BBR records continue with their programme of reissuing ARETHA FRANKLIN’S Arista albums by releasing her debut for CLIVE DAVIS’ label. Originally released in 1980 the eponymous LP was produced by the veteran ARIF MARDIN and the then hot shot CHUCK JACKSON. DAVIS spared no expense, allowing the producers to use the cream of LA session men including JAMES JAMERSON SR, BERNARD PURDIE, RICHARD TEE, CORNELL DUPREE, JEFF POCARO, DAVID FOSTER, LOUIS JOHNSON and DAVID SANBORN. He even brought in the original SWEET INSPIRATIONS to provide backing vocals.
The album yielded three US singles – the sweet ballad ‘United Forever’, the deeper ‘Come To Me’ and a great version of the DOOBIE BROTHERS’ ‘What A Fool Believes’ complete with great sax solo from DAVID SANBORN. A cover of OTIS REDDING’S ‘I Can’t Turn You Loose’ was also released as a 45 in the UK. ‘Aretha’ was/is a great album and proved to the doubters that for the Queen of Soul there was definitely life after Atlantic.
This reissue includes the original LP’s 9 tracks along with a quartet of bonus cuts – essentially edits of the singles.
