Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black (1993)

  • 03 Oct, 18:45
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Artist:
Title: Young, Gifted and Black
Year Of Release: 1993
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Jazz, Soul, R&B
Quality: APE (image+.cue,log,scans)
Total Time: 44:38
Total Size: 242 MB
WebSite:

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
Road." Plus, you also have to keep in mind that Franklin was in her prime here, not only in terms of voice but also in terms of confidence -- you can just feel her exuding her status as the best of the best. Furthermore, her ensemble of musicians competes with any that she had worked with on previous albums. So even if this isn't the greatest Aretha Franklin album of the early '70s, it's certainly a contender, the sort of album that you can't go wrong with. ~ Jason Birchmeier


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)

Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black (1993)