Aretha Franklin

• LIMITED EDITION OF 500 COPIES

• 180 gram VINYL – AUDIOPHILE PRESSING

• INCLUDES 4 BONUS TRACKS

This essential LP release contains Franklin’s magnificent debut album for Columbia, Aretha (1961), featuring a series of All Star groups conducted by pianist Ray Bryant. Producer John Hammond followed the formula he once prescribed for his “discovery” Billie Holiday: standards and blues with a jazz rhythm section plus horns and “head charts.”

In addition to the original album, this limited collector’s edition contains 4 bonus tracks from the same period: “I Apologize,” It’s So Heartbreakin’,” “Don’t Cry, Baby,” and “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody.” It serves as the best introduction for anyone wanting to explore “Lady Soul’s” first steps. This is the material upon which Aretha’s soul kingdom and unique personal style were built

PERSONNEL:

• ARETHA FRANKLIN, lead vocals on all tracks, with

• Milt Hinton (bass), Ray Bryant, John McFarland (piano),
• Osie Johnson, Belton “Sticks” Evans (drums), Al Sears (tenor sax),
• Tyree Glenn, Quentin Jackson (trombone), among others.

Recorded in New York, 1960-1961.

TRACKS:

• A1. WON’T BE LONG
• A2. OVER THE RAINBOW
• A3. LOVE IS THE ONLY THING
• A4. SWEET LOVER
• A5. ALL NIGHT LONG
• A6. WHO NEEDS YOU?
• A7. I APOLOGIZE (*)
• A8. IT’S SO HEARTBREAKIN’ (*)

• B1. RIGHT NOW
• B2. ARE YOU SURE?
• B3. MAYBE I’M A FOOL
• B4. IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO
• B5. (BLUE) BY MYSELF
• B6. TODAY I SING THE BLUES
• B7. DON’T CRY, BABY (*)
• B8. ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY WITH A DIXIE MELODY (*)

• (*) BONUS TRACKS