Customer Reviews

Through the Storm

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

For hard core Aretha fans, "Think 1989" is worth the price of admission. She's really cooking on this one, singing at the top of her voice like she just doesn't care.

The rest of the album is average, and sometimes quite silly ... the James Brown and Whitney Houston duets come to mind. But "Think" and Aretha's own composition "He's The Boy" are winners. Buy it for these two classics and the Elton John duet title track.

Note: "Mercy" is a mediocre song but worth listening to for some interesting things that Aretha does with her voice.

Overall, this is one of those albums that confirms that even in the midst of passable material, the Queen's talent still shines.

Unfortunately this album's production, choice of material and overall presentation are much too similar to what's found on 1985's "Who's Zoomin'Who". Only Franklin's glorious duet with The Four Tops' "If Ever A Love There Was" and the jazzy ballad "He's The Boy" manage to not sound dated. Aretha's producers and Arista label boss Clive Davis simply couldn't come up with the right material for her on this set.

Would you like 35 minutes of intense 80's Narada Michael Walden at the helm programing his heart out on the synths,bass&drum/machines? Would you like duets with superstars Elton John, James Brown, Whitley Houston, Four Tops? Would you like songs by Diane Warren,Albert Hammond,Seidah Garret,Ted White and the Queen herself? How about musicians like David Paich,David Foster and Kenny G? How about the coolest album art by a 60's icon(Peter Max)? How about some humour,dishin' the dirt,throwin' shade,really impromtu funny stuff? I'm the Queen you're the princess...whatevah..that..is! Miss Thang! Well, Have I got a cd for you...and this is it. Did I mention ELton John? Elton...John? At least 4 charting singles=Through the Storm#16,Think (top10), It Is, It Isn't,It Ain't Never Gonna Be,Come To Me. Well, what are you waiting for? Get those credit cards ready, go for it Did I mention ELTON JOHN?

In the hands of a different producer and different group of songwriters, I wonder if maybe this album might have achieved the results that Aretha and producer Narada Michael Walden (who by now was showing signs of burning out) were hoping for. After listening to this disc, my first thought was, "What a WASTE of the talent!" Just look at the roster of stars who appear here: "Godfather of Soul" James Brown, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Four Tops.....perhaps Aretha's only saving grace here was her duet with the Tops and deserves a place on this disc. The rest is really just fodder and filler taking up needless space on an album that deserved some imagination and originality.

My feeling is Aretha should have ventured into more adventurous territory and team with a more funkified R&B producing team such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who at that time were the hottest producing duo in music. Instead Aretha retreaded to safer waters and familiar territory. I am glad I spent only $3 for a used copy bought on Amazon and I'm already thinking of reselling it. The songs are just filler and unlike Aretha's previous Arista CD's, this one does not contain one HUGE smash a la "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" "Freeway of Love" "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" "Another Night". "Through The Storm" did receive some radio airplay in 1989, but compared to those other tracks listed above, it simply is not enough to sell an entire album. Maybe a sure sign of panic setting in was Aretha's decision to remake her 1968 classic "Think". Has anyone told Aretha that you simply do NOT remake a CLASSIC !! Maybe she felt it was better than anything else they had to offer her for this CD.

Sorry, Aunt Ree Aretha, but this one is what they call a "Bomb".

The Queen could sing the telephone book and it would be alright with me. The song Through The Storm has been going around in my head for a few days. The song with the 4 Tops is fabulous. And the remake of 'Think' is just awesome. 'Long Live The Queen'