Brief Overview of the Queen of Soul

Aretha Franklin's first collection of hits is represented with this CD, which was originally released in 1968. Many of her best songs from the 1960s are here: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (#9 in 1967), "Respect" (#1 for 2 weeks in 1967), "Chain of Fools" (#2 in 1968), "Think" (#7 in 1968), and "I Say a Little Prayer" (#10 in 1968). I particularly enjoy "I Never Loved a Man" as it hasn't been played as much on oldies radio as "Respect" and some of her other hits.



The CD has obviously been updated several times, as a number of her hits from the 1970s are here as well, including the sublime "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" from 1973. In addition, a few top-notch, non-hits are included - most notably "Do Right Woman - Do Right Man."



Every song is a classic; however, she had so many more hits that this CD seems woefully inadequate. A number of other CDs include more great songs, including 2001's "Aretha's Best" (which has its own flaws). I bought this CD more than a decade ago and subsequently bought "Aretha's Best" to augment my collection. Recommended for casual fans of Aretha or classic soul music.

There is only one queen of R&B--Aretha Franklin!

I actually heard this album completely by chance when I discovered the original cassette in a collection of tapes given to me by a friend leaving to start a new life on the East Coast. These songs are truly essential for your Aretha Franklin collection and should be a part of your playlist, no matter what the mood or the occasion. You could be in the middle of breaking up with someone, feeling the sting of betrayal from a love gone bad or starting a new chapter in the book of your life. Whatever your situation, Aretha will inevitably lift your spirits or bring you a feeling of renewal.

The album starts out with "Chain of Fools," a classic song filled with bite and sass. This is followed by "I Say a Little Prayer" written by Burt Bacharach. Aretha sings it like no other performer. She combines lightness with expression, as well as fiestiness. Each song reveals a new, undiscovered facet of Aretha and her great versatility and range as a singer. There is a great combination and diversity in the rhythms and moods of the pieces here. If you are in the mood for a slow, sexy love song put on track #3, ("You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman"). If you want a little Latin fire, track #8, Spanish Harlem, is for you. If you feel the urge to get up and dance, set the dial to track #5, "Rock Steady."

Though, those girls on American Idol tried to cover some of the hits on this album, there really is no comparison. There is and will only be one Aretha Franklin (just like there will only be one Fantasia Barrino and one Diana DeGarmo--whom I love for different reasons!). Give this a spin if you want to hear how timeless this wonderful, dynamic woman's music really is and how it continues to touch people today as it did fourty years ago.