Aretha Franklin
Wikimp3 information about the music of Aretha Franklin. On our website we have 70 albums and 70 collections of artist Aretha Franklin. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Aretha Franklin represents Hip Hop/R&B genres.
Biography
[Edit]Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged. Her astonishing run of late-'60s hits with Atlantic Records — "Respect," "I Never Loved a Man," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "Think," "The House That Jack Built," and several others — earned her the title "Lady Soul," which she has worn uncontested ever since. Yet as much of an international institution as she's become, much of her work — outside of her recordings for Atlantic in the late '60s and early '70s — is erratic and only fitfully inspired, making discretion a necessity when collecting her records.
Franklin's roots in gospel ran extremely deep. With her sisters Carolyn and Erma (both of whom would also have recording careers), she sang at the Detroit church of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, while growing up in the 1950s. In fact, she made her first recordings as a gospel artist at the age of 14. It has also been reported that Motown was interested in signing Aretha back in the days when it was a tiny start-up. Ultimately, however, Franklin ended up with Columbia, to which she was signed by the renowned talent scout John Hammond.
Franklin would record for Columbia constantly throughout the first half of the '60s, notching occasional R&B hits (and one Top 40 single, "Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody") but never truly breaking out as a star. The Columbia period continues to generate considerable controversy among critics, many of whom feel that Aretha's true aspirations were being blunted by pop-oriented material and production. In fact, there's a reasonable amount of fine items to be found on the Columbia sides, including the occasional song ("Lee Cross," "Soulville") where she belts out soul with real gusto. It's undeniably true, though, that her work at Columbia was considerably tamer than what was to follow, and suffered in general from a lack of direction and an apparent emphasis on trying to develop her as an all-around entertainer, rather than as an R&B/soul singer.
When Franklin left Columbia for Atlantic, producer Jerry Wexler was determined to bring out her most soulful, fiery traits. As part of that plan, he had her record her first single, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," at Muscle Shoals in Alabama with esteemed Southern R&B musicians. In fact, that was to be her only session actually at Muscle Shoals, but much of the remainder of her '60s work would be recorded with the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, although the sessions would actually take place in New York City. The combination was one of those magic instances of musical alchemy in pop: the backup musicians provided a much grittier, soulful, and R&B-based accompaniment for Aretha's voice, which soared with a passion and intensity suggesting a spirit that had been allowed to fly loose for the first time.
In the late '60s, Franklin became one of the biggest international recording stars in all of pop. Many also saw Franklin as a symbol of black America itself, reflecting the increased confidence and pride of African-Americans in the decade of the civil rights movement and other triumphs for the black community. The chart statistics are impressive in and of themselves: ten Top Ten hits in a roughly 18-month span between early 1967 and late 1968, for instance, and a steady stream of solid mid- to large-size hits for the next five years after that. Her Atlantic albums were also huge sellers, and far more consistent artistically than those of most soul stars of the era. Franklin was able to maintain creative momentum, in part, because of her eclectic choice of material, which encompassed first-class originals and gospel, blues, pop, and rock covers, from the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel to Sam Cooke and the Drifters. She was also a fine, forceful, and somewhat underrated keyboardist.
Franklin's commercial and artistic success was unabated in the early '70s, during which she landed more huge hits with "Spanish Harlem," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and "Day Dreaming." She also produced two of her most respected, and earthiest, album releases with Live at Fillmore West and Amazing Grace. The latter, a 1972 double LP, was a reinvestigation of her gospel roots, recorded with James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir. Remarkably, it made the Top Ten, counting as one of the greatest gospel-pop crossover smashes of all time.
Franklin had a few more hits over the next few years — "Angel" and the Stevie Wonder cover "Until You Come Back to Me" being the most notable. Her Atlantic contract ended at the end of the 1970s. She signed with the Clive Davis-guided Arista and scored number one R&B hits with "Jump to It," "Get It Right," and "Freeway of Love." Many of her successes were duets, or crafted with the assistance of contemporaries such as Luther Vandross and Narada Michael Walden. In 1986 Franklin released her follow-up to Who's Zoomin' Who?, the self-titled Aretha, which saw the single "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me," a duet with George Michael, hit the top of the charts. There was also another return to gospel in 1987 with One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Franklin shifted back to pop with 1989's Through the Storm, but it wasn't a commercial success, and neither was 1991's new jack swing-styled What You See Is What You Sweat.
Now solidly an iconic figure and acknowledged as one of the best singers of her generation no matter what her record sales were, Franklin contributed songs to several movie soundtracks in the next few years before releasing the R&B-based A Rose Is Still a Rose in 1998. So Damn Happy followed five years later in 2003 and again saw disappointing sales, but it did generate the Grammy-winning song "Wonderful." Franklin left Arista that same year and started her own label, Aretha's Records, two years later. A duets compilation, Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen, was issued in 2007, followed by her first holiday album, 2008's This Christmas. The first release on her own label, A Woman Falling Out of Love, appeared in 2011. She signed to RCA and realigned with Clive Davis, who connected her with the likes of Babyface and OutKast's André 3000 for Sings the Great Diva Classics, for which she covered Gladys Knight, Barbra Streisand, and Adele, among others. Despite sometimes poor health, she continued to select new projects to work on; ever the institution, her reputation is secure as one of the best singers of the modern era. ~ Richie Unterberger & Steve Leggett, Rovi
Title: The Queen In Waiting (The Columbia Years 1960-1965)
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live In Philly, 1972 (Remastered)
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You (Mono)
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Take a Look: Complete on Columbia
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock, Pop
Title: Yeah!!! (In Person With Her Quartet) [Remastered]
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Five Great Women In R&B (All Tracks Remastered)
Artist: Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Mary Wells, LaVern Baker, Dee Dee Sharp
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Funk
Title: Live At Fillmore West - Don't Fight The Feeling (CD4)
Artist: Aretha Franklin, King Curtis
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz
Title: Live At Fillmore West - Don't Fight The Feeling (CD3)
Artist: Aretha Franklin, King Curtis
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz
Title: Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign (CD1)
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk
Title: Didn't It Rain: The Chicago Sessions (Live)
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Collections
Title: Best Soul 2021
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Funk, Classical, Easy Listening
Title: Greatest Ever Soul Ballads 2021
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock, Funk
Title: NOW The 60s Girls Then He Kissed Me (CD4)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Gospel, Rock, Country, Rockabilly, Acoustic, Indie, Classical
Title: NOW The 60s Girls Then He Kissed Me (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Gospel, Rock, Country, Rockabilly, Acoustic, Indie, Classical
Title: Sweet Soul Music 2021 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Country, Pop, Acoustic, Easy Listening
Title: Sweet Soul Music 2021 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Country, Pop, Acoustic, Easy Listening
Title: The Hits Album: The 80s Floorfillers Album 2021 (CD2)
Genre: Hard NRG, New Wave, Italo Disco, Pop, Synth Pop, Funk
Title: Valentine Soul Classics 2021
Genre: Soul
Title: Valentine Soul Classics
Genre: Soul
Title: 100 Tracks 60s Party Playlist Spotify 2021 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock & Roll, Country, Pop
Title: 70s Mood Boost
Genre: Soul, Rock, Power Pop, Rock & Roll, Punk, Disco, Ska, Alternative, Funk, Indie
Title: Soul Love Songs 2021
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Soul Jazz, Rock, Pop Rock, Bossanova
Title: Legendary Songs 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Rock, New Wave, Punk, Pop, Alternative
Title: That 60's Soul
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues
Title: Rhythm & Soul 100 (CD1)
Title: Baker Street - 100 Classics From The 70's (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Pop, Alternative
Title: Jazz Ladies, The Singing Pianists 1926-1961 (CD1)
Genre: Jazz
Title: Overseas Rhythm & Blues Vol. 1 (All Tracks Remastered)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk
Title: Overseas Rhythm & Blues Vol. 2 (All Tracks Remastered)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Funk
Title: 50 Tracks Unwind 80s Playlist Spotify
Genre: Soul, Blues, Rock, New Wave, Reggae, World Music, Pop, Alternative, Folk
Title: The Ultimate RnB Collection 2021
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Pop, Funk
Title: 80s Everybody Sunlight
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Pop Rap, Funk
Title: Greatest Hits Ever (CD1)
Genre: Gospel, Rock, Reggae Fusion, World Music, Disco, Pop, Alternative, Indie, Folk
Title: Slow Blues Songs (CD2)
Genre: Blues, Blues Rock
Title: Rhythm & Blues Attitude Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Dreams - Magic 70's (CD2)
Title: 60s 70s Soul Ballads
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Marry You - Wedding Songs
Genre: Pop
Title: 100 Greatest Duets Of All Time (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Dance Rock, Pop Rock
Title: Marry You: Wedding Songs 2021
Genre: Pop
Title: A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues (All Tracks Remastered)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: I Love My 70's Funk
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Sing The Blues - 20 Classic Songs
Genre: Blues
Title: Soul - Vintage Classics
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: 60s Hits Essentials (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop, Funk, Classical
Title: 60s Hits Essentials (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop, Funk, Classical
Title: Sweet Soul
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Gospel, Jazz, Rock, World Music, Classical, Smooth Jazz
Title: Absolute 60's! (CD1)
Title: Absolute 70's! (CD1)
Title: Soul In Love
Title: Magic Radio Presents Magic Soul (CD3)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: 100 Greatest Duets Of All Time (2021) (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Country, Pop, Classical, Easy Listening
Title: 100 Greatest Women In Pop (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: Greatest 60's Pop
Title: Summer BBQ (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock & Roll, World Music, Disco, Folk
Title: Summer BBQ (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Gospel, Rock & Roll, World Music, Disco, Folk
Title: Greatest Ever Decade: The Sixties (CD4)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop
Title: Greatest Ever Decade The Seventies (CD1)
Genre: Gospel, Avant Garde Jazz, Rock, New Wave, Punk, Avant Garde Metal, World Music, Country, Disco, Synth Pop, Funk, Folk
Title: Young, Gifted & Black - Soul & Funk Classics
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: FM Soul 70s
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: NOW That's What I Call Gold (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop
Title: R&B Feel That Music: Remastering Mix (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Mellow 70's Gold (CD1)
Title: Mellow 70's Gold (CD2)
Title: Timeless Songs
Genre: Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, New Wave, Country, Disco, Pop, Alternative, Funk, Indie
Title: Single 70 HD
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Rock, Punk Rock, Country, Pop, Alternative, Indie, Classical
Title: Essential Love Songs 2021
Title: Romantic R&B Sunday (CD3)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: 60s Love Song Essentials 2021 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Soul Jazz, Rock, World Music, Pop, Classical, Folk, Easy Listening
Title: '70s Soul Divas
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Featuring albums
Title: Duets II
Artist: Tony Bennett
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Classical
Title: Best of Duets
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop, Classical, Easy Listening
Title: Late Night Tales: Groove Armada - Another Late Night (Remastered)
Artist: Groove Armada
Genre: Electronica, House, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Duets (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Genre: Pop, Classical, Easy Listening
Title: That's So Raven Too!
Artist: Raven Symone
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Pop, Teen Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: In Good Company (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
Artist: In Good Company
Genre: Jazz, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Blues Brothers (Original Soundtrack Recording)
Artist: The Blues Brothers
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Rock, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: From Q, With Love
Artist: Quincy Jones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Title: Platinum & Gold Collection: James Brown
Artist: James Brown
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Funk
Title: This Christmas - Songs From The Motion Picture
Artist: Original Soundtrack
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: This Christmas (Songs from the Motion Picture)
Artist: This Christmas
Title: Be Yourself Tonight
Artist: Eurythmics
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, New Wave, Post Punk, Punk Rock, Pop, Alternative
Title: Dead Presidents Vol. 1/Music From The Motion Picture
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Muscle Shoals Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: VH1 Divas Live
Artist: Various
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Country, Pop, Dance Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Vocal & Symphonic
Title: What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves [1967-1977]
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Malcolm X (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Endless Love (Greatest Soul Lovesongs)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk