The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 70's

Aretha Franklin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 1994)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000003381
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,233 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #19 in Music > R&B > Soul > Southern Soul

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It Provides A Spirit In The Dark, September 13, 2003

By 

G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 70's (Audio CD)

There seems to be many greatest hits compilations out there for Aretha Franklin. This CD focuses on the seventies hits. There are many great songs-Spanish Harlem, Don't Play That Song, Oh Me Oh My, Until You Come Back To Me, and Border Song. Strong gospel influences exist in addition to the baladeering and soulful stylings.

If you want to collect Aretha Franklin songs from all eras, pick this one up for sure. Whereas Aretha has put out good songs throughout her career, I find her sixties tunes stand the tallest. There are a few ho hum numbers on this collection. Nonetheless, this is certainly a worthwhile smattering of tunes.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than her 60's material!!, May 31, 2002

By 

D. Hawkins (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 70's (Audio CD)

This is a great intro to Aretha's groundbreaking work in the 70's, which is not given as much press as her 60's masterpieces. On these recordings, she was backed up by the most soulful drummer ever, Bernard Purdie!! His grooves on these hits sound like a textbook of soul drumming. Just listen to his signature groove on "Rock Steady!" Bernard popularize that hi-hat hiss that is so common today. Additionally, his grooves on "Daydreaming," "Spanish Harlem" and "Brand New Me" groove like nothing else. It goes without saying that Aretha's singing and piano playing are exemplary, but with this particular band (which also included bassist extraordinaire Chuck Rainey), the results are in the stratosphere. Rhino does it once again. We should all write Rhino Records a letter and thank them for their existence, cuz they enrich our lives in many ways!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lady Soul in the Seventies, December 30, 2003

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 70's (Audio CD)

This compilation includes Aretha's hits of the early to mid 1970s. The variety of styles within the soul genre is impressive, from the exotic Spanish Harlem (a 1971 top 3 hit) with its powerful vocals and impressive Spanish guitar through the minimalist Rock Steady to the beautiful balladry of Bridge Over Troubled Water, still the definitive soul treatment of Simon & Garfunkel's classic.

My other favourites include the emotional Don't Play That Song and the brooding You're All I Need To Get By, a huge hit in 1971. The CD also contains extra tracks, of which the best is Aretha's great version of Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Border Song.

Some fans might disagree, preferring her late 1960s gems, but I have always loved Aretha's early 70s output. Nothing beats the exuberance of a song like Spanish Harlem or the restrained intensity of her version of Bridge Over Troubled Water. This is prime soul from Lady Soul's most interesting career phase.