So Damn Happy

Aretha Franklin

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 16, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B0000BXMZX
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,592 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pass the torch? NEVER !, September 28, 2003

By	Roy Pierce (Glendale, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not sure what Anthony Nelson was thinking when he suggested that our beloved Queen should "pass the torch". All it takes is two or three notes of the first song, "The Only Thing That's Missin' Is You", and you know that this is the real deal from the one and only Queen Of Soul. I love alot of other female artists such as Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight and Etta James. However, the feeling that you get from Ree can only come from her! When she starts playing piano on "So Damn Happy" it takes me to a place where no one else can take me. She is a true living legend and there is absolutely NO ONE that would ever be worthy of taking the torch from her!
I know that a duet album had been in the rumour mill for along time. I don't know if it is still in the works, but I'd like to suggest a long-awaited duet with Aretha and Mitch Ryder! Both Detroit natives, both rock/soul belters - how could it miss???

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Queen is back, September 16, 2003

By	Peace Brotha (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews

This is a good set of tunes from the Queen, without one dud in the bunch.

I like the old-school tunes that Aretha penned the best, especially You Are My Joy, which borrows from Richard Smallwood's spiritual composition of a similar title. I love that classic retro sound, especially with Ree on the keys. Aretha's other original cut, the title track, reminds me of a combo of her own 1968 take of You Send Me and Natalie Cole's This Will Be.

The Burt Bacharach number, Falling Out Of Love, is amazing. With Aretha's more mellow sound of today an entire album's worth of new Bacharach material would truly be classic, especially since her skills would prevent the Schmaltz Syndrome that affects so much of Burt's music of the past 15 years or so.

Holdin' On is my favorite nu-school track, even though it's got a strong old-school Curtis Mayfield vibe to it. Great vibe, cool and knowing street attitude from the Queen, and one of the best vocals on the album are all featured here. Aretha's art involves way more than "screaming." This song proves that her subdued vocals in many ways arguably put her in a class of one even more than some of the intense performances do.

Every single song on the album is lyrically and melodically strong, something I couldn't say about the "Rose" album. The songs would be good no matter WHO recorded them, they really would. But having the Queen interpret each of these cuts is buttercream frosting on the cake. And Aretha sounds like she had a good time in the studio with these numbers, all of which are tightly produced.

The "only thing missin" for me is at least ONE song where Aretha goes all out vocally. I was thinking she just might do this. From what I've personally seen and heard she still can when she wants to. I would have been happy with at least ONE well-timed holla or squall, apart from the thrilling soar that opens the album. But Ms. Franklin is in decent to good 2003 voice throughout here on all songs. Everybody's Somebody's Fool includes one of the best vocal runs I've heard from Ree in a while at the end of the bridge. The title track is a gently swinging number that allows Aretha to show off her incredible timing in various subtle ways, and that wonderful You Are My Joy is quite possibly Aretha's most impassioned studio vocal since 1991's What Did You Give.

We have 11 brand new, QUALITY songs by the Queen, and they all carry a positive message of some sort. This is enough "good news" for me to give this album a solid 4 stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wig throwin good!!!, January 3, 2004

By	Steven W. Brown "Old Billy-Goat" (Vacaville, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Those of you who saw Miss Aretha throw her wig out into the audience at one of her many tributes, know of what I speak. When I heard this CD I would have thrown my wig...if I owned or wore one. I have never heard an Aretha Franklin CD (or LP) that I didn't love. This one is certainly no exception. Alright now ReRe: "Lets Kick the Ballistics!!!!!!!"