Aretha Live!

When Aretha Franklin overcame her fear of flying long enough to swing through Europe for a two-week tour, ARETHA IN PARIS was the brilliant by-product. This exquisite slice of Lady Soul's spectacular presence in a live setting came at a time when she was making her mark as the Queen Of Soul. Backed by a full orchestra and a trio of vocalists that included sister Carolyn, Franklin played a set consisting of material that was barely a year old.

On Willie Nelson's "Night Life," the legendary singer can be heard preaching her sorrow to the crowd (she had temporarily separated with husband Ted White that night). Regardless of any pain she may have been going through that night, Franklin's energy never flags as she rips into energetic versions of Ray Charles' "Come Back Baby" and Otis Redding's "Respect." Most impressive are renditions of her own soul classics such as "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)" and "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)," both which benefit from slow build-ups and spine-tingling finales.

Motown Reviewer Gives It a Gold Star

Having grown up with Aretha in Motown, this is one of her best. Highly recommended.

THAT VOICE!!!

Aretha's backing band on this live disc is dreadful. Out of time, out of tune, and quite sloppy. But that VOICE ! She sounds superb. The only flub is at the begining of "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" where she comes in kinda late with a spoken intro. But she absolutely nails the songs from her first few albums. I especially love the opening number "Satisfaction" , the Rolling Stones song is given the Aretha Treatment, with the Sweet Inspirations offering back up in a call and response style. While the band sounds better on her Live at the Fillmore set, this is a worthwhile effort, if you like her early Atlantic work. ( The only reason I dock this one point is because of the band. )