Aretha Franklin-Skylark

One of Aretha's finest recordings. Originally from the Columbia release- 'Laughing On The Outside' (1963)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Aretha
• Franklin
• jazz
• soul
• Ella
• Fitzgerald
• Glenn
• Miller
• John
• Mercer
• Columbia
• Records

[uncoverbrother]

that note at 1:56 was amazing.

[minjimmierodgers]

OMG 1:57 IS ABSOLUTLEY RIDICULOUS!!!! JESUS HELP US ALL!

[raven9157]

I don' know about the lyrics but the music belongs to Hoagy !

[LebLectic]

Yet another of our favourites

[erobi02]

Divine....!!!!



[ettajames2luv]

Aretha doing a Johnny Mercer tune.....I think I'm in heaven!

[bolder2009]

@rhondabenin56 Teena Marie was an exception in that she had the 'credibility' and was accepted in the R&B scene but never got the wider recognition her talents deserved. Motown gave her the platform, Rick James gave her 'credibility' by association, but Teena had the goods and she proved that she was the real deal. She could burn most R&B singers on her worst day. At the end of the day 'race' is always 'the elephant in the room', but sometimes talent transcends the fallacy of 'race'.

[bolder2009]

@rhondabenin56 I agree. The playing field isn't level because race is always the elephant in the room, even in the UK where i'm from. But I just feel Amy was the definitive artist of her generation. Think about how many 'white' singers have attempted to do R&B/Soul without much success. There is always the issue of credibility. Amy was not from the culture the gave birth to that music. She was a London girl and conveyed her own experience in her music. She was authentic and had a rare gift.

[rhondabenin56]

@bolder2009

Thanks for your insights on Amy Winehouse. She was a great artist and songwriter. In truth most hits are about the song which is why so many great standards are covered by great singers. I think my point was in a very racist America white singers who sing black music move further ahead of black singer thus gathering up the fame and the wealth, ie Little Richard/Elvis Presley. I agree that the most of today's singers will be forgotten because of the poorly written songs. 

[bolder2009]

Aretha is the Queen of Soul! There is no debate. She is the measuring stick and has worn the crown since 1967. Unfortunately her Columbia records material is severely unappreciated. There are many jewels in her body of work that will hopefully one day recieve the critical reappraisal it deserves. This 'Skylark' is a testament to Aretha's interpretive genius. Her intuitive ability of what to do with a phrase combined with all the feeling you could hope for is a hallmark of all her best work.

[bolder2009]

@rhondabenin56 I know the body of work of all the singers you mentioned, unfortunately they will be forgotten. They have not writen a 'Love Is A Losing Game' or a 'You Sent Me Flying'. Until songwriting steps up in R&B, most of these good singers will be forgotten. The singer who I feel is most negelected is Adriana Evans. In my humble opinion she is one of the greatest artists of the last 15 years. She has a timeless voice, and writes songs that are just as memorable. A true artist!