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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
One of Aretha's most committed-sounding albums--which, of course, is really saying something--the 1970 Spirit in the Dark remains among the high points of her Atlantic work. The breakup of her marriage may be an unspoken theme, but just as striking is her reinvention of well-known songs and motifs, even more dramatic here than usual. Both dovetail in her take on "The Thrill Is Gone", which climaxes on a surprising interpolation of the phrase "free at last". --Rickey Wright
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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a good, solid, Aretha Franklin album that doesn't quite reach the heights of her best work, but which nevertheless still contains some great tracks. Foremost among them is You And Me, written by Aretha herself in the classic mould of such titles as All The King's Horses and Day Dreaming. A beautiful song.Then, of course, you also have Don't Play That Song, and Spirit In The Dark, both of which were hit singles, a great little song called Pullin', and generally very good covers of material as diverse as The Thrill Is Gone and Oh No Not My Baby.
Why only four stars then? Well, for me, only You And Me really stands out as great. Everything else is very good, but not essential. Even so I'd recommend this album, and not just to fans. Just about everything on here is worth hearing. Lots of it is from the sessions for This Girl's In Love With You and seemingly just missed the cut. It confirms what I thought on hearing the double cd Rare & Unreleased - the songs that didn't make it on to her albums, particularly from the period '69 - '74, were better than most of the stuff that did make it onto other artists albums, and were worthy of an album in there own right. In a way, this is what you have here. Even so it's worth the price just for You & Me.
Why only four stars then? Well, for me, only You And Me really stands out as great. Everything else is very good, but not essential. Even so I'd recommend this album, and not just to fans. Just about everything on here is worth hearing. Lots of it is from the sessions for This Girl's In Love With You and seemingly just missed the cut. It confirms what I thought on hearing the double cd Rare & Unreleased - the songs that didn't make it on to her albums, particularly from the period '69 - '74, were better than most of the stuff that did make it onto other artists albums, and were worthy of an album in there own right. In a way, this is what you have here. Even so it's worth the price just for You & Me.
Format:Audio CD
DONT PLAY THAT SONG IS MY FAVOURITE ARETHA TRACK TRY AND WATCH VIDEO ON U TUBE I THINK FRM LULU SHOW IN B&W IT FEATURES THOSE SUPERCOOL BACKGROUND SINGERS ARETHA HAD AT THE TIME.RECOMMENDED
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
When this plays, I'm 16 again
20 Mar 2004
By D.V. Lindner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Although a hit-and-miss quality may have come later, frankly, no album by Aretha Franklin originally released between 1967 and 1974 was a weak one. The "Spirit In The Dark" LP, Atlantic 8265, arrived smack-center in that golden zone on August 24, 1970. I distinctly remember her introducing "Don't Play That Song," which came out as a 45 (Atlantic 2751) on July 20th, on the Johnny Carson show. Then it was hurry as fast as one could to a record store - you didn't dawdle once you knew she had a new one. Put on this song (and maybe Bread's "Make It With You") and it's the summer of '70 again. Oh, how good it sounded starting up on the car radio!
Much as she did with Otis Redding's "Respect," she here takes B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" and makes a lasting personal imprint yet again. Best with headphones on, where it's just you and her voice and magnificent piano work, with all other distractions locked out. "Spirit In The Dark" (which, along with "Thrill," was another single, Atlantic 2731, 5/7/70) is one of the best examples of gospel-meets-secular in Aretha's catalog. Fully five of Aretha's own compositions are contained here - the most she put on a single album. Among these, both "Pullin'" and "You And Me" also saw release as B-sides on singles.
For me, the great jewel in this one was and still is Gerry Goffin & Carole King's "Oh No Not My Baby." A happy song, with everyone warning Aretha that the guy's no good, but she triumphs in the end: "Yesterday he gave me a ring..." Listening to Franklin's jubilant delivery, one can't help mentally listing other items from the Goffin-King songbook we could wish Aretha had also interpreted. (Imagine the serious warning she might have delivered on "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby'"!)
This one won't fail you, folks. Like all others from this period, Aretha's work was mistake-proof. And to whom it may concern: as I've stated elsewhere in the case of Berry Gordy Jr., isn't it high time Miss Franklin received the accolade of the Kennedy Center Honors?
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
UNBEATABLE !
3 Sep 2000
By J. Anderson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
There are three reasons this disc gets the high five rating: 'The Thrill is Gone', 'Try Matty's' and 'Why I Sing the Blues' ! I always felt this was an under-appreciated effort by Aretha. Aretha's piano work is forever as distinctive as is Ray Charles', and 'Try Matty's', besides being SUCH an Aretha song!, is transported by the glistening piano work she pulls off! This is one of the best of Ahmet Ertegun's almost mystical collaborations with this Genius! 'Why I Sing the Blues' with its compound rhythms and that un-bottled phrase "Lookit! I brought this talent back - move over and give it some!" is both a political anthem and one of the most sophisticated pieces of pop around. Aretha is a rare force of nature and this disc smokes like a hurricane! Get it!
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Aretha
11 Dec 2005
By J. M. Zuurbier
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This is definately an overlooked Aretha Franklin album. While it's not her best of her Atlantic albums, it still holds it's own and is very consistent. Some really inspired cover song choices, the best being her version of "Oh No Not My Baby". This album features the most of her own compositions, 5 in total. She sounds refreshed and overall it's an enjoyable album start to finish.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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