To say that Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest American artists of all time is an understatement. Her multi-octave voice moved millions around the world during an unrivalled career that spanned six decades and garnered the singer-songwriter every achievement and honour imaginable.

2LP / CD

Her reign as the Queen of Soul will play out across 20 highlight tracks which span her entire career and features alternate versions of classic hits, rarities, and live tracks, like her stunning performance of “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman” at The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2015. Arranged in mostly chronological order ARETHA opens with “Never Grow Old” which was released as part of her first single in 1956 by J.V.B Records and was recorded at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was the long-time pastor.

The majority of ARETHA however, is dedicated to her record-shattering tenure with Atlantic Records between 1967 and 1979, which included five consecutive #1 R&B albums. The collection also features stunning artwork by celebrated artist Makeba KEEBS Rainey, who provides her signature style to a photo of the Queen Of Soul taken by the legendary photographer, Neal Preston.

4CD

Among the collection’s 81 newly remastered tracks, 19 are making their CD and digital debuts, including alternate versions of classic hits, demos, rarities, and live tracks, like her stunning performance of “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman” at The 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2015. To put Franklin’s life and career into perspective, the collection is accompanied by liner notes written by Rochelle Riley, author and director of arts and culture for the City of Detroit, and David Nathan, a music journalist and soul historian who interviewed Franklin more times than any other living writer. The collection also features stunning artwork by celebrated artist Makeba KEEBS Rainey, who provides her signature style to a photo of the Queen Of Soul taken by the legendary photographer, Neal Preston.

Even for long-time fans, ARETHA delivers plenty of surprises. Prime examples are the numerous unreleased work tapes and demos for hits like “Angel,” “Until You Come Back To Me” and “Brand New Me.” The set also features the CD and digital debuts of several television appearances, including duets with Tom Jones (“It’s Not Unusual/See Saw”), Smokey Robinson (“Ooo Baby Baby”) and Dionne Warwick (“I Say A Little Prayer.”) Finally, the collection rounds up rarities like her cover of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free” from the Malcom X soundtrack and her jaw-dropping live performance of “Nessun Dorma.”

Franklin’s biggest hits are here too, like “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You),” “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” and her signature smash, “Respect.” But instead of using familiar takes for other hits, the collection selects different versions, like alternate takes of “Chain Of Fools,” “Rock Steady,” and “Spanish Harlem”; live recordings of “Baby I Love You” and “Don’t Play That Song”; and “Think” recorded for The Blues Brothers soundtrack.

Tracklist

2LP / CD

Disc 1: Side One

Never Grow Old
Today I Sing The Blues
One Step Ahead
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
A Change Is Gonna Come

Disc 1: Side Two

Respect
Chain Of Fools – Alternate Version
Call Me – Alternate Version *
Rock Steady – Alternate Mix/Take
How I Got Over (Single Edit) – Live

Disc 2: Side One

Master Of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)
Until You Come Back To Me – Work Tape *
Something He Can Feel
You Light Up My Life *
Think

Disc 2: Side Two

Freeway Of Love
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) – Aretha Franklin and George Michael
Someday We'll All Be Free
A Rose Is Still A Rose
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Live* (Originally Broadcast On The 38^th Annual Kennedy Center Honors 12/19/15)

4CD

CD 1:

Never Grow Old
You Grow Closer
Today I Sing The Blues
Won’t Be Long
Are You Sure
Operation Heartbreak
Skylark
Runnin’ Out Of Fools
One Step Ahead
(No, No) I’m Losing You
Cry Like A Baby
A Little Bit Of Soul
My Kind Of Town (Detroit Is) – Demo *
Try A Little Tenderness – Demo *
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
Do Right Woman – Do Right Man
Respect
A Change Is Gonna Come
Chain Of Fools” – Alternate Version
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – UK Single Version
(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
Ain’t No Way
My Song
You Send Me
The House That Jack Built
Tracks Of My Tears

CD 2:

Baby I Love You – Live
Son Of A Preacher Man
Call Me – Alternate Version *
Let It Be
Young, Gifted And Black – Alternate Longer Take *
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Long Version
It’s Not Unusual/See Saw – with Tom Jones *

(Originally Broadcast On This Is Tom Jones, October, 9, 1970)

You're All I Need To Get By – Work Tape *
Brand New Me – Work Tape *
Spanish Harlem – Alternate Mix *
Rock Steady – Alternate Mix/Take
Day Dreaming
Share Your Love With Me – Live
Don’t Play That Song – Live
Dr. Feelgood – Live
Spirit In The Dark (Reprise with Ray Charles) – Live
How I Got Over (Single Edit) – Live
Master Of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)

CD 3:

Somewhere – Alternate Version *
Angel – Work Tape *
The Boy From Bombay *
Til It's Over – Demo *
Oh Baby (a.k.a. “There’s Something Magic About You”) – Demo *
Until You Come Back To Me – Work Tape *
I’m In Love – Alternate Vocal
Without Love
Mr. D.J. (5 For The D.J.)
You
Something He Can Feel
Look Into Your Heart
Break It To Me Gently
When I Think About You
Almighty Fire (Woman Of The Future)
Ladies Only – Short Version
You Light Up My Life *
Ooo Baby Baby – with Smokey Robinson *

(Originally Broadcast On Soul Train, December 1, 1979)

Amazing Grace

(Originally Broadcast On Royal Variety Performance, November 23, 1980)

CD 4:

Think
I Say A Little Prayer – with Dionne Warwick *
United Together
Jump To It
The Wind
Freeway Of Love
Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves – Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) – Aretha Franklin and George Michael
Oh Happy Day – with Mavis Staples (Live at New Bethel Baptist Church, Detroit, MI - July 1987)
A Rose Is Still A Rose
Someday We'll All Be Free
The Makings Of You
Nessun Dorma – Live
At Last – with Lou Rawls *

(Originally Broadcast On American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love And Soul, March 2003)

You’ve Got A Friend – Ronald Isley featuring Aretha Franklin
Rolling In The Deep – The Aretha Version
My Country ’Tis Of Thee
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Live *

(Originally Broadcast On The 38^th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, December 19. 2015)

*Previously unreleased audio

Soundwave

https://youtu.be/t6hTDHgm7Oc

Atlantic

Aretha

Stephen Stills

Twice As Tall (2023 Reissue)

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Mono)