Aretha Franklin - A Portrait Of The Queen 1970-1974

A Portrait Of The Queen 1970-1974 Box Set

Features five classic albums from the early 1970s

Plus bonus material of session alternates, outtakes, B-sides, and demos

Limited edition includes six LPs

BMG announces the release of the Aretha Franklin box set, A Portrait Of The Queen, featuring five classic albums from the early ‘70s, plus bonus material of session alternates, outtakes, B-sides, and demos.

The set features the Lady Soul's five original studio albums from the first half of the ‘70s — This Girl's In Love With You, Spirit In The Dark, Young, Gifted And Black, Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky) and Let Me In Your Life — and tracks her evolution as a singer/songwriter, showcases the fearlessness of her craft freely exploring genres and sounds, experimenting with writing and arranging various types of songs.

The albums in the vinyl set are remastered from the original analog master tapes by Grammy Award-winning engineers Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and Michael Graves at Osiris Studio, respectively. Produced by Grammy Award-winning Cheryl Pawelski, the sets boasts extensive liner notes from Billboard's Gail Mitchell and the British Ambassador of Soul David Nathan.

By the time This Girl's In Love With You was released on January 15, 1970, Aretha had completed more than 80 recordings in just three years for Atlantic Records. Her 16th studio album, and eighth for Atlantic Records, reached Billboard's Top 20 and includes her version of The Beatles' "Let It Be," which was the first recording of the song to be commercially issued — The Beatles release as a single came in March 1970. The album also includes The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby," The Band's "The Weight," and Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man."

Released August 24, 1970, Spirit In The Dark was really a concept album, featuring two hit singles, "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's R&B chart and No. 11 on the Hot 100, and the title track at No. 3 R&B and No. 23 Hot 100. Produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin, the album also features B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone," and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm section with an appearance by Duane Allman.

A lifelong civil and women's rights activist, Aretha addressed the era's Black Power movement with her 18th album, Young, Gifted And Black, released January 24, 1972. Climbing to No. 2 on Billboard's R&B albums chart, peaking at No. 11 on the Hot 100, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA shortly after release. Featuring The Delfonics' "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," her self-penned "Day Dreaming" and "Rock Steady," and the title track, which was originally recorded by its composer Nina Simone. Aretha won the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Originally conceived as a jazz project by co-producers Aretha and Quincy Jones, Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky) featured her No. 1 R&B and Top 20 single, "Angel," written by Aretha's sister, as well as Stephen Sondheim's "Somewhere" from the Broadway musical West Side Story, which features Aretha on piano.

As one of her top-selling albums for Atlantic Records, Let Me In Your Life was Aretha's 20th album rand released on February 25, 1974. The album yielded three hits: "Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)," "I'm In Love," and "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing."

With an unmatched, church-bred voice, the Detroit-raised daughter of a preacher man was an 18-time Grammy Award winner the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Often overlooked as a piano-playing virtuoso, Elton John noted to Billboard in 2003, "She is the greatest soul singer ever — and one of the most underrated pianists."

 

 

Disc 1: This Girl's in Love with You

Side A

Son of a Preacher Man

Son of a Preacher Man

Dark End of the Street

Let It Be

Eleanor Rigby

Side B

This Girl's in Love with You

It Ain't Fair

The Weight

Call Me

Sit Down and Cry

Disc 2: Spirit in the Dark

Side A

Don't Play That Song

The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday's Kiss)

Pullin'

You and Me

Honest I Do

Spirit in the Dark

Side B

When the Battle Is Over

One Way Ticket

Try Matty's

That's All I Want from You

Oh No Not My Baby

Why I Sing the Blues

Disc 3: Young, Gifted and Black

Side A

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

Side B

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)

Disc 4: Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Side A

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Somewhere

So Swell When You're Well

Angel

Sister from Texas

Side B

Mister Spain

That's the Way I Feel about Cha

Moody's Mood

Just Right Tonight

Disc 5: Let Me in Your Life Side A

Let Me in Your Life

Every Natural Thing

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

I'm in Love

Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)

The Masquerade Is Over

Side B

With Pen in Hand

With Pen in Hand

Eight Days on the Road

If You Don't Think

A Song for You

Disc 6: Bonus Tracks

Side A

Pledging My Love / The Clock

You're Taking Up Another Man's Place

Are You Leaving Me

You're All I Need to Get By (Take 2)

Spanish Harlem (Aretha 3, rough mix, reel 12150)

Side B

Lean on Me

Sweetest Smile and the Funkiest Style

Do You Know

At Last

Master Of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)

Til It's Over

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