Posted on Group:

Aretha Franklin – Young, Gifted and Black | Album of the day 1st March 2021

Released in January 1972 ‘Young Gifted and Black’ is rightly regarded as one of the Queen of Soul’s best and most successful albums. It includes the magnificent ballad ‘Oh my oh my’ , the superb floating mid tempo ‘Day Dreaming’ and ultra funky gem ‘Rock Steady’. Her gospel drenched cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Young gifted and black’ became an anthem for Afro American pride. Her version of the Gamble and Butler song ‘Brand new me’ is definitive and really swings along. Her uptempo take on the Bacharach David song ‘April Fools’ is uplifting and has become popular on the Modern Soul scene. The ballads ‘I’ve been loving you too long’ and ‘All the kings horses’ are also strong. The album was brilliantly produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin and features a great line up of musicians including Donny Hathaway, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Hubert Laws and Bernard Purdie backing singers including sisters Carolyn and Erma and the Sweet Inspirations but the real star is Aretha who is magnificent throughout this classic Soul album.

BUY LP here 
BUY CD here

Listen
Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)
Day Dreaming
Rock Steady
Young, Gifted, And Black
All The King’s Horses
A Brand New Me
April Fools
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
First Snow In Kokomo
The Long And Winding Road
Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
Border Song (Holy Moses)

Also recommended