Fretplay.com Aretha Franklin CD reviews Aretha Franklin guitar tabs Aretha Franklin CD reviews Aretha Franklin tabs Aretha Arrives


Aretha Franklin - Aretha Arrives Audio CD

A fair review of the Aretha Franklin "Aretha Arrives" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Aretha Franklin reviews here, or go back to the Aretha Franklin tabs.

Aretha Franklin Band: Aretha Franklin
Title: Aretha Arrives
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-06-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 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 (Gonna Turn Me Around) 10: Going Down Slow 11: Baby, I Love You

One of my faves!
From her Rolling Stone remake "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" to one of MY FAVs "Never Let Me Go". Well, what better way to start off with Aretha Franklin then with her early Atlantic recordings? It really doesn't get much better than this. Very slept on but actually one of my favorites from her. If you are an Aretha fan, this is definitely an album you should have somewhere in your collection.


Love Those Covers!
They can be disastrous, or they can breathe new life into songs and produce something very different, especially when the songs vary significantly from their normal repertoire. I always look forward to covers by my favorite artists. Thank goodness most of Aretha's covers work. Some memorable ones from other albums include "A Change Is Gonna Come", "The Thrill Is Gone", "Border Song", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Let It Be" and "Oh Me Oh My". This album is no exception. She handles with ease songs that I associate with other artists. The Stones' "Satisfaction" gets the full Franklin treatment, with R&B piano and improvised lyrics. As for "You Are My Sunshine", I never thought it could sound like "Chain of Fools", but it does, after a long, dramatic intro. Aretha's version of "96 Tears", the one-hit wonder by ? and The Mysterians, bears little relation to the original, but it works as an Aretha track. "That's Life" is pretty close to Sinatra's version - as close as Aretha can get, anyway. Her personal stamp is unmistakable, of course.

The remaining material is what we traditionally associate with Aretha. There are three ballads of pleading and heartache: "Never Let Me Go", "Prove It" and "I Wonder". Two tracks are slow and bluesy: "Night Life" has beautiful string accompaniment (as do other tracks), while "Going Down Slow" is dominated by horns and piano. And for confident, upbeat numbers, we hear "Ain't Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)" and the aggressively sexy hit of the album, "Baby, I Love You".

So, is it a big deal? Well, I admit to bias in her favor, but to me it's just another 5-star album in the career of the greatest soul singer in the history of the world, that's all.


three and a half stars for this third followup
The album has many of the same pulsating trademarks like the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, fierce backup singing and Franklin's own remarkable piano playing, but some of the material is undistinguished and unworthy of her attention ("96 Tears," "I Wonder"). Compared to Aretha Franklin's landmark 60's epics, such as her smashing debut "I Never Loved a Man" and her equally stunning "Lady Soul," "Aretha Now" and "Soul '69" albums, "Aretha Arrives" is somewhat underwhelming, though not without its merits. And one or two other songs simply miss the mark (e. g. her cover version of Mick Jagger's "Satisfaction"). Still, there is a lot to like about "Aretha Arrives. " "Never Let Me Go" and "Prove It" are dazzling ballads that keep you hanging on to every word, while "Night Life" and "Going Down Slow" and "Baby I Love You" showcase Franklin's nearly matchless skills as a low-down blues singer. Overall, "Aretha Arrives" may not be among Franklin's VERY best, but--like most of her output--it is still definitely worth a listen. .


A Must Have LP
I just had to buy it and to add to my many vinyl collections. I have the original Atlantic LP which is in great condition, but I found the reissued LP in NYC and I was amazed at the sound of the album. I would definitely recommend buying it if you're a vinyl fan such as myself. Great job Sundazed.


Worth having
Some of the soul ballads, such as "Never Let Me Go" and "I Wonder, don't have the same force and soulfulness that really gets one feeling as those on the albums Soul 69 and I Never Loved a Man albums. Although Aretha's second album is not one of my favorites, ARETHA ARRIVES is worth having. However, on this album is also one of Aretha's best-ever covers--"Going Down Slow. " It's refreshing that it's not a love ballad, but about sin and "failing. " Considering Aretha's heritage in the Church, the song has all the more weight. The final cry at the end runs straight through the body. Of course on the album there is the sexy, aggressive hit, "Baby, I Love You. " The other tracks on the album are good, such as the Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction" and Sinatra's "That's Life," even if they don't let Aretha's talent shine through as brilliantly as some of her other renditions of other artists' work.


You can see a complete list of all Aretha Franklin discography, or go back to the Aretha Franklin tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]