Customer Reviews

Lady Soul

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Though the original LP was certainly worth the price of admission, this reissue, augmented with mono single versions and the unedited mix of "Chain of Fools" is a real treat. The original 56-second intro to "Chain of Fools," clipped for the single and LP and heard here for the first time on CD, sets Joe South's twangy guitar against Aretha's gospelizations and provides a completely different launch to the song. The single will forever sound edited once you've heard the full cut. Franklin also recorded her signature version of Goffin & King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," backed by the Muscle Shoals rhythm section and the harmonies of the Sweet Inspirations. Elsewhere, she works out on James Brown's "Money Won't Change You", Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," Ray Charles "Come Back Baby," The Rascals "Groovin'," as well as her own "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)." Franklin's third LP packs plenty of punch and this reissue sweetens the till.

I was a 13-year-old kid when I first picked this one up in the record store in February of 1968. Then, it was enough for me that it contained two established solid hits of Aretha's, "Natural Woman," and "Chain Of Fools." A third, "Since You've Been Gone," was quickly on the rise itself coinciding with the release of this LP. Since, by then, we knew how well (thanks to "Respect" and her version of the Stones' "Satisfaction" on `Aretha Arrives') she could take songs others had already done and make them into something stunningly new, "Niki Hokey," "Groovin'" and "People Get Ready" held great promise. They delivered. I was a bit young yet to understand the deep angst Aretha addressed in her sister's "Ain't No Way," but enough time and enough listens worked in that instance. (As "Since You Been Gone's" B-side, it charted as a single in its own right, too.)

However, one song would have to wait until seasoned adulthood for me to fully appreciate. `Seasoned,' in the sense of having been on both the winning and losing sides of love. "Good To Me As I Am To You," lyrically, is of the identical mind-set of "Respect," but this time Miss Franklin authored her own. It doesn't try to be any dance-jam like her signature hit, and in that sense, it comes off perhaps even more startling. Leslie Gore's "You Don't Own Me," was one thing, this was something ELSE. It's astonishing to realize how daring a thing it was then for a female singer, to lay it on the line like this: "Starting today, tomorrow, and forever more - If YOU can't find it in your heart to DO for ME, then, baby, just don't darken my front door!" On this song, Lady Soul wonders out loud to herself and her lover, if he'd be willing to lend her any portion of his last dollar, as quickly as she'd turn over her last dime to HIM. Aretha was sending two signals to her audience here, I think. First, she was telling us that whatever `heartbreak' song she'd sing in the future, she'd never sing of being anyone's doormat. Secondly, she sent a from-the-pulpit message to us that, when you've surrendered self-respect in a relationship, it's no longer one that can be called `love.'

I don't know how to recommend this album highly enough. Like the very best book you've ever read, it could very possibly change your life.

Let me concluded with nuts & bolts info, then. "Lady Soul," originally Atlantic LP 8176, was Aretha's third for Atlantic, and the last that was released in both mono and stereo versions. "Aretha Now" would show up in June of '68, and they'd all be stereo only from that one forward. Her original Atlantic 45's, with one or two exceptions, would remain in mono until the end of 1972. Get this album.

"Lady Soul" is my favorite Aretha Franklin album. I've had it for about a decade, and I have probably listened to it over a hundred times. Aretha has what is probably the best voice of anyone in the history of rock music. Actually, this music is a mixture of rock and soul. Although there really isn't any gospel on this CD, Aretha's voice does benefit from her gospel singing that she had done in her youth, too, which has definitely helped her to use her voice when she sings rock and soul. The physical quality of her voice, the smoothness, the feeling, the soul, the power in her voice, and the way that she uses her voice to its full effect, are all amazingly displayed on this album. You really can't go wrong with this CD.

I like all of the songs here. There are no duds - no filler at all. My favorites here are "Chain of Fools," "Money Won't Change You," "Niki Hoeky," and "Come Back Baby." This is a great CD. A lot of people buy her greatest hits CDs, but I prefer her albums. In addition to "Lady Soul," I also strongly recommend that you get "I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You."

Even though you have probably heard most of these obviously essential RnB songs, cut by the Queen in her prime, you need to get this re-released version if only for one thing: the unedited version of Chain of Fools. The opening, which was trimmed for the version that made it on to the original album and single, is PURE UNADULTERATED SOUL. There is literally nothing like this minute or so of pure anguish turned into vocal sound. This IS soul. And this is Lady Soul. For fans who have the original, YES it is worth buying again. And for the curious, there is hardly a better place to begin.

If, like myself you're into the gritty, soul drenched Musle Shoals sound, then you've got to hear Lady Soul. Aretha has no peer, there simply is no other soul singer dead or alive who can stand along side The Queen of Soul. Keep your Dinah Washingtons', Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Carla Thomas, Ruth Brown, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Dione Warwick, Whitney Houston, Mary Wells, Martha Reeves, (have I forgotten anyone?). Keep them all. Aretha is the real thing. She has that special something deep down inside, that just reaches out and grabs you. I could go on and on, but what's the use. Just give this record one listen and you'll know immediately, exactly what I mean.

After releasing the mamouth I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You/Including Respect with the big hit "Respect" Aretha was crowned "The Queen Of Soul" and for good reason cause she was an extra-ordinary performer with a magnificient voice. The same year as the success, she came out with another album called Aretha Arrives but it wasn't considered a classic and perhaps she should have waited before releasing another album so soon after. One year after in 1968 however came the worthy successor to "I Never Loved a Man", and it couldn't been better titled then "Lady Soul". This album is simular in many ways and mostly mentioned in the same lines, as a classic 60's soul album with songs about love, faith and hope. Joe South, Bobby Womack, King Floyd and Eric Clapon contributed on diffrent instruments and Whitney Houston's mother, Cissy sang backround vocals. By that you can really understand that Aretha's albums with Atlantic were a project they always put alot of work in, apart from her previous Colombia recordings.

On "Lady Soul" there is once again a variation of newly composed songs and famous covers, in todays standards you could say that she covered too much but back in the day most albums were compiled like this. But what differs Aretha from other singers is that she always made the songs she sings her own and that is typical for a musicial prodigy like I would call her. 3 singles were relased from this album and all made the top 10, while the #2 single "Chain of Fools" became a synonym for Aretha and another female anthem of a woman who's taking alot of pain from her man who's being unfaithful, but in the last verse she confess "One of these mornings the chain is gonna break/ But up until then, yeah, I'm gonna take all I can take", the most famous part of this classic is probably the "chain chain chain" chant that is incredibly catchy. "Money Won't Change You" was a James Brown song and it's much more funky then the usual song here, but rather short. "People Get Ready" was a Curtis Mayfield composed classic from the time with the Impressions about the civil right movement but Artetha still manage to make a good version of it (just like she did on Sam Cooke's (A Change Is Gonna Come), even if it's slightly diffrent then the original in a slower pace. This song is wonderful and the lyrics in the first verse goes like "There's a train a-coming/ You don't need no baggage/ You just get on board/ All you need is faith/ To hear the diesels humming/ Don't need no ticket/ You just thank the Lord". Another brassy song in "Niki Hoeky" where a gifted backround band and gospel choir is helping her out. "(You Make Me Feel like) a Natural Woman" is perhaps the best song of this album together with "Chain of Fools", a typical Aretha classic with strong message of love and self esteem where she find strenght after being loved and respected from a great gentleman. Carole King wrote it with her partner Gerry Goffin, she later released it herself on her album Tapestry a few years later.

"Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" reached the #5 on the pop charts and it was actually written by her and her husband Ted White. It's most funky and emotional with backround choirs and horns setting the tone. Bit short though. Aretha continued composing with "Good to Me As I Am to You" a slow ballad with stripped down bluesy arrangements. Next up is the cover of Ray Charles's "Come Back Baby" which is another worhhwile addition to a great album. "Groovin" is a cover of the Young Rascals immense hit from 1967, I actually prefer their original version cause it had better arrangements. "Ain't No Way" was written by Aretha's sister Carolyn and it is the closer. This is a slow love ballad, simular message like "Chain of Fools".

Overall, Another album another classic by one of our greatest female singers to date. This album is a needed brickstone in a devoted music fan's collection. For furhter listening, also check her next album Aretha Now which is almost equally strong.

I have 99% of everything that is available by Aretha Franklin and for me personally, this album is the definitive late 60's Aretha Franklin -- bold, beautiful, vulnerable, earthy, sexy, defiant, spiritual and strong. All these qualities and quite a bit more are conveyed by that marvelous Voice and piano (via those lovely, delicate fingers).

My favorite Aretha song ever is here -- Good To Me As I Am To You. The sheer force of this song not only makes this a testimony of victory over victimization in a relationship, but I've always thought it was one of the sleeper anthems of the civil rights movement, as well. The lyrics convey this, as do the angst and the "I-will-win" factor that Aretha always carries within her voice to some degree. Never did she carry it in the 60's like she did on this album and with this particular song.

The rest of the album is not quite that transcendent for me, but "Lady Soul" still kicks like few others. Chain Of Fools is still a haunting tune with an indisputable groove even after hearing it for the 500th time; People Get Ready inspires repeated playbacks; and there are few summer songs better than Aretha's take on Groovin.

Money Won't Change You and Niki Hoeky are quite fun to listen to because of Aretha's voice, but beyond that they are not essential. Come Back Baby's vocal is amazing, yet it's all but buried in the mix (what was Atlantic thinking?).

But when you add the ones that ARE essential -- Natural Woman, Since You've Been Gone, and Ain't No Way -- you have an absolutely classic and indispensable piece of American music history here.

The one and only Aretha Franklin: "Lady Soul."

Boy, they weren't kidding when Atlantic issued this album originally back in '68. It was a surefire winner from the start.
Her third album with Atlantic proved that her talent and gospel vocal style could not be ignored. "Chain of Fools" does good for the opener. She then cuts out on James Brown's "Money Won't Change You" with raw vitality, then on the churchy "People Get Reday". She takes this Impressions' classic and blows the roof off with a great improvisatory gospel vocal spot. Have to listen to see what I mean. "Niki Hoeky" is indeed catchy; good bass guitar line, too. Then we have the classics "Natural Woman" and "Since You've Been Gone." Listen to that one; it sounds like she sings "cinnamon gum" every time she sings the title. "Good To Me As I Am To You" is a bluesy line with Aretha telling it like it is with Eric Clapton doing a good guitar feature. Then she cuts out on Ray Charles' "Come Back" and peps that one up, and does quite well with the Rascals' "Groovin'". Finally, we close with "Ain't No Way"; my personal favorite on the whole album. What a milestone of a song especially with the high wailing soprano in the background which I believe is Cissy Houston. Man, oh, man, that IS soul. Bonus material includes the unedited, longer version of "Chain of Fools", which is longer by about 2 more minutes. It has a 1 minute intro, an added verse, the lyrics as you're used to hearing them are placed differently.
Again, this is the non-chopped up version. Then the mono single versions of "Natural Woman", "Since You've Been Gone" and its flip "Ain't No Way." If there was any album that made Aretha Franklin a household name, it sure is this. You can believe it. Ever since I got that Atlantic Rhythm & Blues box set, I've been wanting to dig deeper into some of the artists' music. With Aretha, I've heard of the "Lady Soul" album, and decided to start there. I wasn't let down, and neither will you be.

You'll find a whole slew of her biggest hits in this set ("Chain Of Fools", "Natural Woman", "Since You've Been Gone"), as well as some alternate versions of them not found on the original release, but one of the best tracks on the album is Aretha's cover of the Rascals' hit "Groovin'". While I'm not big on cover songs, this one is SUPERIOR. Aretha sings it to perfection!

The unedited version of "Chain of Fools" with the haunting blues opening makes this CD worth buying by itself. But wait, there's more. The hits fit well together with the lesser known songs; this CD may end up in my top ten of all time (I may have to drop a Beatles album because of it).