The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin · 1962
35 min · 12 tracks · funk · jazz · pop rock
Soulful ballads blend with jazz-inflected rhythms, showcasing Aretha's powerful voice and emotional depth.
Why this album works
This album is significant as it helped solidify Aretha Franklin's place in the music scene during the early 1960s, paving the way for future R&B and soul artists. While it didn't achieve immediate commercial success, its critical reception laid groundwork for her subsequent iconic works and influenced countless musicians.
- Best for
- steady emotional exploration intimate moments of vulnerability soulful reflections on love
- Context
- Released on August 13, 1962, this album arrived shortly after Aretha Franklin signed with Atlantic Records, marking her transition into the soul genre. It came just a year before her groundbreaking hit 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)', setting the stage for her ascent as the 'Queen of Soul'.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Crystal Gayle· Dean Martin· Nancy Sinatra· Harry Nilsson· Bob Dylan· Cher· Ella Fitzgerald· Diana Ross
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Don’t Cry Baby 3:20
- 2 Try a Little Tenderness Standout 3:14
- 3 I Apologize 2:51
- 4 Without the One You Love 2:45
- 5 Look for the Silver Lining 3:02
- 6 I’m Sitting on Top of the World 2:40
- 7 Just for a Thrill Standout 2:51
- 8 God Bless the Child Standout 3:01
- 9 I’m Wandering 3:25
- 10 How Deep Is the Ocean 2:47
- 11 I Don’t Know You Anymore 2:46
- 12 Lover Come Back to Me 2:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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