Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black (1993)

It's nearly impossible to single out any of Aretha Franklin's early-'70s albums for Atlantic as being her best, particularly given the breadth of her output during this era. In terms of albums rather than singles, it's probably her strongest era, and if you count live albums like Amazing Grace, choosing a standout or a favorite record isn't any easier. Yet of this stunning era, Young, Gifted and Black certainly ranks highly among her studio efforts, with many arguing that it may be her greatest. And with songs like "Rock Steady," that may be a valid argument. But there's much more here than just a few highlights. If you really want to go song by song, you'd be hard-pressed to find any throwaways here -- this is quite honestly an album that merits play from beginning to end. You have upbeat songs like the aforementioned "Rock Steady" that will get you up out of your seat moving and grooving, yet then you also have a number of more introspective songs that slow down the tempo and are more likely to relax than rouse. And if that wide spectrum of moods isn't enough reason to celebrate this album, you get some unlikely songs like a take on "The Long and Winding

Tracklist:

01. Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)
02. Daydreaming
03. Rock Steady
04. Young, Gifted And Black
05. All The King's Horses
06. A Brand New Me
07. April Fools
08. I've Been Loving You Too Long
09. First Snow In Kokomo
10. The Long And Winding Road
11. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
12. Border Song (Holy Moses)