Customer Reviews

Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul

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After reading Ms. Frankin's lackluster autobiography, it was almost refreshing to read an unbiased account of the legendary life and career of this soul matriarch. This book is very detailed in tracking the career of Ms. Franklin and tells of the accolades as well as the lowpoints in her career. I found most comical the section in relation to Aretha's infamous fashion sense, but ultimately appauled by that tasteless photo of her in a one peice bathing suit with fishnet stockings showing her backside in concert. How disgusting was that!
I, too, hailed the Queen after her riveting performance of "Nessum Dorma" on the 1998 Grammys and I continue to follow her career in hopes that her legacy continues to be upheld with the upmost respect. I hope that in twenty years, the author can add another update of amazing accomplishments to this edition. Good read.

This book is a great disappointment! Bego's sequel to The Queen of Soul happens to be nothing more than what he clips from past articles! If you value your money, don't buy this book. Because all you will read is his first book on her and just old articles about her.

Mark Bego's bio of the Queen of Soul is largely a rehash of other articles, reviews, etc. previously published about Aretha Franklin, although he does uncover a few behind-the-scenes tidbits here and there. Mr. Bego is obviously a big fan of Ms. Franklin and he wears several hats throughout the book: fashion critic, music and concert reviewer, and general arbiter of style and personal taste. Indeed, Bego is not afraid to criticize the Queen for her often disastrous and horribly embarrassing forays into fashion--in one photograph, the Queen of Soul is dressed in a one-piece bathing suit and glittery fishnet stockings, showing off her hefty backside to the audience--this is a photo that will at once make you cringe and laugh! (I also remember a TV clip of her in a black tutu, white tights and ballet slippers while covering Vanessa Williams' hit "Save the Best for Last" ). Mr. Bego's writing, however, is often silly, slipshod and redundant--just barely competent enough to hold one's attention.

Nevertheless, Mr. Bego's portrait of Ms. Franklin reveals an enormously talented, engaging musician who is nonetheless sad, sloppy and undisciplined in almost every other area of her life. Bego provides salacious details and commentary about her relatively well-off but tragic childhood (her father was notorious and wealthy, a street-wise and worldly preacher man who financed her first forays into secular music, but her mother abandoned the family and died before Ms. Franklin was 10); her shocking, early-teen motherhood (she gave birth to her first child at age 13 and had two more children before she was 18!); her legendary weight problems; her serial romantic failures and her failure to promptly pay creditors. Mr. Bego's book is probably the best we can do for now, since Ms. Franklin has categorically refused to divulge anything of substance about her life (and has obviously admonished others close to her to do the same). It will probably be a while before a much more accomplished writer comes along to do what cannot be done in Ms. Franklin's lifetime: give a fully balanced and well-written account of her life and times.

Bego's biography is a balanced view of the multiple-decades-long career of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. It begins with her gospel-influenced childhood and takes the reader on a resilient career track of the probably the greatest female soul vocalist of the 20th century. It also includes an exhaustive discography of both her music catalog and Grammy awards. The true fan will laugh, empathize, and be touched by the singer's personality, commentary, and quotes. No fan should be without this volume.

Now in an updated and expanded edition, Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul is the compelling and inspiring biography of one of the most amazing, remarkable singers with a five-octave voice. The many challenges Aretha Franklin has faced in her life, from parental abandonment to the illness of her sister, are candidly recounted, along with her will to survive and prosper, which can clearly be heard in her soul-stirring music. Highly recommended reading for students of twentieth century American music history, as well as a "must" for all Aretha Franklin fans.

Reading this book, I learned more about the recording industry and the lineup of Aretha Franklin's record producers and collaborators, as well as the songs she sang and the outfits she wore while she sang them than I did about what makes Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin. And that's okay: I've concluded that all I need to know is that she's an average woman who has an amazing gift. Sometimes it just works out that way. I probably didn't need to read the whole book to find this out, though.