Review by John Bush
Appearing after a blockbuster debut and a sophomore set that was rather disappointing (in comparison), 1968's Lady Soul proved Aretha Franklin, the pop sensation, was no fluke. Her performances were more impassioned than on her debut, and the material just as strong, an inspired blend of covers and originals from the best songwriters in soul and pop music. The opener, "Chain of Fools," became the biggest hit, driven by a chorus of cascading echoes by Franklin and her bedrock backing vocalists, the Sweet Impressions, plus the unforgettable, earthy guitar work of guest Joe South. The album's showpiece, though, was "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," a song written expressly for her by Brill Building pop stalwarts Gerry Goffin and Carole King, based on a title coined by producer Jerry Wexler. One of the landmark performances in pop music, the song floats serenely through the verses until, swept up by Ralph Burns' stirring string arrangement again and again, Franklin opens up on the choruses with one of the most transcendent vocals of her career. And just as she'd previously transformed a soul classic (Otis Redding's "Respect") into a signature piece of her own, Franklin courageously reimagined songs by heavyweights James Brown, Ray Charles, and the Impressions. Brown's "Money Won't Change You" is smooth and kinetic, her testifying constantly reinforced by interjections from the Sweet Inspirations. Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," a 1965 civil-rights anthem and a hit for the Impressions, is taken at a slower pace than the original; after a quiet verse, Franklin lets loose amidst a magisterial brass arrangement by Arif Mardin. Powered by three hit singles (each nested in the upper reaches of the pop Top Ten), Lady Soul became Aretha Franklin's second gold LP and remained on the charts for over a year.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/lady-soul-mw0000194521
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Reseña de John Bush
Después de un exitoso debut y un segundo álbum bastante decepcionante (en comparación), Lady Soul de 1968 demostró que Aretha Franklin, la sensación del pop, no era una casualidad. Sus actuaciones fueron más apasionadas que en su debut, y el material igual de sólido, una inspirada mezcla de versiones y originales de los mejores compositores de soul y pop. El tema inaugural, «Chain of Fools», se convirtió en el mayor éxito, impulsado por un coro de ecos en cascada de Franklin y sus coristas de base, las Sweet Impressions, además del inolvidable y terrenal trabajo de guitarra del invitado Joe South. Sin embargo, la obra maestra del álbum fue «(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman», una canción escrita expresamente para ella por Gerry Goffin y Carole King, incondicionales del pop en el Brill Building, a partir de un título acuñado por el productor Jerry Wexler. La canción, una de las interpretaciones históricas de la música pop, flota serenamente en las estrofas hasta que, arrastrada una y otra vez por el conmovedor arreglo de cuerda de Ralph Burns, Franklin se abre en los estribillos con una de las voces más trascendentes de su carrera. Y al igual que antes había transformado un clásico del soul (Respect, de Otis Redding) en una pieza propia, Franklin reimaginó con valentía canciones de pesos pesados como James Brown, Ray Charles y los Impressions. Money Won't Change You» de Brown es suave y cinética, y su testimonio se ve constantemente reforzado por las interjecciones de los Sweet Inspirations. People Get Ready» de Curtis Mayfield, un himno de los derechos civiles de 1965 y un éxito de los Impressions, se interpreta a un ritmo más lento que el original; tras una estrofa tranquila, Franklin se suelta en medio de un magistral arreglo de metales de Arif Mardin. Impulsado por tres singles de éxito (cada uno de ellos en la parte alta del Top Ten del pop), Lady Soul se convirtió en el segundo LP de oro de Aretha Franklin y permaneció en las listas durante más de un año.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/lady-soul-mw0000194521
https://www.arethafranklin.net/
Tracklist:
1. Chain Of Fools 2:45
2. Money Won't Change You 2:02
3. People Get Ready 3:35
4. Niki Hoeky 2:33
5. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 2:37
6. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) 2:18
7. Good To Me As I Am To You 3:25
8. Come Back Baby 2:29
9. Groovin' 2:45
10. Ain't No Way 4:12
Personnel:
Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano);
Carolyn Franklin (vocals, background vocals); Cissy Houston (vocals);
Jimmy Johnson , Eric Clapton, Joe South, Bobby Womack (guitar);
Seldon Powell (flute, tenor saxophone, horns);
Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone, wind);
King Curtis (saxophone, tenor saxophone);
Haywood Henry (saxophone, baritone saxophone);
Joe Newman , Bernie Glow, Melvin Lastie (trumpet);
Tony Studd (trombone, bass trombone);
Spooner Oldham (electric piano, keyboards);
Warren Smith (vibraphone, background vocals);
Gene Chrisman, Roger Hawkins (drums);
Ellie Greenwich, Erma Franklin, The Sweet Inspirations (background vocals).
Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York between February 16 and December 20, 1967.
1968
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