This was the first of three times I reviewed Aretha Franklin live for rock nyc. The very next time would prove to be the best show I’ve seen in the 21st century and this one? Pretty good, actually pretty good. maybe Curtis Mayfield was hovering nearby
Young, Gifted And Black – Aretha Franklin – A Gospel swing through an adage and a description from back in the 1960s, trust me folks: it’s where it’s at – A
I never much cared for this song till now, this stomping searing Aretha vocal puts makes everybody else, including Adele, amateurs in the also ran department. Back with Clive, it is so great all I wish is the entire album was Adele covers, what a voice, how she sings the breaks, how she nails feelings we didn’t know were there. Davis overdoes the arrangement – A
“Music mogul and longtime recording partner Clive Davis is at the helm of the project, said it was expected in stores on the 30th. Legendary producer and performer Babyface is working with OutKast member Andre 3000 behind the scenes on production and mixing the final tracks before the album ships out
Jump To It – Aretha Franklin – Produced and co-written by the legendary and yet oddly shadowy Luther Vandross, perhaps because of his closeted homosexuality. The 1982 song is a masterpiece of pure disco (not funk) and gave Aretha her first hit since 1982 – A
There were no real weak moments. “I’m back” she exclaimed late in the show and really better than ever. Soul music walks hand in hand with trouble, with problems, with the constant ache of life, without one you can’t have the other, and Aretha has soul
The last time I saw James Chance backed by the True Groove Allstars he stopped the show at the Cutting Room, now the No Wave maestro is back for what should be the gig of the year. Pushing the remastered and deluxe Buy (I wrote the liner notes) and with Marla Mase -who has an excellent new release herself, opening, this should be a huge huge huge gig. Don’t miss this Thursday June 12th at the Cutting Room.
Any time Aretha Franklin is in town is a must see date for all concerned, and when she is playing Radio City Music Hall as she is on this Friday, there is no reason at all not to go and spent some time for this greatest of singers and excellent on stage performer.
So maybe it won’t be the best concert I’ll ever see by Aretha, but it will be Mid January (the 17 th) and a Friday and Radio City Music Hall and the Queen Of Soul. Sounds like a must see to me.
Perhaps I was right but the Phish effect didn’t survive a lousy concert last December where all the good will they’d accrued went out the window and I remembered exactly why I’d been born sick of them for decades on end.
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Aretha Franklin – I saw Franklin perform this the day after Whitney Houston died, February 17th, 2012 at Radio City Music Hall and it was superior to this take but not by much. Both are Gospel, but the pain that night is something only real grieving can match – A
My daughters are in fourth grade now and to see the BELIEF in their eyes and to hear the EXCITEMENT in their stories is priceless. I never questioned how Santa Claus came while there were still adults present but my daughters did. I lie more during the holidays than any other time of year.
