This is a fascinating and thoroughly researched exploration of the best-selling gospel album of all time. For two days in January 1972, Aretha Franklin sang at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles while tape recorders and film cameras rolled. Everyone there knew the event had the potential to be historic: five years after ascending to soul royalty and commercial success, Franklin was publicly returning to her religious roots. Her influential minister father stood by her on the pulpit. Her mentor, Clara Ward, sat in the pews. Franklin responded to the occasion with the performance of her life and the resulting double album became a multi-million seller - even without any trademark hit singles. But that was just one part of the story. Franklin's warm inimitable voice, virtuoso jazz-soul instrumental group and Rev. James Cleveland's inventive choral arrangements transformed the course of gospel. Through new interviews, musical and theological analyses as well as archival discoveries, this book sets the scene, traces the recording's traditional origins and pop infusions and describes the album's enduring impact. "33 1/3" is a series of short books about a wide variety of albums, by artists ranging from James Brown to the Beastie Boys. Launched in September 2003, the series now contains over 60 titles and is acclaimed and loved by fans, musicians and scholars alike. "It was only a matter of time before a clever publisher realized that there is an audience for whom "Exile on Main Street" or "Electric Ladyland" are as significant and worthy of study as "The Catcher in the Rye" or "Middlemarch"...The series, which now comprises 29 titles with more in the works, is freewheeling and eclectic, ranging from minute rock-geek analysis to idiosyncratic personal celebration." ("The New York Times Book Review", 2006).
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"Aaron Cohen's study of Amazing Grace is rich in intelligence, scholarship, and sensitivity. A great musical work has been put in context. Praise Aretha! Praise God!" (David Ritz, co-author of Aretha: From These Roots and Brother Ray: Ray Charles) A growing Alexandria of rock criticism (Los Angeles Times, 2008) Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough (Rolling Stone) One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet (Bookslut) These are for the insane collectors out there who appreciate fantastic design, well-executed thinking, and things that make your house look cool. Each volume in this series takes a seminal album and breaks it down in startling minutiae. We love these. We are huge nerds. (Vice) A brilliant series...each one a word of real love (NME (UK)) Passionate, obsessive, and smart (Nylon) Religious tracts for the nock 'n' roll faithful (Uncut (UK)) For those of you who really like to know everything there is to know about an album, you'd do well to check out Continuum's "33 1/3" series of books." (Pitchfork)"
About the Author
Aaron Cohen is associate editor of DownBeat magazine. His writing on gospel music has been featured extensively in the Chicago Tribune, and he lives in Chicago, IL.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
wholy holy
19 Jan 2012
By Cliff Milledge
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I've long been a fan of this album, and maintain that there's not a single song on it that doesn't have at the bare minimum ONE MOMENT that doesn't send shivers up and down your spine. Aaron Cohen has done a heckuva job tracking down all the principles in the story of this remarkable event that became an incomparable album... Except for one: Aretha herself. But the fact that she didn't cooperate by giving an interview is probably for the better. Cohen paints a vivid picture with the sources he doggedly tracked down and brings the stories to life.
So we have had the album, and now we have the book. All that remains is the documentary footage! Really looking forward to that getting released...
So we have had the album, and now we have the book. All that remains is the documentary footage! Really looking forward to that getting released...
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honest and heartfelt return to roots gets a likewise 33 1/3
8 Dec 2011
By Justin Cole
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
One of the most recent entries in the series, and a very solid one at that. Not unlike Franklin's album that had her returning to her roots in the church, this volume is a throwback to the cleaner, more direct books of this series. It is even a return to the more traditional slim format, when most of the recent volumes have been trending towards a bit cumbersome in size.
There are some details about the album that surprised me. I did not know the sessions were filmed (by Syndey Pollack) for an intended theatrical release that never materialized. Some of that footage of the second night of performances shows Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger in the congregation, taking a break from the overdub sessions for "Exile on Main Street" that brought them to L.A.
Go figure that, although I recently developed a deep love for gospel funk, I have not heard this album. I was even aware of it, but just never thought to actually seek it out. Now I do want to hear it, only to discover all previous CD incarnations are way out of print and the album is not available digitally. I think it is a testament to this book that I will still be looking for this album months from now, if need be.
There are some details about the album that surprised me. I did not know the sessions were filmed (by Syndey Pollack) for an intended theatrical release that never materialized. Some of that footage of the second night of performances shows Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger in the congregation, taking a break from the overdub sessions for "Exile on Main Street" that brought them to L.A.
Go figure that, although I recently developed a deep love for gospel funk, I have not heard this album. I was even aware of it, but just never thought to actually seek it out. Now I do want to hear it, only to discover all previous CD incarnations are way out of print and the album is not available digitally. I think it is a testament to this book that I will still be looking for this album months from now, if need be.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyment
2 May 2013
By Mr. J
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoy reading this book while listening to the album. I couldn't be happier. I feel like I am actually there. I bought this album in 1972. Somewhere along the way, I lost it. I bought it again (vinyl) at a used record store going out-of-business in 2009. The album was in good shape and, I felt like I had just found a treasure....... Guess what???..... I did. The album is GREAT. Fortunate for me, and those like myself, someone wrote a book about the making of this album.... I bought this book and once again,,,,,,,,,,,, I found a treasure..... I can't quite describe the volume of enjoyment I get from experiencing the reading of this book while simultaneously listening to the album.
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