Aretha
Franklin
Release date Oct. 16, 2007,
Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul
Overview
I came across Aretha
Franklin's material by exposure to Duane Allman's Anthology
releases. He has two volumes and each feature a song which Duane
plays on as a session man for Aretha, both from her album, This Girl's In Love
With You. After hearing these tracks I decided to explore her music
further. I borrowed her boxed set, Aretha Franklin: Queen Of
Soul,
The Atlantic Recordings, from our library and since picked up a copy
of my own.
Of course I was familiar
with Aretha's big hits. Though, there is so much to treasure from
her catalogue. While Aretha is known as a vocalists, and pianist,
her back-up players are remarkable. There are always interesting
things going on musically; it could be piano runs, guitar riffs, horns, or a
truly amazing rhythm section.
Aretha Franklin performs a
number of cover songs. When most bands take the foundation of the
original and typically stick to the form of it, Aretha
usually totally rearranges the song and in in doing so, makes it unique and her
own, for better sometimes or worse on other occasions. One exception
is Carole King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural
Woman." However, Aretha's version came out before King's. I am
a big fan of Carole King and her songs are covered extensively, but
this is the only track that thrills me as much as King's version.
Personally, I like her
early albums on Atlantic the best. I've heard several of the
pre-Atlantic compilations and they are not as good.
There are numerous Aretha
Franklin collections of all shapes and sizes. Her box-set includes
just about everything from her best albums and as well as a generous quantity
of songs from her other albums.
Aretha has several one or
two disc compilations that are worth considering. However, some of my
personal favorite Aretha tracks are not any any of them. Some at the top of the list include "Soul
Serenade," and "It Ain't Fair."
Below
are comments, track lists, and other details of some of great Aretha
Franklin music. We've highlighted some
collections below to consider as well as her key studio albums with
Atlantic.
Box set
Key
recommendations
Complilations
Because Aretha's single and double collections miss several of my very favorite tracks
we highly suggest her box-set, Queen of Soul. It includes
most of her songs through This Girl's In Love With You
as well as a fair sampling of material after that, of which that I am less interested in.
It may cost more, but it is worth it. It includes a book with
detailed credits with musicians, an Atlantic discography, photos,
essays, etc.
Individual albums
Our favorite individual
albums are I've Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You and Lady
Soul (Includes a bonus tracks, one of which is "Chain of
Fools" with an extended introduction).
Pre-Atlantic
There are a few compilations to select that summarize Aretha at
Columbia.
Press Release
RHINO REVISITS HOT NIGHT OF SAX AND SOUL
Legendary Live Fillmore West Albums Recorded in 1971 by Aretha Franklin and King Curtis Remastered and Expanded for Deluxe Reissues
Both Are Available July 11, 2006, from Rhino Records
Looking for a way to introduce Aretha Franklin to a mainstream audience, Jerry Wexler -- who signed the Queen of Soul to Atlantic Records and produced her classic albums -- booked the singer for three nights at San Francisco's Fillmore West in March 1971. At Wexler's suggestion, Franklin tapped premier saxman King Curtis and the Kingpins as both her opening act and backing band for the performances. Rhino Records revisits the sweet soul magic of those landmark live shows with remastered and expanded versions of
ARETHA LIVE AT FILLMORE WEST and Curtis' LIVE AT THE FILLMORE
WEST.
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| Aretha Franklin
compilations |
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| Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings |
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Disc: 1
1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
2. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
3. Save Me
4. Respect
5. Baby, Baby, Baby
6. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)
7. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
8. Soul Serenade
9. Drown In My Own Tears
10. Chain Of Fools
11. Baby, I Love You
12. Ain't Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)
13. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
14. You Are My Sunshine
15. Going Down Slow
16. Never Let Me Go
17. I Wonder
18. Prove It
19. Good Times
20. Come Back Baby
21. A Change
22. You're A Sweet Sweet Man
23. Good To Me As I Am To You
24. People Get Ready
25. Ain't No Way
Disc: 2
1. Think
2. See Saw
3. The House That Jack Built
4. Night Time Is The Right Time
5. I Say A Little Prayer
6. You Send Me
7. My Song
8. I Take What I Want
9. I Can't See Myself Leaving You
10. Night Life (Live Version)
11. Today I Sing The Blues
12. Pitiful
13. Tracks Of My Tears
14. River's Invitation
15. Share Your Love With Me
16. It Ain't Fair
17. Sit Down And Cry
18. Honest I Do
19. The Weight
20. When The Battle Is Over
21. Eleanor Rigby
22. One Way Ticket
23. Call Me
24. Pullin'
Disc: 3
1. Son Of A Preacher Man
2. Try Matty's
3. The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday's Kiss)
4. Dark End Of The Street
5. You And Me
6. Let It Be
7. Spirit In The Dark
8. Why I Sing The Blues
9. Don't Play That Song
10. Young, Gifted And Black
11. Border Song (Holy Moses)
12. A Brand New Me
13. You're All I Need To Get By
14. Spanish Harlem
15. Rock Steady
16. Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)
17. Day Dreaming
18. All The King's Horses
19. Bridge Over Troubled Water
20. Angel
Disc: 4
1. Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
2. How I Got Over
3. So Swell When You're Well
4. Master Of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)
5. Somewhere
6. I'm In Love
7. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
8. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
9. Every Natural Thing
10. Without Love
11. With Everything I Feel In Me
12. Mr. D.J. (5 For The D.J.)
13. Look Into Your Heart
14. Sparkle
15. Rock With Me
16. Break It To Me Gently
17. Something He Can Feel |
Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings |
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| Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live |
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Aretha Franklin, but a highly recommend blues genre CD.
Disc: 1
1. Mannish Boy
2. She's Nineteen Years Old
3. Nine Below Zero *
4. Streamline Woman
5. Howling Wolf *
6. Baby Please Don't Go
7. Deep Down In Florida *
Disc: 2
1. After Hours/Stormy Monday Blues
2. Trouble No More
3. Champagne & Reefer
4. Corrina, Corrina
5. Hoochie Coochie Man
6. She Moves Me
7. Kansas City
8. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
9. Mad Love (I Want You To Love Me)
10. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
11. Got My Mojo Working
Re-mastered edition includes a second disc of
previously unreleased material. An excellent booklet is included
with essays by Robert Gordon and Bob Margolin, credits,
photos, and more.
Single
disc (if you must)
Harry Hope's
Cary, IL
8/25 and 26, 1977
Muddy Waters - guitar, vocals
Luther "Guitar Jr. Johnson - guitar
Bob Margolin - guitar
Calvin Jones - bass
Pinetop Perkins - piano
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith - drums
Joe Portnoy - harmonica
*Masonic Auditorium
Detroit, MI
3/18/1977
Muddy Waters - guitar, vocals
Luther "Guitar Jr. Johnson - guitar
Bob Margolin - guitar
Charles Calmese - bass
Pinetop Perkins - piano
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith - drums
Johnny Winter - guitar
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Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live |
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Single disc
Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live |
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| Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits |
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Disc: 1
1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
2. Respect
3. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
4. Dr. Feelgood
5. Save Me
6. Baby I Love You
7. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
8. Chain Of Fools
9. Since You've Been Gone
10. Ain't No Way
11. Think
12. I Say A Little Prayer
13. The House That Jack Built
14. See Saw
15. The Weight
16. Share Your Love With Me
17. Eleanor Rigby
Disc: 2
1. Call Me
2. Spirit In The Dark
3. Don't Play That Song
4. You're All I Need To Get By
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. Spanish Harlem
7. Rock Steady
8. Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)
9. Day Dreaming
10. Wholly Holy
11. Angel
12. Until You Come Back To Me
13. I'm In Love |
Aretha Franklin - 30 Greatest Hits |
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| Respect: Very Best of |
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1. Respect
2. Think
3. Spanish Harlem
4. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
5. I Say A Little Prayer
6. Son Of A Preacher Man
7. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
8. Chain Of Fools
9. Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
10. Angel
11. Border Song (Holy Moses)
12. Rock Steady
13. See Saw
14. The House That Jack Built
15. Oh No Not My Baby
16. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
17. Good Times
18. Since Youve Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
19. Youre All I Need To Get By
20. Aint Nothing Like The Real Thing
21. Do Right Woman Do Right Man
22. Share Your Love With Me
23. Something He Can Feel
24. Aint No Way
25. Sisters Are Doin It For Themselves (Duet With Eurythmics)
26. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (Duet With George Michael)
27. Through The Storm (Duet With Elton John)
28. Love All The Hurt Away (Duet With George Benson)
29. Willing To Forgive
30. Let It Be
31. Never Let Me Go
32. Night Time Is The Right Time
33. Call Me
34. Drown In My Own Tears
35. People Get Ready
36. My Song
37. Dark End Of The Street
38. Today I Sing The Blues
39. A Rose Is Still A Rose
40. Whos Zoomin Who
41. Freeway Of Love
42. Day Dreaming
43. Bridge Over Troubled Water
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Respect: Very Best of |
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| Aretha's Best
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1. 1. Respect
2. Think
3. Freeway Of Love
4. Baby, I Love You
5. A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)
6. Day Dreaming
7. I Say A Little Prayer
8. The House That Jack Built
9. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
10. Spanish Harlem
11. Jump To It
12. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
13. Chain Of Fools
14. Rock Steady
15. Who's Zoomin' Who
16. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
17. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
18. Call Me
19. Do Right Woman - Do Right Man
20. Bridge Over Troubled Waters
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Aretha's Best |
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| The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 60's
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1. Respect
2. Baby I Love You
3. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
4. Chain Of Fools
5. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
6. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
7. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
8. Ain't No Way
9. Think
10. See Saw
11. The House That Jack Built
12. I Say A Little Prayer
13. The Weight
14. Eleanor Rigby
15. Share Your Love With Me
16. Call Me
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The Very Best of Aretha Franklin: The 60's |
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Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul
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Track listing
1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (Demo)
2. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) (Demo)
3. Sweet Bitter Love (Demo)
4. It Was You (Aretha Arrives Outtake)
5. The Letter (Aretha Arrives Outtake)
6. So Soon (Aretha Arrives Outtake)
7. Mr. Big (Aretha Arrives Outtake)
8. Talk To Me, Talk To Me (Soul '69 Outtake)
9. The Fool On The Hill (This Girl's In Love With You Outtake)
10. Pledging My Love / The Clock (Single B-Side)
11. You're Taking Up Another Man's Place (This Girl's In Love With You/Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On (This Girl's In Love With You/Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
13. I'm Trying To Overcome (This Girl's In Love With You/Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
14. My Way (Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
15. My Cup Runneth Over (Young, Gifted And Black Outtake)
16. You're All I Need To Get By (Take 1)
17. You're All I Need To Get By (Take 2)
18. Lean On Me (Single B-Side)
19. Rock Steady (Alternate Mix - Young, Gifted And Black Outtake)
20. I Need A Strong Man (The To-To Song) (Young, Gifted And Black Outtake)
21. Heavenly Father (Young, Gifted And Black Outtake)
22. Sweetest Smile And The Funkiest Style Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
23. This Is (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
24. Tree Of Life Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
25. Do You Know (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
26. Can You Love Again (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
27. I Want To Be With You (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
28. Suzanne (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
29. That's The Way I Feel About Cha (Alternate Version - Hey Now Hey (The Other Side Of The Sky Outtake)
30. Ain't But The One
31. The Happy Blues (Let Me In Your Life Outtake)
32. At Last (Let Me In Your Life Outtake)
33. Love Letters (Let Me In Your Life Outtake)
34. I'm In Love (Alternate Vocal - Let Me In Your Life Outtake)
35. Are You Leaving Me (Demo)
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Aretha Franklin - Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul |
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Press Release
"Mr. Wexler, I'm Aretha Franklin." That simple introduction, made in 1966, forever
changed the course of soul music. Legendary producer Jerry Wexler struck a handshake deal
with the young singer, marking the start of a new artistic direction for Aretha and
heralding her 13-year reign at Atlantic Records as the Queen of Soul. Rhino bears witness
to Sister Re's renaissance with a two-disc collection of unreleased demos, outtakes, and B
-sides that reveal prime Aretha at work in the studio. Writing in the collection's detailed
liner notes, Wexler says he was blown away by the high quality of the unreleased music.
"We've discovered a treasure trove of vintage Aretha that's nothing short of thrilling.
Aretha's outtakes are the sort of performances most artists would be proud to call first
choices"
RARE & UNRELEASED RECORDINGS FROM THE GOLDEN REIGN OF THE QUEEN OF SOUL features 35
tracks originally recorded between 1966 and 1973. The collection presents outtakes from
sessions for eight albums; the B-sides "Pledging My Love/The Clock" and "Lean On Me"; and a
duet featuring Ray Charles performing live with Aretha on a televised salute to Duke
Ellington. The outtakes reveal Aretha's artistic blossoming as she began working with
Wexler, Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and a rhythm section of bad-ass white boys from Muscle
Shoals, Alabama.
The collection's first disc follows Aretha's rapid rise to stardom at Atlantic, where
she erupted with seven studio albums in three years that contained some of her most
enduring songs. Opening with a trio of demos from the winter of 1966, the collection begins
with Aretha working through "Dr. Feelgood," "Sweet Bitter Love," and "I Never Loved A Man
(The Way I Love You)," a song that would prove to be her breakout hit. The disc also
includes a cover of The Beatles' "Fool On The Hill" along with three unreleased songs-"You
Keep Me Hanging On," "Trying To Overcome," and a masterful version of "My Way." "For me,"
Wexler writes, "this is one of the highpoints of the collection, a discovery of enormous
value. Listening to it now, I forget about Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra and think only
Aretha. It's a masterpiece."
The second disc begins with three songs recorded during the Young, Gifted And Black
sessions, including the unedited version of "Rock Steady," Aretha's own composition and
surely one of her finest moments. The collection draws heavily from the Hey Now Hey (The
Other Side Of The Sky) sessions, featuring eight superb outtakes from the Quincy Jones-produced album. The set concludes as it began, with an unadorned demo featuring Aretha at
her piano singing the bittersweet song "Are You Leaving Me."
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Studio
albums
through This Girl's In Love With You |
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| I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You |
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1. Respect
2. Drown In My Own Tears
3. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
4. Soul Serenade
5. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream
6. Baby, Baby, Baby
7. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)
8. Good Times
9. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man
10. Save Me
11. A Change Is Gonna Come
12. Respect (Stereo Version)
13. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (Stereo Version)
14. Do Right Woman-Do Right Man (Stereo Version)
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You |
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| Aretha Arrives
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1. Satisfaction
2. You Are My Sunshine
3. Never Let Me Go
4. 96 Tears
5. Prove It
6. Night Life
7. That's Life
8. I Wonder
9. Ain't Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)
10. Going Down Slow
11. Baby, I Love You
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Aretha
Arrives |
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| Lady Soul
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1. Chain Of Fools
2. Money Won't Change You
3. People Get Ready
4. Niki Hoeky
5. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
6. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
7. Good To Me As I Am To You
8. Come Back Baby
9. Groovin'
10. Ain't No Way
11. Chain Of Fools (Unedited Version)
12. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Mono Single Version)
13. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) (Mono Single Version)
14. Ain't No Way (Mono Single Version)
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Lady Soul |
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| Aretha Now
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1. Think
2. I Say A Little Prayer
3. See Saw
4. Night Time Is The Right Time
5. You Send Me
6. You're A Sweet Sweet Man
7. I Take What I Want
8. Hello Sunshine
9. A Change
10. I Can't See Myself Leaving You
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Aretha Now |
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| Soul '69
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1. Ramblin'
2. Today I Sing The Blues
3. River's Invitation
4. Pitiful
5. Crazy He Calls Me
6. Bring It On Home To Me
7. Tracks Of My Tears
8. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody
9. Gentle On My Mind
10. So Long
11. I'll Never Be Free
12. Elusive Butterfly
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Soul '69 |
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| This Girl's In Love With You
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1. Son Of A Preacher Man
2. Share Your Love With Me
3. Dark End Of The Street
4. Let It Be
5. Eleanor Rigby
6. This Girl's In Love With You
7. It Ain't Fair
8. The Weight
9. Call Me
10. Sit Down And Cry
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This Girl's In Love With You |
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| Live
at Fillmore West (expanded) |
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More including King Curtis' set
The 2006 re-mastering is a nice sonic
upgrade to the original album. It includes a second disc with
alternates and un-issued tracks (Sort of, they were issued
under Rhino's homemade series entitled Aretha Franklin
& King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West: Don't Fight the
Feeling. Recorded March 5 -
7, 1971, at the Fillmore West. Aretha was backed by King
Curtis' rhythm section the Kingpins.
Disc: 1
1. Respect
2. Love The One You're With
3. Bridge Over Troubled Water
4. Eleanor Rigby
5. Make It With You
6. Don't Play That Song
7. Dr. Feelgood
8. Spirit In The Dark
9. Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
10. Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)
Disc: 2
1. Respect
2. Call Me
3. Mixed-up Girl
4. Love The One You're With
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water
6. Share Your Love With Me
7. Eleanor Rigby
8. Make It With You
9. You're All I Need To Get By
10. Don't Play That Song
11. Dr. Feelgood
12. Spirit In The Dark
13. Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
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Live at Fillmore West |
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| Pre-Atlantic
Period |
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| The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years 1960-1965 |
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Disc: 1
1. Nobody Like You
2. Once In A While
3. Maybe I'm A Fool
4. Muddy Water
5. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home? (Alternate Version)
6. Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)
7. Today I Sing The Blues
8. Won't Be Long
9. Nobody Know The Way I Feel This Morning
10. Evil Gal Blues
11. Lee Cross
12. Walk On By
13. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight)
14. God Bless The Child
15. Blue Holiday
16. Looking Through A Tear
17. Tiny Sparrow
18. Here Today And Gone Tomorrow
19. Little Brown Book
20. Without The One You Love
Disc: 2
1. This Bitter Earth
2. Just For A Thrill
3. Skylark
4. Skylark (Alternate Version)
5. Trouble In Mind
6. Runnin' Out Of Fools
7. Drinking Again
8. Laughing On The Outside
9. What A Difference A Day Makes
10. Soulville
11. You'll Lose A Good Thing
12. Take A Look
13. Cry Like A Baby
14. I Wish I Didn't Love You So
15. Only The Lonely
16. People (From 'Funny Girl')
17. Mockingbird
18. Until You Were Gone
19. My Coloring Book
20. Try A Little Tenderness
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The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years 1960-1965 |
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| Jazz to Soul
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Disc: 1
1. Today I Sing The Blues
2. By Myself (Blue)
3. Maybe I'm A Fool
4. All Night Long
5. Blue Holiday
6. Nobody Like You
7. Sweet Lover
8. Just For A Thrill
9. If Ever I Would Leave You
10. Once In A While
11. This Bitter Earth
12. God Bless The Child
13. Skylark
14. Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan)
15. Drinking Again
16. What A Difference A Day Made (Makes)
17. Unforgettable
18. Love For Sale
19. Misty
20. Impossible
21. This Could Be The Start Of Something (Big)
Disc: 2
1. Won't Be Long
2. Operation Heartbreak
3. Soulville
4. Runnin' Out Of Fools
5. Trouble In Mind
6. Walk On By
7. Every Little Bit Hurts
8. Mockingbird
9. You'll Lose A Good Thing
10. Cry Like A Baby
11. Take It Like You Give It
12. Land Of Dreams
13. Can't You Just See Me
14. (No, No) I'm Losing You
15. Bit Of Soul
16. Why Was I Born?
17. Until You Were Gone
18. Lee Cross
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Jazz to Soul |
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