Customer Reviews

Soul 69

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This is one of the supreme recordings in the history of the medium! Aretha in the absolute prime of her self-discovery on Atlantic, the hippest Muscle Shoals musicians around, musical arrangements that are unafraid of themselves, and a superior choice of material make this THE Aretha Franklin album, in my view! Every cut is a highlight- the natural, high-flying vocal improvisations of 'Ramblin' and 'Bring It On Home To Me', Aretha's astonishing interpretation of Billie Holiday's 'Crazy He Calls Me', the remaking of 'Gentle On My Mind' into something finally so distinctive- what can one say about an art this Right, this Complete? Just keep repeating the mantra...a RE tha .... a RE tha ... a RE tha......not much else to say. Thank god the Rev. C. L. had his baby girl in our lifetimes!

Easily my favorite Aretha Franklin recording, Soul '69 combines the singer's great jazz, blues and pop instincts to produce a fusion that sounds like nothing in her extensive catalogue. The recording's title is oddly misleading, providing little clue as to what this remarkable song package really offers. The wailing vocals, bluesy and jazzy, echoed by the screaming horn arrangements, and the big band productions offer some remarkable interpretations and rearrangements to a list of some well chosen contemporary -- 1969? -- songs . Aretha has never sounded so inspired. I have returned to this masterpiece many times. In an odd way, it has a seamless feel, much like Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks", that sets a consistent tone -- heartbreak? discontent? The character in these songs may be lamenting, but with a fierceness and toughness (and ocassional tenderness) that makes each song soar. The singer's reworking of Smokey's classic "Tracks of My Tears" transforms sadness into defiance. If someone has ever really done you wrong, put on this record. Believe me, you will not cry. You'll CELEBRATE having everpienced the pain. You will won't walk away from these songs feeling like anyone's victim. These songs are bewitching chants on LOVE.

This is perhaps the best ever of Areatha's Atlantic Recordings because it masterfully showcases another side of Aretha. This album represents what Columbia Records tried to do but couldn't. As other reviewers have suggested, the title is misleading. Rather than straight up soul this album showcases Aretha's jazz and blues leanings. As she did with Otis Reddings' Respect, Lady Soul makes you forget about Smoky Robinson's rendition of Tracks of My Tears. This is no small feat. River's Invitation is a tour de force also. In addition to Aretha's searing voice, this outing is driven by outstanding sessions talents such as Richard Tee on keyboards, Bernard Purdie on Drums and I believe Cornell Dupree on guitar is along for the ride. This is definitely a must have album if you are serious about collecting great music.

... as that would've been a far more accurate title and might have alerted many jazz lovers to the fact that the Queen of Soul had made a jazz album. I suppose one can argue that anything Aretha Franklin does is soul but still...

According to the inner-sleeve info, Franklin finished recording this album (in September 1968) at the tail end of an eighteen month high. The period had begun with the release of "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" in March 1967 and by the time it had ended, had included ten consecutive hit singles, seven of which were million-sellers and six topping the R&B charts. In other words, the lady was at the top of her game when she sat down at the piano surrounded by a "bevy of great musicians" to begin recording "Soul '69".

That said, the reaction to this particular piece of work was reportedly muted and I guess I can understand why. The album failed to produce any hit singles (but that has never bothered me anyway and hopefully doesn't bother anyone who reads this review) and in a second attempt to get the right folks to connect with this great music, five of the twelve songs on here were later re-released by Atlantic on a more fittingly titled album, Aretha's Jazz. They were included with three tracks from the Quincy Jones-produced Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky). I've had "Aretha's Jazz" for years and love it but I was still really happy to learn about this album and "Hey Now Hey", and a special shout out goes to my friend mackdiva for pointing both albums out to me.

Anyway, this particular album of big band arrangements and jazz instrumental improvisations was produced by Jerry Wexler and the music, especially the orchestration, was arranged and conducted by Arif Mardin. Personally, I think the album is awesome. Granted, Franklin is without peer when it comes to soul, R&B and probably even gospel but to hear her tackle jazz is a pure delight. She sounds vocally free, unfettered, unrestrained and sounds like she's enjoying every minute. It's perfect Sunday afternoon music. I love the entire album but "Ramblin'", "Today I Sing The Blues", "Crazy He Calls Me", "Elusive Butterfly" and "Pitiful" with its groaning horn refrain, will forever be my firm favourites.

If you're not into vocal jazz, I'd say approach with caution (unless you're a die-hard Aretha Frankin fan). But if you are into jazz you'll love this whether you're into Franklin or not. If you ARE a Frankin fan AND you enjoy jazz though, you'll be beaming from ear to ear. This one's an absolute winner.

MUSICAL REINVENTION AT ITS BEST, June 30, 1999 Reviewer: A music fan from L.A. (Silverlake) California Easily my favorite Aretha Franklin recording, Soul '69 combines the singer's great jazz, blues and pop instincts to produce a fusion that sounds like nothing in her extensive catalogue. The recording's title is oddly misleading, providing little clue as to what this remarkable song package really offers. The wailing vocals, bluesy and jazzy, echoed by the screaming horn arrangements, and the big band productions offer some remarkable interpretations and rearrangements to a list of some well chosen contemporary -- 1969? -- songs . Aretha has never sounded so inspired. I have returned to this masterpiece many times. In an odd way, it has a seamless feel, much like Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks", that sets a consistent tone -- heartbreak? discontent? The character in these songs may be lamenting, but with a fierceness and toughness (and ocassional tenderness) that makes each song soar. The singer's reworking of Smokey's classic "Tracks of My Tears" transforms sadness into defiance. If someone has ever really done you wrong, put on this record. Believe me, you will not cry. You'll CELEBRATE having everpienced the pain. You won't walk away from these songs feeling like anyone's victim. These songs are bewitching chants on LOVE.

This is one of Aretha's Best Albums. There is a cohesiveness to the material as each track makes its own statement about the pains and emotions of love. From the magnificent soulful ballads of "If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody," "So Long," "I'll Never Be Free," to the jazzier tunes, "Gentle On My Mind" and "Elusive Butterfly, this album has it all. When I originally heard Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears," I didn't understand why it was such a hit. Aretha's version is simply amazing, as is her reading of Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly."

Although this is one of the lesser known Aretha albums, it could be her best one. It could just as easily have been called Jazz 69 too, 'cause it has a jazzy flavor to it, complete with big band accompaniment, and Aretha is in her best form. She was/is quite a talent, this CD just oozes with feeling and passion.

At the time of it's release, the title of the album was indeed misleading because her public had expected the same stylings as her previous Atlantic albums. This album represents a culmination of what Columbia was not able to do and what Atlantic had done so successfully: just let go and let Aretha! I have returned to this album time and time again for the last 31 years because it is indeed a classic! It is mostly a bluesy, jazzy set with Aretha just "working you" with her renditions of her very first recording for Columbia "Today, I Sing the Blues" to such standards as "Crazy He Calls Me", "So Long", "I'll Never Be Free", and her covers of gems of the day like Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears', "Gentle On My Mind" and a searing cover of "If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody". As a previous reviewer so aptly stated, if you've been hurt in love before, listen to this and you will be FINE!!!! This was a critically acclaimed set of which Aretha can be truly proud and once again shows the versatility of this artist and why she truly is the Queen of Soul/Blues/Jazz/Gospel and anything else her little heart desires!!!!!!

This is my all-time favorite Aretha Franklin album - and Aretha is one of my all-time favorite singers! Here she proves beyond any doubt that in addition to being a great soul and gospel singer, she was also a great jazz singer. I only wish she had made more albums like this!

If you like soul or big band jazz singing, this CD is a MUST HAVE!

Contrary to what its title implies this was a Jazz (not Soul) album. Producer Jerry Wexler brought some great musicians to these sessions which remain some of Aretha's most memorable ever. Listening to this album today it is easy to imagine Aretha as a natural successor to such great Jazz singers as Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington.