Aretha Now

by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Now cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: June 14, 1968
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 29:23
  • Community rating: 4.53/5 from 8 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Released during a prolific peak, 'Aretha Now' captures Aretha Franklin solidifying her title as the Queen of Soul with a masterful blend of fiery originals and definitive reinterpretations. The album showcases her immense vocal power and formidable piano skills, anchored by the tight, grooving rhythm sections of Atlantic Records and arrangements by Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. It balances the assertive, self-penned anthem "Think" with commanding covers of songs by Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and a hit reinvention of Burt Bacharach's "I Say a Little Prayer," demonstrating her unparalleled ability to claim a song as her own.

Genres

Descriptors: soulful, vocal, rhythmic, piano, cover

Tracklist

  1. Think (2:19)
  2. I Say a Little Prayer (3:36)
  3. See Saw (2:46)
  4. Night Time Is the Right Time (4:50)
  5. You Send Me (2:29)
  6. You're a Sweet Sweet Man (2:19)
  7. I Take What I Want (2:33)
  8. Hello Sunshine (3:03)
  9. A Change (4:20)
  10. I Can't See Myself Leaving You (3:01)

Credits

  • Aretha Franklin - lead vocals, piano, Primary Artist, Written-By
  • Tommy Cogbill - guitar, bass guitar
  • Carolyn Franklin - background vocals
  • Roger Hawkins - drums
  • Jerry Jemmott - bass guitar
  • Jimmy Johnson - guitar
  • Spooner Oldham - hammond organ, electric piano, piano
  • The Sweet Inspirations - background vocals
  • Bobby Womack - guitar
  • Floyd Newman - baritone saxophone
  • Willie Bridges - baritone saxophone
  • Charles Chalmers - tenor saxophone
  • Andrew Love - tenor saxophone
  • King Curtis - tenor saxophone, Written-By
  • Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone
  • Bernie Glow - trumpet
  • Wayne Jackson - trumpet
  • Melvin Lastie - trumpet
  • Joe Newman - trumpet
  • Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone
  • Tony Studd - bass trombone
  • Frank Wess - tenor saxophone, flute
  • Tom Dowd - all arrangements, engineering
  • Arif Mardin - all arrangements
  • Ted White - Written-By
  • Bacharach And David - Written-By
  • Don Covay - Written-By
  • Steve Cropper - Written-By
  • Lew Herman - Written-By
  • Sam Cooke - Written-By
  • Ronnie Shannon - Written-By
  • David Porter - Written-By
  • Isaac Hayes - Written-By
  • Mabon "Teenie" Hodges - Written-By
  • Ronald Miller - Written-By
  • Clyde Otis - Written-By
  • Dorian Burton - Written-By

More from Aretha Franklin: full discography