This Christmas, Aretha

Aretha Franklin

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: DMI Records
• ASIN: B001J9VY42
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,228 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #21 in	Music > R&B > Classic R&B
  #23 in	Music > Blues > Traditional Blues
  #80 in	Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Aretha's first ever Christmas album!

Aretha Franklin's multitude of loyal listeners will be thrilled that the wait for such a momentous project is over and has been truly worthwhile. Released through DMI Music, "This Christmas Aretha," shimmers and sparkles as the acclaimed artist puts her definitive stamp on a mix of 11 traditional and contemporary classics associated with the holiday season. Aretha Franklin herself produced three tracks and arranged and added her inimitable touch as a pianist to two tracks ("Silent Night" and "14 Angels"). Award-winning producer Tena Clark (whose production credits include Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and a multitude of other major artists) masterminded seven cuts.

Track listing:

1. Angels We Have Heard On High

2. This Christmas

3. My Grown Up Christmas List

4. The Lord Will Make A Way

5. Silent Night

6. Ave Maria

7. Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The One You Love)

8. 14 Angels

9. One Night With The King

10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

11. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Po' 'Retha....., November 19, 2008

By	Raider Jack "Jackie D Gray-Romeyn" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I have been (and always will be) a diehard 'Retha Fan. She has made classic recordings from day one that have undoubtedly stood the test of time. I have followed her since her Columbia days all the way up to now when she appears to become truly bitter and twisted at the mere SUGGESTION that someone other than she deserves the accolade "Queen of Soul." (get over it, 'Retha...it's time for you to go sit down somewhere and be very quiet..)

Notwithstanding, I have to agree with a previous reviewer - this is REAL beat up. I was not well for this at ALL!. Forget the magnificent runs, 'Retha and just sing the song, okay? She's all over the place and melody seems to be an alien concept to her. Indeed, some things do NOT get better with age. Or more pointedly, the fact that you are indeed a musical legend who has made an indelible impact on American music is still no excuse to release a clearly inferior product and expect even your diehard fans to simply accept it. Of course, no one ALWAYS hits the mark but quite frankly, love, you have been submitting similarly spotty work far too frequently lately. (sigh...it is indeed difficult to have to tell a loved one to clean it up!..)

This is (hopefully) just a mere stumbling block and she will release a much more decent project next year {belch}.

('Retha, I'm real mad at this because I KNOW you can do better....much, much, better.)

If you are a diehard Retha fan, you may want to get this but for the life of me I cannot bring myself to purchase it......yet

DEC 6, 2008 - maybe it was the holiday season...or perhaps it was it was my sister's birthday and I missed her....whatever it was that hit me, I broke down and bought it anyway....all I need say is always trust your first instincts....they are usually INIFNITELY better than that ti'ed ol' second thought!!!...well, it's still 'Retha....(sigh)

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes things dont get better wit age..., November 3, 2008

By	Neal Agee "iampolska" (Phx, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being of an age where people like aretha, ray charles and stevie wonders are legends in not only music but in the history of their eras, I am saddend when they attempt to hold onto that for too long or get talked into making "comeback tours" (ie van halen). My first encounter of this cd was at a bookstore shamelessly promoting it, and all I can say was OH MY. One reviewer called it a Prince impersonation but that doesnt do it justice. We are talking about an hours worth of verbal assault. Something that wouldnt have made 3 seconds in front of the American Idol Judges before being booted off. It was as if the beltone hearing aid was mistuned. I dont believe there was a single note that was on key and most of the songs were so bad you could not even discern the words. Please. Please heed this warning. You would rather listen to the musical stylings of Mister Conway Twitty than this. You have been warned.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this cd! All hail the Queen!!!!!, December 30, 2008

By	Katchy - See all my reviews

I have been a fan for years and I shocked that people review cd's without purchasing or even hearing them. I have let people hear this cd in the car and they love it. In fact they go and get it for themselves. We have gotten so used to this canned music from these young no talents that we can't see real talent anymore. Aretha does not sound at 66 like she did at 26, but who does? I've been to all the divas shows and the truth is they are all aging and having good and bad days. The devos too. That said I listened objectively and cannot for the life of me understand the negative reviews. Aretha has plenty voice left and is using it quite nicely here. "One night with the king" and "Grown up Christmas list" are my favorites. "Ave Maria" is near perfection and "Christmas ain't Christmas" is the jam. I heard some tracks that could have been better, but I would never incourage anybody not to buy a cd. What is that?