Aretha Franklin

Early Years [Columbia]

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AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

When Aretha was recording for Columbia in the 1960s, the label didn't seem to know what to do with her. Now that they're reissuing material from that time on CD, they still don't know what to do with her. It's hard to determine why someone would pick this over the far more extensive double-disc, Jazz to Soul, that covers the some era. Nevertheless, about half of this doesn't show up on that collection, which means short value overall, but some value at least. It's generally considered that Aretha's Columbia output has been somewhat undervalued, and this is a good cross-section of ballads and grittier R&B-influenced items. It's usually overproduced, but not in as unlistenable fashion as some old-school critics might have you believe. But it's hard to determine what focus (if any) this collection has, especially as it's missing her most soulful (and therefore best) Columbia cuts, "Lee Cross" and "Soulville."

Track Listing

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	This Bitter Earth Clyde Otis	Aretha Franklin	04:34	Amazon
2	Without the One You Love Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	03:34	Amazon
3	Cry Like a Baby Joshie Armstead / Nickolas Ashford / Valerie Simpson	Aretha Franklin	02:10	Amazon
4	Trouble in Mind Richard M. Jones	Aretha Franklin	02:53	Amazon
5	Muddy Water Peter DeRose / Harry Richman / Jo Trent	Aretha Franklin	02:22	Amazon
6	Walk on By Burt Bacharach / Hal David	Aretha Franklin	02:47	Amazon
7	Skylark Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer	Aretha Franklin	02:51	Amazon
8	Drinking Again Johnny Mercer / Doris Tauber	Aretha Franklin	03:28	Amazon
9	Evil Gal Blues Leonard Feather / Lionel Hampton	Aretha Franklin	02:40	Amazon
10	Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside) Ben Raleigh / Bernie Wayne	Aretha Franklin	03:11	Amazon
11	God Bless the Child Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.	Aretha Franklin	03:01	Amazon
12	Take a Look Clyde Otis	Aretha Franklin	02:39	Amazon
13	Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning Pearl Delaney / Tom Delaney	Aretha Franklin	05:11	Amazon
14	I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) Aretha Franklin / Ted White	Aretha Franklin	03:15	Amazon

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Aretha Franklin

Early Years [Columbia]

AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger

Track Listing