Search - Aretha Franklin :: Young, Gifted and Black

Great set that is missing 3 must-have tracks

Peace Brotha | Ohio, United States | 10/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yep, YGB is one of the soul masterpieces of the early 70's. I can't possibly add anything more to all of the excellent reviews here, except this:



The 3 cuts that SHOULD have been released with this reissue from the beginning as bonus material are now finally available on the 'Rare and Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul' set. (Smooth title, eh? Whew.)



Those cuts -- Heavenly Father, I Need A Strong Man, and My Cup Runneth Over -- were recorded during the YGB sessions, according to the excellent liner notes written by David Nathan. Each of them are easily the equal of anything that made it to the final album.



The 'Golden Reign' is essential for any Aretha fan on its own merits. But if you specifically like the sound Aretha had on YGB, you should check it out for those 3 tracks (or purchase them on iTunes or something). You will wonder how in the world they were left off the original YGB release!"

Classic

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 08/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aretha Franklin made some of the best music of our era, of the 20th Century. Some may be more known than Young Gifted and Black. None tops Young Gifted and Black.



By its 1971 recording and 1972 release, social themes in soul were acceptable, recording technology had improved, and Franklin worked it to the hilt. She upgraded her band with the best soul musicians like Eric Gale, Bernard "Pretty" Puride, and superbassist, Chuck Rainy. Her music became more melodic, and more heavy, at once.



Listen to the keyboards shimmering into the heavens to introduce "Daydreamin." "Daydreamin'" eases into a soul bossa nova, filled with melody, grace, garnished with glimmer by Herb Law's flute. Pair that with Aretha's cover of Burt Bacharach's "April Fools," a ballad that kicks uptempo. The two tracks work differently, but show Franklin's ability to make music where the heart is touched by sincerity, not sentimentality, melody and not sap. Franklin refuses the easy path with ballads, but through Young Gifted and Black, the risk pays tenfold.



"Rock Steady," is no ballad. The band and its leader do exactly what the title says. Thumping hard and heavy and funky and lowdown enough to make it to 1972 FM radio. There is a lesson in "Rock Stedy;" What the best musicians in the world can do when locking together for the pure sake of rhythm and groove.



The title track is a cover of Nina Simone, and if "Young Gifted and Black" was ever protest, Franklin turns it into pure elation. Gospel elation. Listen to the organ and the course backing the Queen as she declares "You are young, gifted in black, you got your

soul in tact."



There is no common theme to Young Gifted and Black, but the thread that binds it is the amazing musicality Franklin brings to all of the material. Every track has elegance and melody to the point of being regal.



Sometimes a classic can simple mean every song is a winner, and here, that is more than enough."