An Aquired Taste but What A Great Taste!

This cd re-introduces people who thought they knew the deal on Aretha.

The recording shows how versatile Aretha really is. Someone might mistake the singer for someone, other than the queen, herself.

The songs are great, nostalgic standards, which takes you away from the woes of modern day to a time where words in lyrics meant more.

A great piece of art, Sweet Bitter Love. This is definately something to keep and pass on to the next generation.

Aretha in full effect

to fully grasp the Genius of Aretha Franklin you gotta Hear this Material.you can't deny the way She can carry so many styles&Vibes&yet keep her Groove intacted.this is a cool set.solid Price&Classy Music that just gets better with time.

Early Aretha -- what a genius

I loved these as LPs, happy to see them re-released as a box set. The conventional wisdom is Aretha did her best work for Atlantic, but her Columbia work is truly brilliant. Consider she was 19 years old when she recorded works like "Won't Be Long" and "Trouble in Mind." You can definitely hear the influence of her idol, Dinah Washington. I have listened to these songs for years and I never tire of them. For one of the most spine-tingling, transcendent experiences listen to "Laughing on the Outside, Crying on the Inside" when she hits "STILL" and then punches out "laughing" in the same breath. AMAZING. There is a reason the state of Michigan awarded this woman's voice as a "great natural resource."