Released February 27, 1961 Artist Aretha Franklin Producer John Hammond | Length 32:47 Release date 27 February 1961 Label Columbia/Legacy | |
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Recorded August 1, 1960-January 10, 1961 at Columbia Recording Studios,
(New York City, New York) Aretha With The Ray Bryant Combo
(1961) The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
(1962) Genres Jazz, Pop music, Traditional pop music Similar Aretha Franklin albums, Jazz albums | ||
Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo is the second studio album by American singer songwriter, Aretha Franklin, released on February 27, 1961 by Columbia Records. The album is Aretha's first release for Columbia, and is also known under its working title Right Now It's Aretha and sometimes simply as Aretha. Following in the footsteps of her close friend Sam Cooke, Aretha was "discovered" by famed Columbia Records producer John H. Hammond, who on the cover notes of the 1973 edition of "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides" mentions, that she was in fact recommended by the composer Curtis Reginald Lewis. With the support of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Aretha venured out to New York City's Columbia Record Studios to record her debut album for the label. Hammond paired Aretha Franklin with Ray Bryant, and combo and arranger J. Leslie McFarland, while taking charge of the album's production, which was received to mixed reviews.
Contents
The album showcases a young Aretha Franklin (only 18 nearly 19 years old, at the time of these recordings), covering a range of jazz and pop standards. Columbia Records couldn't clearly classify Aretha's sound, as either jazz or R&B. Aretha's subsequent albums would show her moving from the realms of both sounds, and audiences as she tries to define her "own soulful sound". Though rare to find an original 6-eye pressing on vinyl, Columbia Records re-released these sessions and retitled them as "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", in 1972. The exact same recording "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", was once more re-released on vinyl, this time in 1973 by CBS/Embassy, trademarks of Columbia Records, probably being a UK edition, which on the center label bears these identification numbers: EMB S-31006 (KC 31953). There are some minor changes in the track list for the 1973 edition as well. (See the separate track listing below the 1972 listing).
Reception
"The word is out. A magnetic new artist, Aretha Franklin, only a short while away from her father's gospel church in Detroit, has been breaking up audience in theatres and nightclubs throughout the country and on Columbia single records. Combining a completely natural and uninhibited vocal style with an irresistible rhythmic sense, Aretha Franklin has established herself as one of the hottest new performers in show business and one likely to set new standards in the entertainment industry.
"She doesn't just open the door - she breaks it down."
Tracks
Side One
1. "Won't Be Long" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:12 2. "Over The Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg) 2:42 3. "Love Is The Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:44 4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:26 5. "All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) 3:01 6. "Who Needs You?" (Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:50Side Two
1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:27 2. "Are You Sure" (Meredith Willson) 2:44 3. "Maybe I'm A Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:20 4. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) 2:57 5. "By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:42 6. "Today I Sing the Blues" (Curtis Lewis) 2:47Bonus Tracks
1. "Are You Sure (Rehearsal)" 2:17 2. "Who Needs You? (Take 9)" 3:03 3. "Right Now (Take 1)" 2:13 4. "Maybe I'm A Fool (Take 4)" 3:57Mono Mixes
- "By Myself" 2:39
- "Won't Be Long" 2:54
- "All Night Long" 3:06
- "Love Is The Only Thing" 2:44
- "Right Now" 2:22
Side One
1. "Won't Be Long" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:07 2. "Over The Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg) 2:35 3. "Love Is The Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:38 4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:19 5. "All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) 2:56 6. "Who Needs You?" (Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:45Side Two
1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:20 2. "Are You Sure" (Meredith Willson) 2:38 3. "Maybe I'm A Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:15 4. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) 2:51 5. "(Blue) By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:36 6. "Today I Sing the Blues" (Curtis Lewis) 2:45
The cover notes on this edition were written by John Hammond, October 5, 1972. Among other things he mentions that all the sides on the record were originally made as singles, primarily for the jukebox market. At the end he writes: For some strange reason, this album has always been something of a secret, and I can only hope that it gets across to a new generation of Aretha admirers. Let me hasten to add that there has been no overdubbing, rechanneling or other messing around with the pure gold of the original.
Songs
1Won't Be Long (Remastered)3:08
2Over the Rainbow (Remastered)2:38
3Love Is the Only Thing (Remastered)2:40