Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen

Aretha Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000WQ9U9O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,926 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Browse the assembled talent on this disc and you're bound to be wowed by the bold names--Hello, Frank Sinatra, George Benson, and Elton John--but anyone who's been listening to the Queen of Soul long enough knows even fellow legends often have cause to feel humbled in her presence. And it's interesting, but the duets collected here tend to work in inverse proportion to the fame of the collaborator: "Hello My Love" with Sinatra is so-so, though it's certainly not for lack of effort by the always-on Aretha, while "Put You Up on Game" with American Idol's Fantasia comes as a revelation; Fantasia could have been all crack-voiced and quaking in her spike-heeled ankle boots, but she proves up to the challenge. If the heavy hitters were cowed by the Queen's supremacy and it shows (it does), it's worth remembering that a lot of the recycled tracks here--the ones you'll most likely buy the record for, including the exceptional "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" with the Eurythmics and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with George Michael--more than make up for it. Also, three new duets--the one with Fantasia, plus one with John Legend, and one with Mary J. Blige--prove Aretha's becoming more selective with her singing partners. You might have expected at least one of them to stumble, but none does. The older Aretha gets, it seems, the less room she has on her chain of fools. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

2007 release, a collection of Aretha's finest duets including two previously unreleased tracks featuring John Legend and American Idol winner Fantasia. On Jewels In The Crown: All Star Duets With The Queen, Aretha performs memorable duets with some of music's biggest names including Keith Richards, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Frank Sinatra, Mary J. Blige, John Legend and many more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Queen of Soul cleanin' house, November 16, 2007

By 

R. M. Desjardins "R. Mark Desjardins" (Vancouver, B.C. Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen (Audio CD)

Aretha Franklin's "Jewels in the Crown" marks her exit from Arista Records. Although it may be argued that this recording is merely a "contractual obligation" two new duets, with Fantasia and John Legend make it of great interest to Aretha's fans. The Queen gets down and has some fun! As well, it's great to have material spanning 1981 to 1999 on one convenient disc. A personal disappointment is that Aretha's televised duet with the late Lou Rawls, "At Last" was omitted.
In a November 4th full page feature in the New York Times Aretha stated "You might as well say it's over" in reference to her tenure at Arista Records. Clive Davis however is of another opinion. "The lawyers say there are cuts owed. I don't know that for a fact, I have not gotten into that. She and I, we've had a long relationship."
One thing is for sure. This recording paves the way for Aretha's upcoming recording "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love" due in the spring of 2008, which will feature songs she wrote and produced herself rather than the established hit makers assigned her during her contract with Arista. In fact, Aretha is apparently so pumped about her new material that during a recent Christmas promotional appearance in Toronto where she was contracted to perform four songs on an outdoor stage, she thrilled the audience with a preview cut "How Long I've Been Waiting" from her upcoming album. Aretha, resplendid in a full length mink coat, sipped on a cup of tea to keep warm, as she played the piano.
"Jewels In The Crown" is a reminder of the places the Queen has transported us to and serves as a roadmap to where she wants to take us next. Long live the Queen!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice to see Aretha get RESPECT!, December 28, 2007

By 

Katchy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen (Audio CD)

Oh the memories! I remember when each and every song hit the airwaves. I love the fact that Clive used some alternate versions of songs like "Never gonna break my faith" with MJB. I also love the alternate mixes of some of the older songs, complete with additional never before released vocal adlibs etc...

I always thought Aretha handled duets with a fresh approach to the material, be it good or bad and made the song work...for her vocal style. I guess this is why she will forever be the queen. The new duets are off the hook too. I have heard some say that the new material is beneath Aretha and she should leave the hip hop r&b to the kids. Well I've got news for you, this is the new r&b of today, and I think what has always made Aretha stand out is her ability to adapt to whatever situation musically she is delt. There is no going back to the 60's cause then folks will say "why don't she sing something current." I guess on this note, Aretha has learned and stopped trying please everyone, cause you just can't! I love the duet with Fantasia because Aretha is doing her, even though the music is current Aretha is still Aretha. I think she is recording what feels good to her at this point.

I would also pose the question...How many other 65 yr old artists do you hear new music from on mainstream radio? Aretha is also nominated for a grammy for the duet with MJB. I wish Aretha the best! Sing for me like Ella did till the end, when they had to wheel her out on stage. God has truly gifted you.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice segway to the new studio album, December 16, 2007

By 

Musical Milty (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen (Audio CD)

As a HUGE Aretha Franklin Fan, owning just about everything she has released since 1960 through now, including vinyl and CD..I have to say that I am happy to have these duets in once place. Some have been overlooked because the album they appeared on my not have gotten the kind of publicity she and we loyal fans feel they should have (e. g. Through the Storm released in 1989 was a stunned example of duets from the Queen with James Brown, Whitney, The 4 Tops and Elton John). I am beyond happy that Fantasia finally gets to sing with the Queen. The track is cool and I love the "girl talk" between the two mid-song. The song with John Legend has a wonderful retro feel to it and love the 1960-ish Soul/R&B feel to the riffs..I had to play that one at least three times before allowing the disk to continue. Mary J. Blige and Aretha are incredible together and the two examples here are (in my opinion) stellar. "Don't Waste Your Time" is awesome and is one the major examples of my MJB's album "Mary" was a huge. Two heavy hitters on the same song - just incredible. Love Aretha's return to gospel with the track with MJB of "Never Gonna Break my Faith" that one really moved me!

I kind of wish this had been a two disk collection because I can think of a few "Live" duets that deserve some presence here. My only issue with the collection is that I had hoped the entire intro from Chain of Fools with Mariah would have been included...I remember her saying something about "her new girlfriend" and then of course she intros her son Teddy just before the explode into Chain of Fools..would have brought that track full circle much better.