Customer Reviews

Aretha Live at Fillmore West

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This great album from 1971 reminds me of Elvis Presley's "On Stage February, 1970." What these disks have in common is rather than focusing on their own hits, Aretha and Elvis perform songs that were popular at the time, and almost regardless of the quality of the original, turn them into classics, purely by application of their unique artistry.

From Aretha's catalogue, this album features a zippy version of "Respect" that shows off the band; a sensual version of "Dr. Feelgood"; her hit at that time, "Don't Play That Song"; and an extended version (featuring Ray Charles!) of "Spirit in the Dark" that is soul royalty personified. The rest of the disk comprises versions of the treacly Bread song "Make it With You," the silly Stephen Stills song, "Love the One You're With," the Diana Ross diva exercise "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand," and the classic Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel songs, "Eleanor Rigby" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

These covers are all genius. The lesser songs like "Make it With You," are lavished with the best that Lady Soul has to offer. She treats these dumb tunes as if they were revelations of the inner workings of the human soul--and in Aretha's hands they are. Meanwhile, she completely reconcieves the great McCartney and Simon tunes, making the original versions sound like underachievers by comparison--which is really saying something since these are two of the classic productions of the 60s.

The difference is the singing. God gave Aretha a voice that is possessed with all the power, pain and pleasure of the entire human experience. A simple, banal statement like "I want to make it with you," in her voice becomes the embodiment of a basic human urge to love. A promise like, "I will lay me down" in her voice becomes a covenant that transcends time and space. No one has ever been more ribald than Aretha in "Dr. Feelgood," no one has ever been more in awe of God's majesty than Aretha in "Spirit in the Dark," no one has ever been lonelier than Aretha as "Eleanor Rigby." These tracks, and the rest of her classic performances, take human emotions to their essence in a way that goes far beyond the words she sings.

As if that weren't enough, she's backed by a great band on this record, led by the sax wizard King Curtis, the Beatle organist Billy Preston, the great jazz/R&B drummer Bernard Purdie, and a large horn section that stays in the background until you need them most.

The liner notes suggest this concert was somewhat of a foray into the hippie audience in San Francisco, and perhaps that's why she chose some of these songs--white stoners could relate. But early on the disk, she makes a promise to them that by the end of the concert, they will be happy, and she surely delivered.

When Aretha Franklin recorded 1971's LIVE AT FILLMORE WEST, she was backed by a group of veteran session musicians on a mix that included interpretations of popular songs and some of her trademark numbers. Franklin makes Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With" her own with the help of Billy Preston's joyous organ work, while Bread's saccharine "Make It With You" is injected with a healthy shot of sexy sassiness.

Franklin's underrated piano playing and a healthy display of her gospel roots make FILLMORE a special recording in Lady Soul's vast canon. Franklin's skill on the eighty-eights particularly shines on her swinging treatment of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" and the jubilant "Don't Play That Song." Franklin also plays electric piano on "Dr. Feelgood," and from this point on she turns Bill Graham's hall into a Baptist church. The call-and-response of her background singers and King Curtis' skillful band-leading/saxophone playing lead up to the high point where she brings Ray Charles out for the reprise of the testimonial "Spirit In The Dark" followed by the uplifting "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)."

What a live album ought to be. Great performances by the Queen and her courtiers (and what a group she assembled: Ray Charles, Billy Preston and the late great King Curtis (in his last recording).

One of the few live albums to capture the spirit of the performance. When she and Ray Charles cut loose on an extended "Spirit in the Dark", she burns down the Filmore West!

A must have.

When you look at the credits you realize that this was a great album even before the musicians played the first note. Aretha has simply helped herself to arguably the best musicians available - a virtual who's who of the r&b world. King Curtis, Billy Preston, Cornell Dupree, Bernard Purdie, The Memphis Horns and the incomparable Jerry Jemmott - The Kingpin. When you put the best band together with the best vocalist what you have is this album.

This is why you can't just rely on one of those little singles machines. You need to hear the progression of song to song on that whole night. It was glorious. Paul Simon must have been thrilled with this version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which gives the song a whole different (gospel) dimension. If you don't know Aretha, or you don't know what soul music was all about (it had EVERYBODY stoked!), this will give you the clearest vision. Then try Otis Redding.

Aretha Franklin performed live at Fillmore West in San Francisco in February 1971; and this CD documents her concert very well. Aretha, known to many African Americans as "Miss 'Re," took the stage; and her audience of mostly white people never wanted her to stop from the first note she sang. Indeed, as you listen to this CD, the audience becomes more involved and more joyful with every number Aretha performs! Concert albums may have a reputation for not always selling very well; but THIS concert album proves to be the exception to the rule. More than thirty years later we can still hear Aretha's voice in excellent form at the Fillmore West; and her band jams so hard they stun you with their performance, too.

The CD starts with "Respect," a classic Aretha Franklin song penned by Otis Redding. Aretha and her band infuse "Respect" with electricity and the crowd loves every minute of it! Aretha then goes on to perform a mixture of pop hits and her own classic numbers. Aretha included these pop numbers to appeal to the mostly white crowd at Fillmore West. "Love The One You're With" offers Aretha the chance to sing a beautiful ballad by Stephen Stills. Aretha makes this number her own with a musical arrangement that mixes soul, R&B and a pop feel to it all at once. Aretha then goes into "Bridge Over Troubled Water" written by Paul Simon; the band gives this number a soulful beat and the crowd enjoys "Bridge Over Troubled Water" tremendously. Excellent!

Other great songs on this live concert CD include "Eleanor Rigby" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; a rousing rendition of Aretha's biggest 1970 hit entitled "Don't Play That Song" with its' great female backup group and "Dr. Feelgood," a bluesy number that makes the crowd roar as people shout out to Aretha to "sing it!"

By the time Aretha gets to "Spirit In The Dark" the crowd and Aretha have become one. They cheer with delight as Aretha breaks into this number with all the passion she could ever have mustered. Aretha then tells her audience that she "discovered Ray Charles" in her audience; and when Ray Charles comes onstage to sing a reprise of "Spirit In The Dark" with Aretha the crowd shouts out for joy! The female backup vocals on "Spirit In The Dark" enhance the beauty of this song. Ray's voice is potent as ever. Ray didn't want this number to see the light of day; he believed it wasn't his best effort. You'd never know it, though! Brother Ray sounds great!

Aretha closes the album with "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" written by Ashford and Simpson. Aretha performs this touching ballad like only she could; it is a fitting closer for this CD.

The liner notes include great photos of the concert and David Nathan contributes an informative essay about this concert, too. You also get the song credits.

Aretha Franklin will forever remain one of the greatest singers the world has ever seen. We are so fortunate that she shared her talents with us. Her vocal expertise shines particularly brightly on this CD. Thank you, Aretha, for everything--it never would have been the same without you!

The period between 1968's "Aretha Now" and this 1971 set was a rough time for Aretha. The former had reached #3 on the album charts and the latter #7 but during the period between them, Aretha had no top ten album and indeed only one top ten single, 1970's "Don't Play That Song". She was still churning out the R&B hits however, 6 top ten singles in the same period. This album, along with the single-only releases of "Spanish Harlem" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water", re-cemented Aretha's status in pop music.

The album is a great listen from start to finish and her vocal performance is top-notch, although she does over do it a little on "Dr. Feelgood". The album's best moments are "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Spirit in the Dark". The first lulls you into a peaceful bliss while the latter gets you up outta your seat, especially when Ray Charles gets into it. Oh and I might as well mention the band: Billy Preston, King Curtis, the Memphis Horns and the Sweethearts of Soul. That ain't half bad and neither is the album, go pick it up.

this is everything a live album should be and feel like.can you get any funkier than having ray charles and billy preston on the same album?not to mention the queen on keys and voice.this album knocked my socks off when i first heard it and it still sizzles.i can't stop listening to this cuz once it's on it's all i listen to.you know good soul is like a good warm meal you never forget.

live at filmore west sees ms franklin adapting to a seachange in music at the time of its release...the emerging prominence of what's termed as "rock".

expect the queen not to be swept aside though as she finesses then current hits "love the one your with" and "make it with you" as if they're her own. watch her rework "respect" into a million beats a minute stomper!

and what could be better than to let ray charles join the fray?

I LOVE THE LIVE VERSIONS OF ALL OF ARETHA'S HITS. I'M ALSO FEELING SAD BECAUSE THIS THE LAST RECORDING THAT KING CURTIS (THE BANDLEADER)DID THIS ALBUM IS A MUST HAVE AND A MUST KEEP