Customer Reviews

Let Me in Your Life (Jewl)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This was the first Aretha Franklin album released just after the one and only time I saw her perform live on stage; I was 19. It was November 1973 and Aretha was appearing at a now-defunct Cherry Hill, New Jersey nightclub called "The Latin Casino." She did "Until You Come Back To Me" on that show but at that point it was so new, I couldn't tell you if I'd even heard it on the radio yet, nor knew how much I was going to come to love it. But she was still freshly in the triumph of 1972's LP's: "Young and Gifted and Black" & the astonishing gospel set, "Amazing Grace." Two great singles, "Master Of Eyes" & "Angel" primed us though '73 for what to expect that special night, and Aretha delivered. This was also the time when she had slimmed down profoundly, and her stage costumes that night made sure you knew it.

What we didn't know was, "Until You Come Back To Me," would be the last Franklin single to climb into the Pop Top 10 until "Freeway Of Love" in 1985. One reason why was because our attention from the mid-70s to 1980 was turned to another kind of music, and let's all thank God here that Aretha seemed to instinctively know that disco was beneath her, and she never sank to it. She would forgive us and take us back in the 80s when we regained our senses.

Nevertheless, this 1974 album (originally Atlantic LP 7292) did well (#14 on the LP chart) and spawned two more excellent singles, "I'm In Love" and a reinterpretation of Marvin & Tammi's "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing." (She'd already remade one of theirs over in her own image in '71: "You're All I Need To Get By," so she knew what she was doing.) She does a remarkable job here also of reworking Bill Withers lovely but sedate "Let Me In Your Life," transforming it into a completely different song, punchy and up-tempo. That's the real key to Aretha's artistry - I sometimes think she could take home, say for a week, something as seemingly foreign to her as Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miners Daughter," and come back with a version that made you believe she lived it.

Aretha broke through in 1967, the year I was 13, and I feel privileged to have watched and have been so thoroughly entertained as the woman's applied her genius in ways that have never failed to surprise and delight. She's honestly a legend, and another substantial helping of proof is in this album.

This cd is one of the best Aretha has released. My cousin used to play this lp years ago. All of this set is great, but my favorites are: With Pen In Hand-those women are chirping the background on this one, though it is not the Sweet Inspirations...If it was, Cissy would've ate the high note for breakfast, lunch & dinner!), (I'm afraid)The Masquerade is Over, Oh Baby & A Song For You. I'm waiting for the lp, "With Everything I Feel In Me", to be released on cd. That's the other lp, where she has a white fur on. I always loved the picture on the Let Me In Your Life lp/cd.

This is a fine Aretha Franklin release. It has some solid cuts like, Until you come back to me, I'm in love, and Every natural thing. But there is a slight misstep in choice of material, and this cd. does not have the spark and solid r&b focus of her previous (and great) Young, Gifted and Black. Her rendition of Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing never really catches fire. On the other hand, she is able to take a sappy song like, With Pen in Hand and let it build into a soulful firestorm. She is in fine form. Aretha's voice(at this time) was an instrument of awesome power, with the ability to transcend. I do recommend this cd. The strengths certainly outweigh the weaknesses, and it is far superior to some of her later efforts.

Do not shop from CAIMAN. They advertise it on stock but they don't and have never carried it.

I think I mentioned in an earlier review that I was somewhat a latecomer to the great Aretha, well let me correct that. Not really. Late comers would probably be defined as someone who noticed her works within the last 5 years or so. I "got with" her specifically in '71-72, in the middle of her great Atlantic records Mardin/Ertigan/Wexler years. And I have been following her in silent glee since. 'Cause, see,...

While it is true that she's recorded some of the best soul jams ever--look up "Respect", "Natural Woman", "Dr. Feelgood" to mention a few--some of those cuts she's done that "no one's heard of" gets me like, uummph!...understand?

Like here, "The Masquerade is Over" and her own composition, "Oh Baby". I am jello evvytime I hear "Oh Baby". And contrary to what the reviewer below says, there's not a thing wrong with her "There Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"...in fact, it gives the original a run for its money.

The real triumph for Re Re lovers like me is that all those great Atlantic Records production--even this late, great and underrated one (I think this may have been her last or next to last on Atlantic) are all in CD catalog. My advice: get each individual album on CD the way they were originally presented before someone repackages them...

I have been searching for that CD for a number of years, just to hear the selection With Pen in Hand-- It is utterly beautiful!!!!!!!!

The Aretha Franklin I love best-- this CD is a lighter Aretha but with bold strong flavor-- for those who find the 60's stuff too heavy, Aretha's "Let Me in Your Life" is the beginning of a more contemporary Franklin. Best bet: "Until You Come Back to Me."

I had intended on making a full review of what I consider to be Aretha's best work on Atlantic, but the JAMMYOLSEN review pretty much summed up my exact same feelings about this masterpiece from 1974.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

Aretha Franklin is One Of The Greatest Artists Ever.She puts so much feeling,Soul&Emotion into her work.Until You Come Back to Me(that's What I'm Gonna Do is one of my Favorite songs She Improved on a Stevie Wonder Composition.that Hardly ever happens.but this is the QUEEN.Her Voice Sounds Great.strong Production,Arrangements&Musicianship.

The Standouts - The Masquarade Is Over and Oh Baby continue to certifide that Aretha is no joke..The masquarade ending "and so is love" is heaven sent.