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Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics

Posted on October 5, 2014 | Leave a comment

Арета Франклин выпускает новый альбом

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has had a bit of a hiatus from the music scene after some complications with an undisclosed illness but she is back and finished her new album “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics.” Producers on the 10-track album include Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Harvey Mason Jr. and Andre 3000. Among the many diva hits that Aretha will add her own spin to are: Whitney Houston’s (and Chaka Khan’s) “I’m Every Woman,” Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia,” Etta James’ “At Last,” Barbra Streisand’s “People,” Alicia Keys’ “No One,” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” and the veritable favorite “Teach Me Tonight” (Janet Brace, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Amy Winehouse, popularized by Phoebe Snow).

“Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics” comes out October 21.

Davis came up with the concept and songs, which Franklin said she immediately took to. “Mr. Davis said he doesn’t just want another CD,” she said. “He wants a blockbuster event.”

Throughout this week before the release, Aretha Franklin will be promoting the album on a major media circuit that will include a performance on David Letterman’s “The Late Show” on Sept. 29 where she will perform a cover of Adele’s popular song, “Rolling in Deep.” Franklin’s version, which infuses some of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” has more than 2 million views on its official YouTube post.

An Evening with Aretha Franklin @ 92^nd Y

The Queen of Soul, who sat next to longtime collaborator and album producer Clive Davis, held a listening for the album this week at the 92nd Street Y, a nonprofit cultural and community center.

“I haven’t felt so up on a CD since ‘Jump to It’ (was released in 1982) or the first time one of my records was played on the radio,” seventy two still going strong, Aretha Franklin said in an interview at 92^nd Y.” “I don’t think I have ever been as excited as I am now.”

“I like all of it. I like the whole CD, from cut to cut to cut. It kind of reminds me of, I said, ‘You know, this is kind of similar to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”'” she said before the event. “You know the kind of records from cut to cut; I don’t care what comes up (but) you like it. You like it! I think it may be that kind of album.”

“Aretha has always held a very special place in my heart. She’s universally recognized to be the greatest singer of all time,” Davis told.

Mr. Vandross

Franklin recalled the incident with her former collaborator and friend, Luther Vandross. ‘In early 80’s Luther Vandross’ first hit “Never Too Much” was on the radio and caught my ear. I told Clive that I’m interested working with him. He said, “I’m sure he’ll be pleased to work with you.” The result was “Jump to It,” my first number one record in seven years. It was logical, then, for Luther to produce the next record. All of a sudden Luther wanted to tell me how to sing. He says, “Sing it like this,” and I was like “what!” I definitely didn’t’ need him to tell me how it should be sung. I walked out of the studio and went back to my hotel. The next day Clive intervened and we came back to the studio and finished the song.

Alicia Keys Right On The Money

Franklin covers Alicia Keys’ “No One,” which is meshed with a Caribbean vibe. “I love that flavor!” Franklin exclaimed. It was Keys who suggested that flavor from the beginning. “And she was right on the money,” Franklin added.

Andre 2000?

Rapper Andre 3000 also helped her album. Franklin spoke highly of one half of rap duo Outkast saying, “What’s his name, Andre 1000 or 2000? I love everything he does. He’s got a groove that I really, really like.” The singer and the producer eventually settled on the song written by Prince and became a massive hit for Sinead O’Connor in 1990 “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

The album also includes Franklin’s interpretations of classics such as “At Last,” ”I Will Survive” and Barbra Streisand’s “People.”