Aretha Franklin [2017] - A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin (With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) [Rhino]

It's still very slow this week for good quality new releases so today may well be an Aretha or at least an Aretha related day!

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have just released an album of orchestral re-workings of the Motown songbook but this one of Aretha Franklin songs somehow passed me by when released in 2017. It spans her 'golden period' on Atlantic from 1966-79 with the latest recording being "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" from 1974 all given the orchestral treatment.

I think my favourites on here are "Until You Come Back To Me", "Oh Me Oh My", "Angel" and "You're All I Need To Get By", but as far as I'm concerned Aretha could sing the phone book (remember those?) and it would sound good. She is undoubtedly the undisputed Queen Of Soul and always will be. 

It may surprise you to learn that she only ever had one solo #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Respect" in 1967. Her only other, believe it or not, was the duet with George Michael in 1987 with "If I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"! However, fifteen others were top 10 and twenty reached the top spot on the R&B chart. She is second only to James Brown of the highest rated soul artists in terms of chart positions of all time and is equal to Stevie Wonder in terms of R&B #1 hits.

P.S. I'm building a Spotify playlist of some of the better covers of Aretha tunes that I can find and will post when it's complete, but have posted a few that are only available on YouTube for now.

Jo Ann Garrett [1969] - Ain't No Way [Chess #LPS-1548]

Probably one of the best covers of Aretha's "Ain't No Way" recorded by Jo Ann Garrett on her 1969  album "Just A Taste". A deep gospelesque rendition.

Jo Ann Garrett won a talent show at Chicago's Regal Theatre aged 15 which won her a contract with Chess and resulted in her first single "Stay by My Side". Further singles followed with the top sides backing vocals being sung by The Dells. She recorded just one album. 

In 1968 she left Chess to join Duo but Chess released other material by her after her departure. Many of her recordings have become favourites on the UK rare soul scene, especially a few on Duo.

Ambassa Feat. Nichola Richards [2017] - One Step Ahead [Wakeditown Records]

Ambassa is Italian born bass player and producer Matia Gobbo, who’s combined Nichola Richard’s vocals with early-80s style dub production.

This is a cover of Aretha's 1965 Columbia recording "One Step Ahead" which contained a cover of Justine 'Baby' Washington's "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face" on the flip which also had several other great covers which were featured here.

If you like the reggae/lovers rock vibe there are a couple of other 60s rare soul covers on the album including Wendy Rene "After The Love Comes The Tears", The Charmels "As Long as I've Got You", The Delfonics "Ready or Not Here I Come" later covered by The Fugees along with Donny Hathaway's Little Ghetto Boy".

Another unreleased reggae version tipped to me by Gary Van Den Bussche from Ava Leigh (aka Hayley Carline) who was a UK-based reggae, ska and jazz singer-songwriter who was signed to Virgin between 2006 and 2010 and released an album and four singles but retired to bring up children.

I found some grainy vintage footage, presumably from 1964, of Aretha performing the song and also a couple of mashups that have bene done, one about ten years ago, the other was uploaded to YouTube by Talib Kweli in 2017 which includes him, Mos Def and Prodigy.

There is another version I found which is a jazz version by Cécile McLorin Salvant recorded in 2018.

Ava Leigh - One Step Ahead (Unreleased)

The Brockingtons [1971] - Natural Woman [Today #T-1505]

What a terrific up-tempo 'crossover' version of the, Goffin & King written, Aretha classic by The Brockingtons which was issued on a promo only 45 but was also on their only, self-titled, album on Today in 1972.

The duo was led by Julius Brockington (from Pumphrey, MA) and an unknown female vocalist, whether his wife or sister is not known. He went on to release three albums and a handful of singles. The album was co-arranged by a young Patrick Adams. Brockington also went on to become A&R manager for Today.

A couple of the tracks (the deep soul tunes "Jeremiah" and "Eye Doctor") also appeared on Debbie Taylor's 1972 Today album "Comin' Down On You".

Kokomo [1975] - Angel [CBS #S 80670]

A tremendous (blue-eyed) version of the Aretha sang, and Carolyn Franklin written, gem by British soul band Kokomo on their debut self-titled album,

Kokomo evolved out the band Arrival in 1973, they recorded two albums in the 70s and spilt up in 1977 but regrouped to record a third in 1982. They reformed in 2014 and I found a live clip of them performing "Angel" in a Chichester pub in 2014.   

L.J. Reynolds [1982] - Call Me [Capitol #ST-12223]

L.J. Reynolds was with The Dramatic for most of the 70s joining in 1973 and leaving in 1981 only to re-join in 1986. On his second solo album "Travelin'" on Capitol he recorded a superb, deep, version of Aretha's "Call Me". It never got a release as a single.

I found some live footage of him performing the song but it is cut short so have also included audio for the full version.

Love Machine [1975] - It Only Happens (When I Look At You) [Philips #6078 402]

I did a 'version excursion' on this tune in August where I posted eight different version of the song written by British composers Ken Gold and Michael Denne and originally recorded in 1975 by Aretha on her "You" album.  

I somehow managed to omit this version by Love Machine, who I suspect were a European, or Euro based, group as this single was only released in Belgium but did also appear on a self-titled album released in The Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Not the best version as it's a, little pop oriented.