Something you can feel
Aretha Franklin’s “Songs of Faith” on Checker. A live lp recorded in 1956, at her father, the gospel superstar, Reverend C.L. Franklin’s church in Detroit when she was 14 years old! Aretha sang and played piano before an enthusiastic congregation. The result, as recorded by Joe Von Battle, a local record store owner, was one of the most remarkable and atmospheric gospel recordings ever. Eventually released by Chess as Songs Of Faith in 1965, it is currently available on MCA/Chess as Aretha Gospel. According to Smokey Robinson: “When Aretha was a child she could go to the piano and play nearly like she plays it now. None of the rest of us could just go sit down and play the piano and sing like that.”
(40 votes, average: 3.08 out of 5)
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June 12th, 2011 at 7:59 am
This is cool! a) Had no idea that Aretha plays the piano. b) Have never seen a picture of her as a child. c) Love the idea of her playing AND singing at 14 and ‘bringing down the house’ which I am sure she did.
June 12th, 2011 at 9:42 am
the story of chess & checker records is interesting:
http://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/chesscheck.html
June 13th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
NOBODY sang gospel (or anything else, really) quite like Aretha. Undeniable!
September 15th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Any idea where to track down one of the original pressed BVD church records from 1956? Great relic!
September 15th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
The link from sRw is INCREDIBLE! A ton of info there thanks!