Aretha Franklin Lady Soul CD

Boasting both 'Chain Of Fools' and '(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman,' this 1968 tour de force is one of the absolute pinnacles of the Queen's incredible artistic legacy. Remastered to perfection with all new liner notes plus 4 bonus tracks, 'Chain Of Fools' (Unedited Version), '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' (Mono Single Version), 'Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)' (Mono Single Version) & 'Ain't No Way' (Mono Single Version). 14 tracks in all. Rhino. 2003.

Personnel: Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano); Ralph Burns (conductor); Jimmy Johnson (guitar); Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone); Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone); Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Mel Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow (trumpet); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Spooner Oldham (piano, electric piano, organ); Warren Smith (vibraphone); Tommy Cogbill (bass); Roger Hawkins, Gene Chrisman (drums); Cissy Houston, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Ellie Greenwich (background vocals).
Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York between February 16 and December 20, 1967.
Includes liner notes by David Nathan and original release liner notes by Jon Landau.
Personnel: Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano); Carolyn Franklin (vocals, background vocals); Cissy Houston (vocals); Jimmy Johnson , Eric Clapton, Joe South, Bobby Womack (guitar); Seldon Powell (flute, tenor saxophone, horns); Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone, wind); King Curtis (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Haywood Henry (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Joe Newman , Bernie Glow, Melvin Lastie (trumpet); Tony Studd (trombone, bass trombone); Spooner Oldham (electric piano, keyboards); Warren Smith (vibraphone, background vocals); Gene Chrisman, Roger Hawkins (drums); Ellie Greenwich, Erma Franklin, The Sweet Inspirations (background vocals).
Recording information: Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY.
Appearing after a blockbuster debut and a sophomore set that was rather disappointing (in comparison), 1968's Lady Soul proved Aretha Franklin, the pop sensation, was no fluke. Her performances were more impassioned than on her debut, and the material just as strong, an inspired blend of covers and originals from the best songwriters in soul and pop music. The opener, "Chain of Fools," became the biggest hit, driven by a chorus of cascading echoes by Franklin and her bedrock backing vocalists, the Sweet Impressions, plus the unforgettable, earthy guitar work of guest Joe South. The album's showpiece, though, was "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," a song written expressly for her by Brill Building pop stalwarts Gerry Goffin and Carole King, based on a title coined by producer Jerry Wexler. One of the landmark performances in pop music, the song floats serenely through the verses until, swept up by Ralph Burns' stirring string arrangement again and again, Franklin opens up on the choruses with one of the most transcendent vocals of her career. And just as she'd previously transformed a soul classic (Otis Redding's "Respect") into a signature piece of her own, Franklin courageously reimagined songs by heavyweights James Brown, Ray Charles, and the Impressions. Brown's "Money Won't Change You" is smooth and kinetic, her testifying constantly reinforced by interjections from the Sweet Inspirations. Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," a 1965 civil-rights anthem and a hit for the Impressions, is taken at a slower pace than the original; after a quiet verse, Franklin lets loose amidst a magisterial brass arrangement by Arif Mardin. Powered by three hit singles (each nested in the upper reaches of the pop Top Ten), Lady Soul became Aretha Franklin's second gold LP and remained on the charts for over a year. ~ John Bush
Aretha's Franklin's position as soul music's premier female vocalist was consolidated by this album. Her strident reading of Don Covay's 'Chain Of Fools' set the tone for a collection on which the singer unveiled several stellar original compositionsRolling Stone (12/11/03, p.116) - Ranked #84 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...Another classic..."
Q (p.120) - "[A] revelation, as producer Jerry Wexler guided her towards an inspired fusion of gospel, blues and R&B."
Q (5/00, p.135) - Included in Q Magazine's "Best Soul Albums Of All Time"
Q (7/93, p.106) - 5 Stars - Indispensable - "...arguably Aretha's all-time great...her closing sequence of Thank-the-Lord hollerings would transport a trainload of atheists to Heaven's gate..."
Vibe (12/99, p.158) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century