Having won 18 Grammy awards, selling over 75 million records worldwide and being one of the best selling female artists of all time, Aretha Franklin has just recorded a spectacular new album highlighting her soulful voice while tributing “The Great Divas” of all time. Having been the very first woman to be inducted into The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, Franklin also played a significant role in the civil rights movement for her single with Otis Redding, “Respect.”
Her listeners considered her “The Queen of Soul” after recording such hits as “Chain of Fools,” “A Natural Woman” and “Think.” She also has credit for having recorded the best-selling gospel album of all time, called “Amazing Grace.”
Included in this new classic album are such hits as Barbra’s “People,” Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” and Diana’s “You Keep Me Hanging On,” where Franklin also skillfully plays the keyboards. The first track “At Last” as well as the last track “Nothing Compares” are both jazzy, seductive songs, full of the blues. Track number four, “I Will Survive,” originally recorded by Gloria Gaynor, is mixed in with Destiny’s Child, “I’m a Survivor,” and easily becomes Aretha’s very own, done in the sacred way that only she can pull off.
Although each track is totally “Aretha” and amazing to listen to, my own personal favorite is “No One,” done by Alicia Keys. This reggae tune is simply addicting. Of course a tribute record by Aretha wouldn’t be complete without her own “Respect,” which she infuses in “I’m Every Woman.”
Recipient of the USA’s highest civilian honor, “The President’s Medal of Freedom,” her new album “Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics” is destined to become iconic!