Search - Aretha Franklin :: Aretha Live at Fillmore West

This album displays a stunning virtuoso at a point of high e

Duane Mulholland | 10/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is why you can't just rely on one of those little singles machines. You need to hear the progression of song to song on that whole night. It was glorious. Paul Simon must have been thrilled with this version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which gives the song a whole different (gospel) dimension. If you don't know Aretha, or you don't know what soul music was all about (it had EVERYBODY stoked!), this will give you the clearest vision. Then try Otis Redding."

Miss 'Re takes The Fillmore by storm

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aretha Franklin performed live at Fillmore West in San Francisco in February 1971; and this CD documents her concert very well. Aretha, known to many African Americans as "Miss 'Re," took the stage; and her audience of mostly white people never wanted her to stop from the first note she sang. Indeed, as you listen to this CD, the audience becomes more involved and more joyful with every number Aretha performs! Concert albums may have a reputation for not always selling very well; but THIS concert album proves to be the exception to the rule. More than thirty years later we can still hear Aretha's voice in excellent form at the Fillmore West; and her band jams so hard they stun you with their performance, too.



The CD starts with "Respect," a classic Aretha Franklin song penned by Otis Redding. Aretha and her band infuse "Respect" with electricity and the crowd loves every minute of it! Aretha then goes on to perform a mixture of pop hits and her own classic numbers. Aretha included these pop numbers to appeal to the mostly white crowd at Fillmore West. "Love The One You're With" offers Aretha the chance to sing a beautiful ballad by Stephen Stills. Aretha makes this number her own with a musical arrangement that mixes soul, R&B and a pop feel to it all at once. Aretha then goes into "Bridge Over Troubled Water" written by Paul Simon; the band gives this number a soulful beat and the crowd enjoys "Bridge Over Troubled Water" tremendously. Excellent!



Other great songs on this live concert CD include "Eleanor Rigby" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; a rousing rendition of Aretha's biggest 1970 hit entitled "Don't Play That Song" with its' great female backup group and "Dr. Feelgood," a bluesy number that makes the crowd roar as people shout out to Aretha to "sing it!"



By the time Aretha gets to "Spirit In The Dark" the crowd and Aretha have become one. They cheer with delight as Aretha breaks into this number with all the passion she could ever have mustered. Aretha then tells her audience that she "discovered Ray Charles" in her audience; and when Ray Charles comes onstage to sing a reprise of "Spirit In The Dark" with Aretha the crowd shouts out for joy! The female backup vocals on "Spirit In The Dark" enhance the beauty of this song. Ray's voice is potent as ever. Ray didn't want this number to see the light of day; he believed it wasn't his best effort. You'd never know it, though! Brother Ray sounds great!



Aretha closes the album with "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" written by Ashford and Simpson. Aretha performs this touching ballad like only she could; it is a fitting closer for this CD.



The liner notes include great photos of the concert and David Nathan contributes an informative essay about this concert, too. You also get the song credits.



Aretha Franklin will forever remain one of the greatest singers the world has ever seen. We are so fortunate that she shared her talents with us. Her vocal expertise shines particularly brightly on this CD. Thank you, Aretha, for everything--it never would have been the same without you!

"

Great live album

Curtis Harris | Houston, Texas | 08/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The period between 1968's "Aretha Now" and this 1971 set was a rough time for Aretha. The former had reached #3 on the album charts and the latter #7 but during the period between them, Aretha had no top ten album and indeed only one top ten single, 1970's "Don't Play That Song". She was still churning out the R&B hits however, 6 top ten singles in the same period. This album, along with the single-only releases of "Spanish Harlem" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water", re-cemented Aretha's status in pop music.



The album is a great listen from start to finish and her vocal performance is top-notch, although she does over do it a little on "Dr. Feelgood". The album's best moments are "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Spirit in the Dark". The first lulls you into a peaceful bliss while the latter gets you up outta your seat, especially when Ray Charles gets into it. Oh and I might as well mention the band: Billy Preston, King Curtis, the Memphis Horns and the Sweethearts of Soul. That ain't half bad and neither is the album, go pick it up."