Aretha Now

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.