Aretha Gospel

Aretha Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 1991)
• Original Release Date: September 10, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002Q5G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,697 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This CD is an out of print collectible! It is the original 1991 MCA/Chess release. Catalog CHD-91521. The actual UPC on the item is 076732152126. There is a hole punch through the UPC.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SHE'S JUST 14, September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Aretha Gospel (Audio CD)

14 years old. You have got to be kidding. I cannot believe that Aretha had this kind of intensity at 14 years old. My god has she always been a star or what. Even with this primitive recording you can experience the sheer power that is ARETHA! She is truly touched by God. This work rivals anything that Aretha has ever done for sheer passion and artistry.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars C.L.'s daughter wrecks the church in 1956., June 23, 1998

By 

Bob Marovich [e-mail] (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aretha Gospel (Audio CD)

For those of you who are only familiar with Aretha's soul music output, you are in for a real treat with "Aretha Gospel." Even those who have heard Aretha's gospel outings such as the two-LP "Amazing Grace" from the 1970s will love this brief but explosive CD based on recordings made in her father C.L. Franklin's church in the 1950s.

Others can confirm this, but these recordings were originally made circa 1956 for the Battle and Chess/Checker labels. "Never Grow Old" was released as a Checker 78 and 45 in 1956. At that time, Aretha was billed as "daughter of Rev. C.L. Franklin." "Precious Lord" was issued on a Checker 45 in the early 1960s, after John Hammond and Columbia Records introduced Aretha to the jazz vocalist-loving public.

Listen to Aretha sing "Precious Lord" or "Never Grow Old" on "Aretha Gospel." Listen to the congregation respond. Listen to the recording mics stretched to their audio limit with her powerful voice. Then remind yourself that this is a 14-YEAR OLD young lady singing. Then pinch yourself to make sure you're not dreaming -- and believe me, you're not! This is teenage Aretha giving the world advance notice of her remarkable talent, all the while praising God in her father's church.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gospel Treasure, April 28, 2001

By 

S. Roseman (Round Rock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aretha Gospel (Audio CD)

I came to Amazon.com to repurchase this CD. I bought the album years ago. It got damaged so I discovered the CD and bought it also. As I write, it is playing on my computer under Linux. It has deep scratches, so I'm buying it again. In other words, if it is worth buying 3 times, it has got to be good. Of course, something recorded at her father's church when Aretha was about 14 years old will not have the quality of modern recordings. I play this all night long and tears of emotion fill my eyes. There is none like Aretha...NONE!!! My friend took this home to his indigent mother. Although we had never met or spoken to each other before, she called me at work the next day with excitement and jubilance. She "shouted" more that day than she had shout in long time. She was so thankful and was so surprise that a young person could appreciate such great singing that she gave me her complete album collection which included THE ORIGINAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON album with Dr. King and others plus most of Mahalia's albums.

Want specifics..."The Day Is Past And Gone" is what set my friend's mother on fire and is my favorite. I don't think you'll find it on any other CD. "Yield not to Temptation" and "There is Fountain Filled With Blood" make this worth buying and keeping as a part of your historical collection. If you don't like old spiritual hymns, then don't buy although it just might convert you.