The Queen Of Soul left us this month, at the age of 76 and after years of ill-health, but what an extraordinary legacy she leaves behind. No other female singer - let alone soul singer - has come close to her stunning range and her incredible ability to convey so much in her performances. Not only was she an astonishing vocalist, but she was also an incredibly talented songwriter in her own right, as well as a splendid interpreter of other artists songs. And she could play piano like the best of them. Her peerless body of work she released on Atlantic Records between 1967 and 1972 is as good as anything you'll ever hear, and set the stall for countless others to follow. Throw in her civil rights activism and her refusal to bow to record company interference and you're looking at a true feminist icon and an artist of real import. Her music, influence and that wondrous voice will endure through the ages.
R.I.P. Aretha.
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An outstanding performance here of Aretha from 1968 belting out one of her signature anthems in a club in Amsterdam full of burgeoning beatniks that, from the looks of them, are just about to embrace the 60's to their collective bosom and never let go. Aretha gives it her absolute all here - the sweat pouring from her face as the band slink and sway behind her. Utter class.
From the classic US television show Soul Train, this clip shows Aretha - along with her regular backing trio The Sweet Inspirations - getting deep, down and funky in quite glorious style. From the 'Young, Gifted And Black' album released in 1971, this is one of my favourite Aretha tunes. That bass-line alone is enough to get your toes twitching. And just check out those dancers. Outta sight!
And finally, I just had to have this in here. As a skinny little white boy growing up in Surrey in the 70s and 80s, my exposure to soul music was quite limited. I knew of Aretha and other classic Stax and Motown artists - having heard the odd tune on the radio - but I never witnessed the full-blown Franklin effect until I saw The Blues Brothers in 1982. For a good 6 months or so it was one of the only video tapes in the house and myself and my brother used to watch it religiously - so much so that we can both still quote it verbatim. This scene has always been a favourite - with Aretha pretty much ripping the film to shreds with her performance. As a postscript, her husband in the movie - one Matt 'Guitar' Murphy - also recently passed away, so I'd like to think they're both standing their ground over the old "Four fried chickens and dry white toast" dilemma up there in rhythm and blues heaven. Magnificent.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
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