); Spooner Oldham (electric piano, organ); Richard Tee, Ken Lupper (organ); Barry Beckett, Jim Dickinson, Mike Utley, Donny Hathaway (keyboards); Kenneth Bichel (synthesizer); Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Tommy McClure, Eric Gale, Chuck Rainey (bass), Roger Hawkins, Sammy Creason, Al Jackson, Ray Lucas, Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta (drums); Pancho Morales (congas); Robert Popwell, Doctor John, Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Erma Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, The Sweet Inspirations, The Sweethearts Of Soul, The Southern California Community Choir (background vocals); Joe South.

Producers: Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones.

Q (7/93, p.106) - 5 Stars - Indispensable - "...[the songs are] all extracted from her golden years, '67-'74, so choice is simply a matter of weighing wonderfulness by the pound..."