OK you got it going on so I'll keep it short. Three points only:
1. Bernard Purdie needs a mention for "Rock Steady" and "Day Dreaming" (your #1 favorite) and all that 5-year period as her music director/drummer. I was a lawyer for him once and he played often at my local jazz club in Jersey: Shanghai Jazz (ask for Tom tell him Steve sent you) but now surprisingly we both live in NC! Got to rep the homies! Lest we forget: Shout out! FAME Studios Muscle Shoals! Also, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd (I Never Loved a Man) her Atlantic producers.
2. My wife is her biggest fan and two of our wedding songs came from two great 1997 Flashback comps "Aretha Franklin A Natural Woman And Other Hits" "Without Love" (Hunter/Franklin); and "Aretha Franklin Respect and Other Hits" Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" half of our songs for the service at a Unitarian Church in NJ. She sings so eloquently about the meaning of endless love.
3. We will never forget seeing her live in '09 at Radio City. She was born to the craft and raised in church, but she was bawdy as hell that night in the second half no dis-Respect. Good one Matt!
Hold on, hold on, hold ON: You were a lawyer for Bernard Purdie??? Where has this anecdote been? Also, I can't imagine what it would've been like to see her live. Even towards the end, she was an incredible performer. Thanks as always, Steve!
You know it. My entertainment law days and nights are another bunch of stories, but confidentiality issues prevent me from going whole hog. I was a NYC Civil Servants Union Attorney (SEIU), so I know where some of Ghouliani's bodies are buried as well as being a worthy adversary in cases with two current cabinet members. But Law... is a much-maligned profession these days. Keeping my mouth shut. Did my time. Now putting finishing touches on lostinaustinbook.substack.com then onward to print/Kindle publication. Lots to do now that I'm no longer practicing much, focusing on acting, music, and writing. Thankfully getting lots of gigs. My latest incarnation is singing in the GSO Big Band! As an aside I do give free consultations to musicians as a public service because I care about artist abuse and advocate against the various unethical Spotify practices, a virtual monopoly in cahoots with the majors.
Pretty audacious and impressive undertaking, Matt! Nicely done! Is it me, or have you been improving by leaps and bounds since I first noticed you arriving coupla years ago?!? If I may pry, I'm curious as to how you go about auditioning each album...I'm guessing kinda over a few days.
I've envisioned doing something similar for a favorite artist whom I know I've listened to a lot, but, for a decades-long career like Aretha's, I'd find it a daunting task (for me)! Even for fave bands like Genesis and Jethro Tull (both of whose careers I lived through and enjoyed in real time, so there's that!), there was serious "drop-off" in my attention to their latter career output (from a personal listening/obtaining to their records, etc), so I feel my attention to their earlier output might unfairly weigh my perspective!
I realize you're half my age (at least), so hearing Aretha's output in real time is out of the question, but I (and maybe we) would love to hear how you go about doing a ranking like this (also, and how much popular and well-known public and critical opinions play a part)! I am curious Wednesday! Thanks, Matt! Keep up the great work!
As far as the "how," the entire project took nearly six months of part-time work. I divided the listening process into four separate chunks that coincided (more or less) with her different label stints. I gave each album two listens minimum, the first as a more high-level vibe check and the second as a slower, more "paying attention to the details" listen. Rinse and repeat for all the records included in this list. Some albums got a third listen as I tried to sort out my own feelings towards them.
I took notes for each one and didn't start writing the full-length piece until all the listening and note-taking were complete. "No cheating" was my mantra, so no skipping to the highlights before other LPs were heard in chronological order. I did my best to leave my personal baggage at the door and, to paraphrase the great Roger Ebert, give each album its day in court. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of putting this together, but it was also the hardest I've ever worked on a piece of writing in my life. I'm glad it's resonating with at least a few others.
Thanks so much for that, Matt! "The process" is something many writers hold (understandably.....at least to a degree) close to their respective vests! Your full-throated reveal of your lengthy, time-consuming process is impressive, and very much appreciated by me, and likely others!
As a self-avowed (and proud) label ho (😂), I really appreciate, not only your viewing her output (to whatever degree) in "label chunks," but, even the awareness and intelligence to even KNOW or care about that as a valued and necessary component in evaluating an artist's career, especially with such a ground-breaking and legendary artist as Aretha!
Each "branch" of her career tree had label stalwarts fully invested in her recorded product and how she was "handled" and presented to the public (and radio): Producer, John Hammond at Columbia in the early '60s, then, Clive Davis, starting in the mid-'60s, became more involved (of course, the two would meet again at Arista!).
The influence of Atlantic key cogs Jerry Wexler, Ahmet Ertegun, and Tom Dowd can't be underestimated in helping to create "The Queen of Soul"!
Thanks again for your candid reply, Matt! I'm game for another Tune Tag with you...your last one was last April, and I'm booked thru most of March '26 (for publication, I mean), so I'm game when you are....just drop me a tune in DMs when you can!
My pleasure, keep the conversation going, Kokomo were a really underrated band that people now recognise as a superb group, check out their credentials
Wow! This is quite an undertaking! I have to admit to only really knowing 2 of her albums: "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "Aretha." Of course, I know many of her individual songs but this post makes me want to dive into so many cuts I've never heard.
I'm glad you gave a decent ranking to "Hey Now Hey"- It's one of her more experimental pieces and shows how easily she could shift gears between genres, even between songs. But that weird cover? Psychedelic, man! She shouldn't have asked her then-boyfriend to do that....
When I saw the title of your post, I was curious where “La Diva” would land. I kind of expected it to be around No. 40, so No. 37 is actually better than I thought. I haven’t listened to the full album, just snippets here and there. I wasn’t even aware of it until I started researching my Zulema piece (she did backing vocals on the album).
I’m generally a fan of Van McCoy’s productions, although this was one of his last before he died, and it’s probably a bit of a mixed bag on that front too. The fact that the album is no longer available says a lot about how highly she rated it herself 😁
The whole reissue saga for some of these Aretha Franklin albums is worthy of a separate post. Attempts Attempts at revisionist history going on. Thanks for reading!
And of course, Aretha's worst album, as you say, is a "Ferrari idling in traffic". When the lights turn green, she's off to the horizon, having made the world a far better place. The video of an elderly Aretha singing Natural Woman is indeed tear-inducing.
I guess ... I'm just not a huge fan of binary "love/hate" distinctions for an album. It's never that simple IMO. I think you can appreciate the ability on display on either album, but have an indifference to it emotionally. I think Bitches Brew is far more accomplished and daring than the Aretha LP, FWIW. To each their own. :)
OK you got it going on so I'll keep it short. Three points only:
1. Bernard Purdie needs a mention for "Rock Steady" and "Day Dreaming" (your #1 favorite) and all that 5-year period as her music director/drummer. I was a lawyer for him once and he played often at my local jazz club in Jersey: Shanghai Jazz (ask for Tom tell him Steve sent you) but now surprisingly we both live in NC! Got to rep the homies! Lest we forget: Shout out! FAME Studios Muscle Shoals! Also, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd (I Never Loved a Man) her Atlantic producers.
2. My wife is her biggest fan and two of our wedding songs came from two great 1997 Flashback comps "Aretha Franklin A Natural Woman And Other Hits" "Without Love" (Hunter/Franklin); and "Aretha Franklin Respect and Other Hits" Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" half of our songs for the service at a Unitarian Church in NJ. She sings so eloquently about the meaning of endless love.
3. We will never forget seeing her live in '09 at Radio City. She was born to the craft and raised in church, but she was bawdy as hell that night in the second half no dis-Respect. Good one Matt!
Hold on, hold on, hold ON: You were a lawyer for Bernard Purdie??? Where has this anecdote been? Also, I can't imagine what it would've been like to see her live. Even towards the end, she was an incredible performer. Thanks as always, Steve!
You know it. My entertainment law days and nights are another bunch of stories, but confidentiality issues prevent me from going whole hog. I was a NYC Civil Servants Union Attorney (SEIU), so I know where some of Ghouliani's bodies are buried as well as being a worthy adversary in cases with two current cabinet members. But Law... is a much-maligned profession these days. Keeping my mouth shut. Did my time. Now putting finishing touches on lostinaustinbook.substack.com then onward to print/Kindle publication. Lots to do now that I'm no longer practicing much, focusing on acting, music, and writing. Thankfully getting lots of gigs. My latest incarnation is singing in the GSO Big Band! As an aside I do give free consultations to musicians as a public service because I care about artist abuse and advocate against the various unethical Spotify practices, a virtual monopoly in cahoots with the majors.
It’s so great that you provide that pro bono service to artists. A life well lived it sounds like. Thanks for all your support Steve.
We matched for drive my car and now again for rock steady !!!! So awesome !!! Thank you so very much for sharing all your awesome knowledge 🙌
Thank YOU for reading!
It’s an honor to read!!!! What a great way to start the day!!! Move over Folgers coffee lol we’ve got something better!!
Wooooooooooo!
Shanghai Jazz!!! What a special place for me in 1997-1999💖 what awesome memories you have !!!
Pretty audacious and impressive undertaking, Matt! Nicely done! Is it me, or have you been improving by leaps and bounds since I first noticed you arriving coupla years ago?!? If I may pry, I'm curious as to how you go about auditioning each album...I'm guessing kinda over a few days.
I've envisioned doing something similar for a favorite artist whom I know I've listened to a lot, but, for a decades-long career like Aretha's, I'd find it a daunting task (for me)! Even for fave bands like Genesis and Jethro Tull (both of whose careers I lived through and enjoyed in real time, so there's that!), there was serious "drop-off" in my attention to their latter career output (from a personal listening/obtaining to their records, etc), so I feel my attention to their earlier output might unfairly weigh my perspective!
I realize you're half my age (at least), so hearing Aretha's output in real time is out of the question, but I (and maybe we) would love to hear how you go about doing a ranking like this (also, and how much popular and well-known public and critical opinions play a part)! I am curious Wednesday! Thanks, Matt! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much, Brad! The praise means a lot :)
As far as the "how," the entire project took nearly six months of part-time work. I divided the listening process into four separate chunks that coincided (more or less) with her different label stints. I gave each album two listens minimum, the first as a more high-level vibe check and the second as a slower, more "paying attention to the details" listen. Rinse and repeat for all the records included in this list. Some albums got a third listen as I tried to sort out my own feelings towards them.
I took notes for each one and didn't start writing the full-length piece until all the listening and note-taking were complete. "No cheating" was my mantra, so no skipping to the highlights before other LPs were heard in chronological order. I did my best to leave my personal baggage at the door and, to paraphrase the great Roger Ebert, give each album its day in court. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of putting this together, but it was also the hardest I've ever worked on a piece of writing in my life. I'm glad it's resonating with at least a few others.
Cheers!
Thanks so much for that, Matt! "The process" is something many writers hold (understandably.....at least to a degree) close to their respective vests! Your full-throated reveal of your lengthy, time-consuming process is impressive, and very much appreciated by me, and likely others!
As a self-avowed (and proud) label ho (😂), I really appreciate, not only your viewing her output (to whatever degree) in "label chunks," but, even the awareness and intelligence to even KNOW or care about that as a valued and necessary component in evaluating an artist's career, especially with such a ground-breaking and legendary artist as Aretha!
Each "branch" of her career tree had label stalwarts fully invested in her recorded product and how she was "handled" and presented to the public (and radio): Producer, John Hammond at Columbia in the early '60s, then, Clive Davis, starting in the mid-'60s, became more involved (of course, the two would meet again at Arista!).
The influence of Atlantic key cogs Jerry Wexler, Ahmet Ertegun, and Tom Dowd can't be underestimated in helping to create "The Queen of Soul"!
Thanks again for your candid reply, Matt! I'm game for another Tune Tag with you...your last one was last April, and I'm booked thru most of March '26 (for publication, I mean), so I'm game when you are....just drop me a tune in DMs when you can!
Seconding Brad's praise; this is an great piece of work!
Seeing your notes on the process I'm even more impressed. That's a lot of work, and it shows in the final results.
Thanks so much! I'm sure there may have been a more efficient way to tackle it, but my methods are what they are lol.
By a fluke of vinyl buying history I have 5 AF albums - your listed top 5. Truly amazing albums.
I’m glad that Sparkle at least made the top 10.
Angel is my all time AF song, check out the version by Kokomo on their debut album and I believe you will stunned about how great a song this truly is
My pleasure, keep the conversation going, Kokomo were a really underrated band that people now recognise as a superb group, check out their credentials
I heard it for the first time during my research! Great indeed :) thanks for reading!
Wow! This is quite an undertaking! I have to admit to only really knowing 2 of her albums: "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "Aretha." Of course, I know many of her individual songs but this post makes me want to dive into so many cuts I've never heard.
Amazing — thanks Dan!
Yes, yes, yes! No disagreements as to rank.
I'm glad you gave a decent ranking to "Hey Now Hey"- It's one of her more experimental pieces and shows how easily she could shift gears between genres, even between songs. But that weird cover? Psychedelic, man! She shouldn't have asked her then-boyfriend to do that....
Yeah, the cover gives me the heebie-jeebies for real. Thanks, David!
At least it makes it easier to identify- all of her other album covers seem to be similar headshots…
When I saw the title of your post, I was curious where “La Diva” would land. I kind of expected it to be around No. 40, so No. 37 is actually better than I thought. I haven’t listened to the full album, just snippets here and there. I wasn’t even aware of it until I started researching my Zulema piece (she did backing vocals on the album).
I’m generally a fan of Van McCoy’s productions, although this was one of his last before he died, and it’s probably a bit of a mixed bag on that front too. The fact that the album is no longer available says a lot about how highly she rated it herself 😁
The whole reissue saga for some of these Aretha Franklin albums is worthy of a separate post. Attempts Attempts at revisionist history going on. Thanks for reading!
And of course, Aretha's worst album, as you say, is a "Ferrari idling in traffic". When the lights turn green, she's off to the horizon, having made the world a far better place. The video of an elderly Aretha singing Natural Woman is indeed tear-inducing.
Comparing Hey Now Hey to Bitches Brew ... now that's a bold take.
I guess ... I'm just not a huge fan of binary "love/hate" distinctions for an album. It's never that simple IMO. I think you can appreciate the ability on display on either album, but have an indifference to it emotionally. I think Bitches Brew is far more accomplished and daring than the Aretha LP, FWIW. To each their own. :)