07-11-2010 @ 17:48
The release of the DVD Aretha Franklin Live at Concertgebouw 68 shows very rare and unique footage of Aretha in a very productive and creative part of her career. Like Ray Charles, Aretha is a true original with the deepness, power and soul that trancends the decades. Every vocalist in soul music owes something to Aretha Franklin. In the land of Soul she reigns supreme.
The Amsterdam concert kicks off with an energetic version of the Mick Jagger/Keith Richards hit Satisfaction. For the next tune the tempo comes down for Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream, written by Aretha and her husband cum manager Ted White. Next on the programme is Willie Mitchell’s 1968 hit Soul Serenade. Originally written as an instrumental, lyrics were later supplied by producer/writer Luther Dixon. The trumpets miss just about everything but it’s Aretha’s powerful delivery that keeps the thing together. After a short version of The Young Rascals’ Groovin’, it’s time for Natural Woman, written by songwriter couple Carole King and Gerry Goffin. This is followed by Ray Charles’ Come Back Baby and the audience, having been summoned to stay in their seats, continues to dance sitting down.
These last three tunes came from Aretha’s LP Lady Soul that had been released three months earlier. For the next three songs Aretha changes places with the very able pianist Gary Illingworth to accompany herself doing Dr. Feelgood and her latest hit Since You’ve Been Gone. Both were written by Aretha and Ted White. The slow blues Dr. Feelgood is one of the sublime moments of the concert. It has Aretha doing what she does best; deep, soulful gospel with impeccable piano accompaniment and Aretha laying it down and telling it like it is. Dutch newspaper critics at the time thought this was the best song of the concert.
The third song of this segment of the show is Good To Me As I Am To You, another emotional blues from Aretha’s pen. With Illingworth back at the keyboard Aretha returns to centre stage and goes into Ronnie Shannon’s I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You) which was her first hit on Atlantic. In retrospect Aretha’s ad-lib “and I want to leave him right here with you tonight” which is also on the Paris concert, can be construed as a reference to the waning of marital bliss between Aretha and Ted White (whom she would divorce the next year) or as a remark about the band that he put together. Next is a great version Don Covay’s Chain Of Fools and Aretha closes her concert with a roaring version of what is perhaps Aretha’s greatest hit, Otis Redding’s Respect. The release of this special DVD, is expected november 19th 2010.
Artiest: Aretha Franklin
Titel: Live at Concertgebouw 68
Label: Red Bullet
Release: 19-11-2010
Bestelnr DVD: RBDVD14
distr.: Rodeo Media
Tracklist:
01. Arrival at the Concertgebouw + Interview
02. Satisfaction
03. Don't let me lose this dream
04. Soul Serenade
05. Groovin'
06. A Natural Woman
07. Come Back Baby
08. Dr Feelgood
09. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
10. Good To Me As I Am To You
11. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
12. Chain Of Fools
13. Respect