Customer Reviews

Aretha's Gold

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When dealing with an artist who's been as frequently anthologized as Aretha, it's hard to know which package to recommend--and for which target audience. But for anyone not quite ready to invest in a more extensive box set, it's hard to imagine a more solid collection than the original "best of" ARETHA'S GOLD.

A previous reviewer indicated that he had some reservations about recommending this package since it might deter newcomers from checking out her individual albums from her classic early Atlantic period. I understand the concern, but I've come to believe that there is a certain audience for greatest hits collections that is separate and distinct from us more completist must-own-the-complete works types. Those folks really ONLY want the hits, and this collection certainly will fill that bill and then some.

There are also any number of potential converts who will sample this and then decide that they must have more--and wind up buying the complete works anyway.

And then there are those (myself included) who find listening to a greatest hits package from Aretha to be particularly satisfying in and of itself--especially when those "greatest hits" are truly great. There's just something so satisfying about hearing one superlative Aretha track after another. The CD starts off with "I Never Loved A Man...," "Do Right Woman," and "Respect"--a triple threat--proceeds onto "Dr. Feelgood," "Baby,I Love You" and "Natural Woman," and "Chain of Fools." The listener barely has time to take a breath. True, the greatest hits become a little less great as we approach the album's closers. I always thought that "The House That Jack Built" was a little too "busy," for instance, and her version of "I Say A Little Prayer," while interesting, would never make me forget Dionne Warwick's elegant take on that song.

But "See Saw" closes the proceedings on a strong note (or a strong glissando). And there really is not a BAD track on the album. This is "gold" from Aretha's golden era. You can't go wrong with it. And if it encourages you to check out more of her work from that era--or from her entire 40 year career--so much the better.

This is indeed the first Franklin 'Greatest Hits,' since her juggernaut of success took off at Atlantic in January of 1967. The original vinyl LP version of this title showed up in stores in the summer of '69, and had the queen's photo centered against a suitably gold background. It gathered the first two-year run of Atlantic singles, all of which, with the exception of 'The House That Jack Built,' had appeared on preceding studio albums. As such, it was a wonderful re-issuing of the milestone hits you'd surely worn out your 45 versions of, by then. (A now defunct, 'Aretha's Greatest Hits' issued in the fall of '71, repeated about half of what this album carried, plus subsequent singles through 'Spanish Harlem.') I only hold back a 5th star on 'Gold' because I wouldn't want anyone to skip all the wonderful tracks on the first five Atlantic studio albums. And, sadly, 'Gold' neglected to include the outstanding B-side to 'See Saw,' (which charted in it's own right) the majestic Johnny Otis hit, 'My Song.' In fact, it never appeared on a vinyl LP, and didn't show up again until the early 90s 4-disc boxed set, 'Queen Of Soul.'

Love me some Aretha and this album does not disappoint. I actually grew up to this album, as my parents had it on 8-track. Was very excited to find it and have enjoyed every minute and every track on there. Thanks for the memories...