2016 Stereophile Magazine Record to Die For!
1973 Grammy Winning Live Soul Gospel Album!
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 154/500!
She is known the world over by her first name and as the undisputed, reigning "Queen Of Soul," Aretha Franklin is peerless. This 2005 recipient of a Presidential Medal Of Freedom honor (the U.S.A.'s highest honor), 17 Grammy Awards (and counting), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Living Legend Award. She has received countless international and national awards and accolades. Aretha has achieved global recognition on an unprecedented scale. She has influenced generations of singers from Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole and Mary J. Blige to "American Idol" winner Fantasia Burrino and Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson. Her ever-distinctive soulful, to-the-bone vocal style has graced the music charts for over four decades and while her live performances have touched the hearts of literally millions since she began her musical journey as a gospel-singing child prodigy, it is her rich legacy of recordings that are a testament to the power, majesty and genius of this one-of-a-kind artist of the first order.
Aretha's interest in a wide range of popular music became evident when she began her own recording career at Columbia Records, although it should be noted that her powerful, emotive style was first heard on a gospel recording made in 1956 with her father and released by Chess Records in the mid-'60s. With the support of her father, Aretha traveled to New York City in 1960 and after a demo which contained her version of a Helen Humestune titled "Today I Sing The Blues" made its way to the ears of executive John Hammond (responsible for signing such artists as Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith and Bob Dylan), Aretha was signed to Columbia in 1960.
Released in 1972, "Amazing Grace" was the third live album by Aretha Franklin. While she has earned the title "The Queen of Soul", Aretha is also known for her gospel works such as the music on this album including "Mary Don't You Weep", "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" and many more 'down-home' favorites.
The music here was recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles January 1972. The album won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance and became the biggest selling live gospel album of all time.
Aretha Franklin's soul-shaking live performances on Amazing Grace will show you heaven and shake all your devils out. It will also show you what a full-range, only lightly compressed live recording can do in your stereo system. Clean, deep bass; big, breathy space; and spiderweb detail combine with extraordinary tone to raise you up 'til you can see them shiny gates.Features:
180g Vinyl
Double LP
Musicians:
Aretha Franklin, vocals, piano
Rev. James Cleveland, piano, vocals
Rev. C.L. Franklin
Chuck Rainey, bass
Cornell Dupree, guitar
Kenneth Lupper, organ
Pancho Morales, percussion, conga
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, drums
Southern California Community Choir, background vocals
Selections:
1. Mary, Don't You Weep
2. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
3. You've Got A Friend
4. Old Landmark
5. Give Yourself To Jesus
6. How I Got Over
7. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
8. Amazing Grace
9. Precious Memories
10. Climbing Higher Mountains
11. God Will Take Care Of You
12. Wholy Holy
13. You'll Never Walk Alone
14. Never Grow Old
