I don`t think people realize how good a songwriter she is...

Icicle said:

One of my fave Aretha tunes! Young, Gifted, & Black is my favorite Aretha album, next to the Sparkle soundtrack. From start to finish, it's a straight- soul classic.

It`s a brilliant album I`ve never liked the song "Rock steady", but other than that, yeah...

btw, what did you think of Natalie Cole`s cover of "Day dreaming"?

Cole said in an interview that Franklin sent her flowers and told her how much she loved her version. Glad to see the feud is over....

Icicle said:

Oh, how can you not like a classic like Rock Steady? Donny Hathaway plays the organ and electric piano on this funky cut and it's still one of the most grooviest jams she's ever cut, IMHO.

silverchild said:

Exactly... It`s too funky for me

Icicle said:

wow... has hell frozen over?

BTW... my fav Aretha album
is this one

which had her version of
"You" (which was recorded by Natalie on her debut)

and how can you NOT like "Rock Steady"?

Yeah, i don`t know what`s gotten over her...

"You" and "Almighty fire" are the only Franklin albums i don`t own, but i would like to hear her cover of "You", since i LOVE Cole`s original.

Which version do you prefer?

Icicle said:

you know what...
in situations like this
I usually pick the version
that I heard first (which was Natalie's)

but another reason I pick hers
is that her version is more sexy
with her moans in the beginning
and her purring "get it baby... get it"
that just put the STANK on it for me

Aretha's is okay
my fav song from that album
has to be "Walk Softly"
which I found out in another thread here
that both Marlena Shaw & Gladys Knight
have versions of this also

Did you know Aretha Franklin was first offered some of Cole`s biggest hits, like "This will be" and "I`ve got love on my mind"?

After Cole made it big with "This will be", Franklin often included it in her concerts....

Icicle said:

It's a perfect song for her voice, imo.

applekisses said:

Yeah, but Natalie Cole`s original is just brilliant...

Franklin wrote a song very similar to "This will be" after Natalie`s hit...

http://www.youtube.com/wa...xLQ8T3W9jw

Enjoy...

Icicle said:

WOW
thanx... I love this song
I don't care for
that La Diva album though

check this performance out
while ya'll are at it

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ktHoDgKdbY

this is my fav song
from Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky)

too groovy

Icicle said:

OMG...it sounds exactly like "This will be"!

silverchild said:

If I'm not mistaken, he played the Organ/Fender Rhodes through-out the WHOLE album(and If I'm not mistaken, co-arranged couple of songs as well), being one of Arif Mardin's session ensemble.

He's the one behind the hypnotic fender rhodes in Daydream's intro

For the life of me, I don't know WHY in the hell these 2 haven't made a duet record 2ghether though

DirtyChris said:

A GREAT album, but "Mr. Spain" doesn`t do it for me....
"Angel" is gorgeous, the album includes the definitive version of "Somewhere", her vocals on "That's the way i feel about cha" is amazing, and "Master of eyes" is one of my all time favorites by Franklin.
So yeah, it`s a good album

"La diva" does have some decent tracks, like the song i posted, "Honey i need your love", but also "Ladies only" and "I was made for you"

.
[Edited 1/22/07 12:09pm]

Harlepolis said:

"Lovin` him a little bit more each day..."

btw, what did you think of Natalie Cole`s cover?

Icicle said:

RUBBISH

Any attempt to cover an Aretha Franklin song is a goddamn waste of time, money and energy.

But Miss Cole has been riding Aretha's bandwagon eversince god knows what, so it was predictable of her.

DirtyChr$s is going to kill me when he reads this, though

DirtyChris said:

That whole album is different than anything she ever released b4 or after.

Too bad though, cause she was dumb enough to listen to the critix and get back to her old style(which of course, caused her career decline in the late 70's when she made that DISCO album ).

Harlepolis said:

Obviously Cole was very much inspired by Franklin, but i think her 70s records has a own, unique style. Just listen to "Something`s got a hold on me" from her 1978 album, "Natalie live"...

Icicle said:

"I was maaaaade
for you boooooy
tell me naaaaah..."

that one & "Honey I Need Your Love"
are the only 2 I play from there
and I only like the very beginning
of "Ladies Only"

*from Hey Now Hey... I love "Sister From Texas"
[Edited 1/22/07 14:18pm]

Harlepolis said:

I agree though
esp with those first two albums
to echo Icicle, she definitely
came into her own... with albums
Unpredictable, Thankful
and most notibly that Live! album of '78

love it...
esp. "I Can't Say No"/"Something's Got A Hold On Me"

Icicle said:

GREAT album, and "First snow..." its a beautiful song.

DirtyChris said:

Yeah, and "I`m catching hell", "Que sera, sera" and Lucy in the sky with diamonds"

btw, have you heard "It`s been you" from her "I love you so" album?

"Ladies only" should have been a ballad, the beginning is best

"This is for ladies
ladies only
this is your mama talking..."

There was a cool clip of her singing that song on youtube....


.
[Edited 1/22/07 23:12pm]

I love that song so much, you just made me go download another Aretha comp!

Icicle said:

I think I love you
"not pearls but DIIIII-MUUUUNDS
not sapphiiiiires but... DIIIII-MUUUUUNDS
not rubies but...DIIII-MUUUUUNDS
not opals but... DIIII MUUU UUUUUNDS...
uuuuuhaaaaah... LOOOO SAAAAAY....
with DIIII-MUUUUNDS..."
etc.

about

no I haven't heard "It's Been You"
j'adore the title track, "Your Lonely Heart". "The Winner"
"Oh Daddy" & "I'm Sorry" the most...
I don't hardly play the others
I will spin IBY today

***I like her & Peabo's version of
"Your Lonely Heart" more BTW
[Edited 1/23/07 13:28pm]

BTW... I haven't heard Natalie's
version of "Daydreaming" and I'm scared to...
why everbody wanna remake "Daydreaming"
nothing could ever touch the original
leave it beeeee
but if I listened to Tamia's
then I need to check Nat out...

DirtyChris said:

"The winner" is brilliant!

Yeah, listen to "It`s been you", i`m sure you`ll love it...
I don`t think this album was so successful when it came out, but it`s a decent album...

About day dreaming, i prefer Franklin`s original too, but Cole did a good job. I hear there`s a jazz remix, but i have no idea where to find it

Since we're talking about "Young, Gifted And Black"?

What do you guys think of 'April Fools'?

Thats a nice feel-good gem,,,,and the girls in the bsckground are SMOKIN'

Harlepolis said:

Dionne Warwick ain't got nothin' on this one! Aretha's version of this tune is just simply groovy and better. I love the tempo and strings of this jam because it's also what gives the song its flair.