Aretha Franklin
Aretha needs no introduction. Acclaimed as the “Queen of Soul” based on her phenomenal string of late 60’s hits including Respect, Think, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Aretha continued to release classic hits through much of the 1970’s, but by the end of the decade her popularity was fading. Work with Luther Vandross as producer brought her an entirely new Dance club audience in the early 80’s, and by the end of the 80’s Aretha’s voice was heard regularly on the dancefloor. Her recording has become sporadic over the last decade, but the albums A Rose Is Still a Rose in 1998 and So Damn Happy in 2003 proved Aretha can still move bodies and minds.
Aretha’s legendary 1971 album, Young, Gifted and Black included Rock Steady, a key recording in early development of what became Disco music. Built on a solid funk framework, this song created a bridge between Aretha’s 60’s Soul and the Disco music that would come a few short years later. Aretha’s other recordings in the early 70’s included Soul classics such as Spanish Harlem and stunning versions of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and Elton John’s Border Song. Her collaboration with Curtis Mayfield on the music from the film Sparkle in 1976 was another highlight, but in the latter part of the decade her creative output began to pale.
Aretha left Atlantic Records in 1979 and was signed to Clive Davis’ Arista Records. Davis pulled out all the promotional stops with her first Arista album, Aretha, in 1980. Despite his efforts, the album was disappointing. It did include a Disco version of the Doobie Brothers’ What a Fool Believes which scratched the bottom reaches of the Dance chart. 1981’s Love All the Hurt Away included a Dance remake of Sam and Dave’s Hold On, I’m Comin’ but also failed to catch fire. The following year would mark Aretha’s ascendance as a top Dance vocalist.
Emerging as a solo star in the early 80’s, Luther Vandross was asked in an interview if there was any particular artist with whom he wished to collaborate. Unhesitatingly, Aretha Franklin was a top choice. Clive Davis heard of Luther’s wish and arranged a meeting. The final result was the album Jump To It in 1982. The title song Jump To It returned Aretha to the top of the R&B chart and resulted in her first top of the chart Dance hit. The follow-up album Get It Right once again featured Aretha working with Luther Vandross, but, despite a hit with Get It Right, they seemed to be running out of creative ideas.
It was 2 years before Aretha’s next studio recording. This time she worked with producer Narada Michael Walden and surpassed even the success of Jump To It. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin’ Who? featured 3 smash Dance hits in Freeway Of Love, Who’s Zoomin’ Who, and Another Night. Aretha’s soaring vocals and heartfelt spoken ad libs reigned in Dance clubs and on the radio. Her duet with Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves brought her another club smash. 1986’s Aretha album was eclectic and featured another Dance hit with Rock-a-Lott. Also on the album was her all-stops-out remake of Jumpin’ Jack Flash produced by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
The year 1987 brought out additional colors of Aretha’s prodigious vocal talent in her majestic Pop duet with George Michael, I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), that topped Dance and pop charts. She returned to her roots in gospel on the album One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism that earned her a Grammy Award, one of 15 thus far. Unfortunately, her next studio release, 1989’s Through the Storm was disappointing. Her much anticipated duet with Whitney Houston, It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be underwhelmed audiences.
Aretha’s studio output since the 80’s has been sparse, but a few cuts, notably her Dance remix of Everyday People in 1991 and 1998’s gorgeous hip-hop A Rose Is Still a Rose with production work by Lauryn Hill, demonstrate that, given the right context, she maintains the power to excite and move the crowd on the dancefloor. Aretha is clearly the Queen of Soul as well as a full member of the royal court of Dance music.
#1 by Han Donson on April 14th, 2011 - 9:05 am
I’d come to consent with you on this. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to speak my mind!
#2 by Reed Lorenc on April 14th, 2011 - 9:18 am
I’d come to cut a deal with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to speak my mind!
#3 by Werner Ruelle on April 14th, 2011 - 9:25 am
This domain appears to get a great deal of visitors. How do you promote it? It offers a nice unique twist on things. I guess having something authentic or substantial to talk about is the most important factor.
#4 by sex videos on April 14th, 2011 - 9:29 am
There was clearly this period when i was bored to tears reading through other people’s viewpoints and mind through their blogging. But just before long when i got right here on your posts, the interest of reading and also smiling on people’s daily post appears to return, my fascination has actually peaked once again all thanks to you actually mate. I think you’ll continue this a long time. Great work my pal.
#5 by Wayne Vanhoose on April 14th, 2011 - 9:34 am
This post seems to get a great deal of visitors. How do you promote it? It gives a nice individual spin on things. I guess having something real or substantial to talk about is the most important factor.
#6 by Glayds Soucy on April 14th, 2011 - 9:36 am
Only after reading this announcement, I thought exactly the same thing I always ask to explore new blogs and forums. All I think about it? Precisely how does it feel? This and other posts on his blog here no doubt give some tips to think. Finally ended up here through Yahoo when the first scene some research online for some courses that I am. In general, the time browsing through large and I hope to continue to write new messages. Cheers Very helpful article. I just found your site and the need to say that I particularly liked the study of their messages. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed, and I hope to publish more soon after.
#7 by Evan Woltemath on April 14th, 2011 - 9:44 am
To Find out more visit
#8 by Cyrus Cruiz on April 14th, 2011 - 10:07 am
I’d come to make a deal with you on this. Which is not something I typically do! I enjoy reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
#9 by live psychic on April 14th, 2011 - 10:18 am
Thank you for making the trustworthy try to give an explanation for this. I think very strong about it and wish to be told more. If it’s OK, as you attain more intensive wisdom, could you mind adding more posts similar to this one with additional info? It might be extraordinarily helpful and useful for me and my colleagues.
#10 by Hortense Heerdt on April 14th, 2011 - 10:19 am
Good post. I learn a little something more challenging on distinct blogs everyday. It can be stimulating to read subject material from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d would rather use some with the particular content on my weblog whether you don’t thoughts. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks pertaining to sharing.
#11 by Mohammed Woodlin on April 14th, 2011 - 10:22 am
I’d come to engage with you one this subject. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
#12 by görüntülü sohbet on April 14th, 2011 - 11:22 am
I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites blog site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my site as well and let me know what you think.
#13 by Brian Huggins on April 14th, 2011 - 11:36 am
The knowledgable insight you give in your posts. Hope you continue to supply stories so that we can all learn more.
#14 by Cat Furniture on April 14th, 2011 - 12:18 pm
Hi, quick question:, I operate a website as well and I seldom see spam remarks on your pages. How do you find a way to stop all this? Do you just physically moderate the whole thing?
#15 by Condos In Port Aransas on April 14th, 2011 - 1:02 pm
It’s really a cool and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
#16 by DQ on April 14th, 2011 - 1:34 pm
Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange techniques with others, why not shoot me an email if interested.
#17 by learn bahasa online on April 14th, 2011 - 1:51 pm
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before.
#18 by youjizz on April 14th, 2011 - 1:57 pm
Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.
#19 by Edison Glauser on April 14th, 2011 - 2:26 pm
thanks for dropping your pearls of wisdom on our feckless heads
#20 by Back Yard Aquaponics on April 14th, 2011 - 2:43 pm
There are actually lots of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a great level to bring up. I offer the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up where an important thing will likely be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Each girls and boys really feel the impact of just a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
#21 by Backyard Fish Farming on April 14th, 2011 - 2:43 pm
An fascinating discussion is price comment. I think that you need to write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo subject however typically individuals are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
#22 by limo rental on April 14th, 2011 - 5:16 pm
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made sure good factors in features also.