After Hours with Aretha

This is definitely a DIFFERENT sounding Aretha; it's dissimilar to the one that emerged years later singing "Respect". To those who are open-minded to a "jazzy" Aretha, I urge you to give this CD a listen, you will be amply REWARDED, unless you prefer the more funked-up R&B Aretha. For me, the pleasure comes from hearing a more subdued but no less emotionally-charged Ree. Here, she sounds possessed by the spirit of Billie Holiday, wooing her listeners into a spell with somber torch songs delivered DELICIOUSLY. It is the perfect CD to play around midnight or after hours when you find yourself alone, wondering when or where the special someone is in your life. With songs such as "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" and "Laughing on the Outside", the Big Ree will have you crying into your drink in no time. Call it blues or jazz or torch songs, this is a performance that deserves to be acknowledged by Ree's fans who are not familiar with her Columbia stuff. It is a stunner!

Aretha Sings the Blues

I am obsessed with this CD - I NEVER get tired of listening to this amazing album. Aretha's voice sounds so raw and effortless, particularly the two live-recordings where you can almost see the smoke-filled room where she's singing. I took this CD on a yacht to the Whitesunday's, Queensland and we listened to it every day as we travelled north. This CD (and a bottle of vodka) got me through a bad breakup. I can't recommend this highly enough - DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!!!

Great music

I bought the cd for one particular song, but I found out that the rest of the songs were a great bonus! I thought I knew all of Aretha's old songs, but I was surprised to hear some songs that I didn't know, and I enjoyed those as well. Aretha had that style then, and she sure has it now.