Aretha Franklin's unheralded recordings at Columbia Records will get another perspective with an expansive 12-disc box set that makes the argument that the Queen of Soul was already royalty before her career-defining hits at Atlantic Records.

"The conventional wisdom is that Columbia failed to see that this was a singular artist with a universal vision, that her material was mismatched with her talent, that her arrangers were too heavy-handed," said Leo Sacks, producer of "Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia," due out March 22.

"There were enough moments at Columbia where it's clear that she came very close to catching the moment, and I think the listener is going to have to make their own judgment to see whether her Columbia years have been unfairly diminished."

Franklin, 68, arrived at Columbia in 1960, when she was 18 years old. There, she recorded jazz and pop standards, and music historians have often dismissed her work at the label in comparison to her explosion five years later at Atlantic Records, where she recorded her biggest hits, like "Respect," and became known as the Queen of Soul.

The box set of 11 music CDs and one DVD takes listeners through songs like "Take a Look," ''Unforgettable" and "Ol' Man River." Though some material is unreleased and includes rehearsal and alternate takes, Sacks acknowledges that much of it has been previously released.

"Aretha's Columbia years have been picked over more times than a Barney's warehouse sale, and there isn't anything in this collection that hasn't been worn previously," he joked this week. "But there are enough unexpected surprises in these CDs, including many rare mono mixes and unissued performances, that show how close she came to stardom."

Franklin has recently undergone surgery for an ailment she hasn't disclosed, but she told talk-show host Wendy Williams this week that her health is "superb."

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January 18, 2011

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The 12 discs are housed in a beautiful box and are accompanied by a lavish 64-page, full color book. The book features extensive new liner notes, complete discography, and incredible, rare photography of a young Aretha.

TAKE A LOOK begins with expanded editions of Aretha’s seven original Columbia albums:

• Aretha (with the Ray Bryant Combo) (released February 27, 1961)
• The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
• The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962)
• Laughing On The Outside (1963)
• Unforgettable – A Tribute To Dinah Washington (1964)
• Runnin’ Out Of Fools (1965)
• Yeah!!! In Person With Her Quartet (in two sequences: the original 1965 album recorded live in the studio with overdubbed applause, followed by a new previously unreleased version without the nightclub ambience)

Two CDs reflect Aretha’s collaborations with the influential producers Bobby Scott and Clyde Otis -- collaborations that were either shelved or issued as singles, but never on LP:

• Tiny Sparrow: The Bobby Scott Sessions (1963)
• Take A Look: The Clyde Otis Sessions (1964)

Two CDs are new compilations:

• A Bit of Soul (the full album as it was compiled in 1965, but never released)
• The Queen In Waiting (includes Aretha's last Columbia recordings produced by Bob Johnston, noted for his work during this period with Bob Dylan; and songs that Columbia "sweetened" with new musicians after Aretha left the label)

A bonus DVD, Aretha '64! Live on The Steve Allen Show, features Aretha singing and playing piano on the legendary comedian's television program in the spring of 1964. The performances include “Lover Come Back to Me,” “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody,” “Won’t Be Long,” “Skylark,” and “Evil Gal Blues.”

The great thing about this box set unlike any other prior to now, it will feature everything she ever recorded at CBS during 1960 thru 1966 befroe she went to Atlantic.

All previously unreleased material is on here.

If only the Atlantic vaults could be released. Major problem is she own all masters post 1974 (except for SPARKLE).

There is not much at Arista, mainly a few things from ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, a live album recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1996, and two things on teh shelf, one of which she never did the vocals to (a Four Tops cover).

Mental note added. Must buy, will buy.

Fuck new music.

I'd like this better if it were also released in a record version. I'm not that interested in CDs.