Sparkle [Soundtrack]

Aretha Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rhino Flashback
• ASIN: B001HADE0K
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,727 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aretha & Curtis in full bloom!, March 20, 2010

By 

Aaron Stack "Book Worm" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparkle (Audio CD)

This is a MUST own album for any serious fan of either Aretha Franklin or Curtis Mayfield. Curtis was on a roll with his soundtrack work with Gladys Knight on Claudine and his own Superfly songs; Aretha stepped up to the plate to add yet another home run to his catolog of hits. Sparkle is the type of soundtracks they just don't make anymore, true soul/R&B with a healthy dollop of 70's pop. Aretha's vocals were absolutely inspired! Enough talk...BUY IT!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not the reason to give one star to this album, October 10, 2009

By 

Alessandro Filippini (Pistoia, Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sparkle (Audio CD)

I understand your problem, but this is not the reason to give one star to this beautiful album; give a bad feedback to the seller. This album is not involved in your problem.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aretha And Curtis Greating A Whole Lot To Feel, May 8, 2010

By 

Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sparkle (Audio CD)

Historically,and for other reasons this is one of Aretha Franklin's most special albums during her second decade as a recording artist. After Aretha stormed onto the scene midway through her career with I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You in 1967 she recorded a number of classic sides but,as was typical of music industry policy of the time her albums tended to be built around singles. This was an issue Aretha began to undo as the 70's progressed as her full lengh albums became broader statements. Considering he's made a career out of going in the same direction it was only natural that Curtis Mayfield and Aretha would eventually meet up and it came in the form of this movie soundtrack. Curtis provided the music and Aretha emmersed herself in his distinct type of funky soul. As it turned out their sounds and styles were extremely well matched. Curtis worked with Aretha to steer her vocally back towards the gospel shouts and upper registered singing. This is a short album with short songs but it really is a treasure musically,with Curtis providing a nicely rounded selection of songs in the mid and uptempo with plenty of the soulful,shuffling soul rhythms along with some of the more recent ideas he'd integrated into his own music. The title song,the jubilant "Hooked On Your Love" and the closing "Rock With Me" are the best examples of that particular soul shuffle sound,updated with 70's production elements but essenically an update of Curtis's sound with the Impressions. Aretha oncee described this album as "proof of the permanent power of rootsy rhythm & blues" and in this case of these three songs I'd have to agree with her,except the more contemporary production. In the case of "I Get High" and the polyrhythmic based gospel styled groove of "Jump" Aretha goes for a mid 70's funk sound-call it a Mayfield style variation on the soul-funk style that Aretha pioneered with Jerry Wexler in the late 60's and early 70's. Three slower mitempo jams complete this album including the classic slow groove shuffle of "Something He Can Feel",her big single from the album as well as the highly impassioned "Look Into Your Heart" and "Loving You Baby". Even though there was only one more Aretha/Curtis collaboration after this which in that case went almost unnoticed this stands as a huge milestone in both artist's creative journeys and it makes you wish all artistic collaborations were as fullfilling.