Through the Storm [Import]

Aretha Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 8, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Musicrama, Inc
• ASIN: B000003PG2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,396,861 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes RECYCLING is not good for the "environment", May 21, 2005

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through the Storm (Audio CD)

In 1986, following the success of the Grammy-winning "Who's Zoomin' Who", featuring the monstrous "Freeway of Love," Aretha was paired with George Michael, Annie Lennox, Larry Graham, and Keith Richards, on the self-titled "Aretha."

Garnering several hits, Aretha and her respective producers (Narada Michael Walden, Arif Mardin, and Jerry Knight, to name a few) decided to continue the same pattern with 1989's "Through the Fire," but with mixed results.

One would have thought that the matching of "The Godfather of Soul" with "The Queen of Soul" would be eventful but Franklin and Brown on "Gimme Your Love" makes one ponder what the two could have done in their prime. The song, unfortunately, is nothing extraordinary, as are the talents involved.

Pop "princess" Whitney Houston joins Aretha on "It Ain't Never Gonna Be," another idea that deserved a better song. The same results are found on the title cut, a duet with Elton John.

The songs are too "lightweight" for such heavy hitters.

Only on the slower-paced "If Ever a Love There Was," featuring fellow Detroit natives The Four Tops, along with saxophonist Kenny G, does the duet-concept work for Franklin and those involved.

The solo efforts (including "Mercy" and the torchy-like "He's the Boy") fare a bit better, although the rationale for remaking "Think" and the nine-year-old "Come to Me" (taken from Franklin's first Arista release in 1980) is perplexing.

Even the Peter Max cover looks too much like the artwork for the previous two releases.

This album must have been one of those "contractual commitments" that the singer must have been forced to do.

'Cause there definitely isn't very much "soul" in it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Aretha CD!, November 29, 2010

By 

Sara D "Sara D" (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Through the Storm (Audio CD)

This CD, which originally came out in 1989, is really great. I read where it did not sell well back then but I certainly don't know why as it is another great Aretha accomplishment! I bought it used on Amazon.com and the CD was in excellent shape when I received it. I highly recommend it if you are an Aretha fan (and who isn't???). The version of "Think" (Blues Brothers) on this CD is my ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aretha's hidden nugget, November 19, 2002

By 

fabio-italy (milan, italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through the Storm (Audio CD)

Why do i have the feeling this is one of the most under-rated albums of Aretha of the '80s?
The production is high to her usual standards, the songs are catchy and she enrolled in some duets that are astounding to say the least.
Maybe the only track that does not live up to the album standard is the duet with James Brown (hey, it was inevitable sooner or later they'd have released something together - the Queen and the Godfather...- too bad this is a real awful tune...).
But just take a listen to the rest: Diane Warren co-pens both hits THRUGH THE STORM (sung by ms. Franklin with Elton John) and the absolutely irresistable vocal fight with Whitney Houston.
The song is up-tempo and you can practically feel the ladies are having a great time while singing it...
Add to this the collaboration with The Four Tops and Kenny G on IF EVER A LOVE THERE WAS and the sweet HE'S THE BOY (very 70's...) and you are almost halfway from buying this.
Need a final tune? The woman outdid herself covering her own THINK and giving it new and fresh flavour with a dance production...
Now you really can't say no to the Queen!