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All great artists have their influences and inspiration. Aretha Franklin, named very recently as the Greatest Singer of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine, is no exception.
Her fans will be familiar with the songs on this collection, but maybe not these versions. Spanning the years 1948-1972, highlights include 'Try A Little Tenderness' by the influential Little Miss Cornshucks, 'Drown In My Own Tears' by Aretha's hero Ray Charles, Helen Humes' original of 'Today I Sing The Blues' and 'Sit Down And Cry' by unsung soul heroine Jean Wells.
Comprising originals of songs made famous by the "Queen of Soul" during her first two decades as a recording artist, or in some cases the versions she grew up loving, the two-dozen R&B, soul and gospel recordings here, many of them performed by her favourite artists, helped influence and inspire Aretha to become the great singer she is.
Compiled and annotated by Mick Patrick and Malcolm Baumgart.
Track listing:
1. Respect - OTIS REDDING 2. The House That Jack Built - THELMA JONES 3. Seesaw - DON COVAY & THE GOODTIMERS 4. Sit Down And Cry - JEAN WELLS 5. Don't Play That Song (You Lied) - BEN E KING 6. Every Little Bit Hurts - BRENDA HOLLOWAY 7. Soulville - DINAH WASHINGTON 8. Pitiful - BIG MAYBELLE 9. Share Your Love With Me - BOBBY BLAND 10. Today I Sing The Blues - HELEN HUMES with BUCK CLAYTON'S ORCHESTRA 11. My Song - JOHNNY ACE with THE BEALE STREETERS 12. Try A Little Tenderness - LITTLE MISS CORNSHUCKS 13. I'm Wanderin' - JACKIE WILSON 14. The River's Invitation - PERCY MAYFIELD 15. Drown In My Own Tears - RAY CHARLES 16. The Dark End Of The Street - JAMES CARR 17. Prove It - MARY WHEELER 18. I'm In Love - WILSON PICKETT 19. Eight Days On The Road - HOWARD TATE 20. To Be Young, Gifted And Black - NINA SIMONE 21. Let Me In Your Life - BILL WITHERS 22. That's The Way I Feel About Cha - BOBBY WOMACK 23. I Say A Little Prayer - DIONNE WARWICK 24. The Day Is Passed And Gone - CLARA WARD "
