Aretha Arrives

by

Aretha Franklin

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This record was released a few months after her more famous debut for Atlantic Records , and because of this has been unfairly overlooked by critics , and the record buying public .

In 1967 Aretha Franklin, arguably the greatest singer of the twentieth century , was at the height of her powers , and this shows by the way she turns a ragbag collection of songs into a soul masterpiece . The album starts off with a storming cover of Satisfaction ( Jagger , Richards ) , and then see's Aretha testifying on the Ray Charles classic - You Are My Sunshine . Two stunning ballads - Never Let Me Go , and - Prove It ( as good as anything she has ever recorded ) bookend the old garageband hit - 96 Tears . Willie Nelson's - Night Life , is another highlight , as it allows Aretha to give a masterly blues interpretation of the song . Side two starts off with a glorious version of Sinatra`s - That`s Life , and is followed by the majestic deep soul ballad - I Wonder . Aretha then ups the tempo on her sister`s - Ain't Nobody! ( Gonna Turn Me Around ) , which leads into the old Howling Wolf classic - Going Down Slow , on this song Aretha's singing and the performance of the band are sublime , and finally the record ends with her hit single , - Baby I Love You .

The musical arrangements are perfect , and they compliment Aretha's vocals perfectly , ( this would be the last album that her voice would sound so youthfully fresh and exciting ) . Aretha Arrives is the equal to any classic soul album and deserves to be remembered as such.

Compared to Aretha Franklin's landmark 60's epics, such as her smashing debut "I Never Loved a Man" and her equally stunning "Lady Soul," "Aretha Now" and "Soul '69" albums, "Aretha Arrives" is somewhat underwhelming, though not without its merits. The album has many of the same pulsating trademarks like the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, fierce backup singing and Franklin's own remarkable piano playing, but some of the material is undistinguished and unworthy of her attention ("96 Tears," "I Wonder"). And one or two other songs simply miss the mark (e.g. her cover version of Mick Jagger's "Satisfaction"). Still, there is a lot to like about "Aretha Arrives." "Never Let Me Go" and "Prove It" are dazzling ballads that keep you hanging on to every word, while "Night Life" and "Going Down Slow" and "Baby I Love You" showcase Franklin's nearly matchless skills as a low-down blues singer. Overall, "Aretha Arrives" may not be among Franklin's VERY best, but--like most of her output--it is still definitely worth a listen.