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Track Listings
| 1. Satisfaction |
| 2. You Are My Sunshine |
| 3. Never Let Me Go |
| 4. 96 Tears |
| 5. Prove It |
| 6. Night Life |
| 7. That's Life |
| 8. I Wonder |
| 9. Ain't Nobody |
| 10. Going Down Slow |
| 11. Baby, I Love You |
Customer Reviews
Aretha takes on all kinds of material here, from the Stones "Satisfaction" to standards like "That's Life". While she does a good job on turning the former into a Soul number, the latter is a throwback to her Columbia days which doesn't really work for me. "Never Let Me Go", though similar in feel, works better, as the arrangement suits Aretha's delivery.
Things get all Bluesy on "Going Down Slow" and "Night Time" and you should be getting a feel for the variety on display here, and the surprise track "You are My Sunshine" sees Aretha turn it into testifying Soul, unrecognisable from the jaunty number most will be familiar with. The album produced one major hit, "Baby I Love You", and that probably sums up the album well, as there is nothing else here which really stood out as a single release.
But let's face it, an average Aretha album from the period 1967 to 1974 is still one worth your attention, but this one seems to be one where they were trying a few things before deciding on the way Aretha would go. The third Atlantic album would be the wonderful "Lady Soul", which lived up to it's name by being Soul all the way, and I can't escape the feeling that as a result of the giant first and third album "Aretha Arrives" gets forgotten - perhaps you should take a look at it as there's some great stuff here
In 1967 Aretha Franklin, arguably the greatest singer of the twentieth century , was at the height of her powers , and this shows by the way she turns a ragbag collection of songs into a soul masterpiece . The album starts off with a storming cover of Satisfaction ( Jagger , Richards ) , and then see's Aretha testifying on the Ray Charles classic - You Are My Sunshine . Two stunning ballads - Never Let Me Go , and - Prove It ( as good as anything she has ever recorded ) bookend the old garageband hit - 96 Tears . Willie Nelson's - Night Life , is another highlight , as it allows Aretha to give a masterly blues interpretation of the song . Side two starts off with a glorious version of Sinatra`s - That`s Life , and is followed by the majestic deep soul ballad - I Wonder . Aretha then ups the tempo on her sister`s - Ain't Nobody! ( Gonna Turn Me Around ) , which leads into the old Howling Wolf classic - Going Down Slow , on this song Aretha's singing and the performance of the band are sublime , and finally the record ends with her hit single , - Baby I Love You .
The musical arrangements are perfect , and they compliment Aretha's vocals perfectly , ( this would be the last album that her voice would sound so youthfully fresh and exciting ) . Aretha Arrives is the equal to any classic soul album and deserves to be remembered as such.
In his superb essay for the Franklin boxed-set, "Queen of Soul," Atlantic's Jerry Wexler concludes, "In the years we recorded together ... I never heard Aretha utter a prejudiced remark. She was, for example, enamored of modern rock, show tunes, ballads, and was always culling albums in every genre for songs that might suit her... Her genius transcends all categories." A helping of the proof of that is certainly contained on this disc as Aretha commandeers country ("You Are My Sunshine") and rock ("Satisfaction" & "96 Tears"). Frank Sinatra's own version of "That's Life" wasn't even a year old when Aretha covered it. Not only did I like hers, of course, but also she revised and improved my appreciation of the original. The very emotional "Going Down Slow" showed the singer, for what by no means would be the last time, concerned with the state of her physical well-being: "You see, my health is failing, and I'm goin' down slow..." I'm an Aries like Aretha, and this one still hits home. The sublimely tender "Never Let Me Go" may be my all-time favorite ballad by her.
The pugnacious and punchy "Baby I Love You" was, of course, the LP's key single (and "Respect's" immediate follow-up), unabashedly and confidently concerned with the contentment of one's lover ("I'd deny my own self before I'd see you without it!"). It has lost none of its potency.
Yes, coming between the unparalleled achievements of "Never Loved A Man" & "Lady Soul", "Aretha Arrives" was always a little shadowed, but that's not because ANYthing was ever missing in its grooves. (In comparison, even the most rabid Beatles fan wouldn't argue that "Magical Mystery Tour" subsequently outdid "Sgt. Pepper" even though each is a great album.) If you have those other two, this is the next Franklin album that belongs in your collection. (Nuts & Bolts Dept: "Aretha Arrives" was originally Atlantic LP 8150, existed in mono and stereo versions, and released August 4, 1967. As a single, Atlantic 2427, "Baby I Love You" & "Going Down Slow" preceded the LP on July 10th.)
Wow! Of course, we get the great "Baby I Love You" which has been unfairly overlooked on Oldies Radio who have just about worn out "Respect" & "Think". Her cover of "That's Life" is incredible. Like her Soul Brother, Otis Redding, she tears through "Satisfaction" which sounds like it was tailor made for her. "Prove It" is a wonderful ballad which deserves to be heard. To me, it surpasses "Natural Woman", maybe because radio has played "Natural Woman" to death. "Never Let Me Go" is a keeper as well!
All the tracks are fine, but for some reason the album doesn't come off as perfect to me which explains my 4 star rating.
Please don't hate me for finding a copy of this CD gem for $2 at my local Used CD Store. I'm thankful for the well-intentioned, but clueless young people who work there & tossed this in their budget bin. I have found other gems there too!
Worth checking out, especially if you aren't up for shelling out big bucks for the boxed set.
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