Like its predecessor, Spirit in the Dark, 1972's Young, Gifted and Black found Aretha moving with soul music's elite into a progressive phase that opened up the emotional content of her work even further. "All the King's Horses" mourns the death of her first marriage, while "Day Dreaming" and "A Brand New Me" point toward what we'd now call "healing." Two stabs at social comment, Nina Simone's title cut and, intriguingly, Elton John's "Border Song," round out this impressive portrait. --Rickey Wright
Young, Gifted and Black,Aretha Franklin,Atlantic / Wea,Deep Soul,Pop,R&B,Soul,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Southern Soul
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Young, Gifted and Black
Aretha Franklin Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000335M Release Date: 1993-12-14 |
Tracks:
- Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby)
- Day Dreaming
- Rock Steady
- Young, Gifted, And Black
- All The King's Horses
- A Brand New Me
- April Fools
- I've Been Loving You Too Long
- First Snow In Kokomo
- The Long And Winding Road
- Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
- Border Song (Holy Moses)
Amazon.com essential recording
Like its predecessor, Spirit in the Dark, 1972's Young, Gifted and Black found Aretha moving with soul music's elite into a progressive phase that opened up the emotional content of her work even further. "All the King's Horses" mourns the death of her first marriage, while "Day Dreaming" and "A Brand New Me" point toward what we'd now call "healing." Two stabs at social comment, Nina Simone's title cut and, intriguingly, Elton John's "Border Song," round out this impressive portrait. --Rickey WrightCustomer Reviews:
Aretha's Smoothest.......2007-06-10
Absolutely Brilliant.......2007-03-08
Solid Gold Soul.......2006-05-25
The Epitome.......2006-02-04
At the same time, it popped up in the great book Yes, Yes Y'all: Oral History of Hip Hop's First Decade. Aforementioned friend gave me a disc of mp3 music with "Rock Steady" on it. Now I understand that funny look. I fell immediately in love with it's funky soul, and it's quite possibly my favorite song at this moment.
So today I'm driving through town, and I see a funky red sign on the sidewalk reading "Estate Sale - Vintage Vinyl." Lucky for me, it was my day off, and I resolved to stop in.
Inside a failed coffee shop stands its owner with some random "estate sale" detritus and 10 boxes of vinyl. You never know what you'll see in those kinds of boxes. Of course, there are the regulars: the apparently much loved and apparently much left such as Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66 (and/or '77), Sing Along with Mitch, the "Hooked on Swing" comps, and plenty of faceless instrument records with exclamatory titles like "Conga Brass!" or "Powerful Percussion!" But in between those, there's always something else, and if you're lucky, you find something great.
Today I was lucky. I found it: "Young, Gifted and Black," in "A" condition. Based on first listen and what the estate guy said, this record may never have been played before tonight. Apart from "Rock Steady," I hadn't heard it yet. Now I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have just heard this record for the first time.
Aretha is abolutely perfect. Thrilling. She soars on each song, hitting especially amazing heights on the title cut in particular. In terms of pure melodic precision, I can't think of a voice so, well, PURE, save maybe Ella Fitzgerald. I don't think the musicians and arrangements could be any better. Bernard Purdie on drums, Donny Hathaway on keys; these are good names to find. To top it off, this record (all but two tracks) have Tom Dowd at the controls. That means the recording sounds absolutely fantastic. I learned about Mr Dowd through a wonderful documentary I recently (still on the TIVO!) saw on IFC. In it are pictures of Tom and Aretha, probably from these very sessions!
For me today, upon the first listen of this record, it's as though the planets have aligned and this record is the result. That's just barely hyperbole. It truly delights me that there are still musical gems like this, 34 years old, that I can still experience with virgin ears. After the experience, I can say with total confidence that for any fan of black music (go ahead and get upset if you must, but you shouldn't), this album is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
(And Tall Paul is right, I think this record must be heard on vinyl for best results, and he eplained why well. So do yourself a favor and dust off the old turntable, your ears will thank you.)
Classic Aretha; A Gorgeous Blend of Pop and Soul.......2005-11-05
Aretha is in fine vocal form. Here you don't experience the gritty hoarse notes that are evident on some of the earlier releases ala "Dr. Feelgood" and others. Those recordings have their own charm and soulful beauty. They rushed Aretha into the ears and hearts of many appreciative listeners and made them fans. "Young, Gifted and Black" cemented Aretha as the Queen of Soul. Here, Aretha is sharp, clever and versatile. Her writing is inspired; "Daydreaming" and "First Snow in Kokomo" (one of my all time favorite Aretha compositions). Her interpretations are equal, even better than the originals in most cases; "Brand New Me"; with Aretha's jazzy piano jam and her scat-like vamp; A KILLER! "Oh Me Oh My (A Fool For You) is a soulful and restrained version of original artist Lulu's rendering. Listen to Aretha sing ..."I really don't care" into the second line of the second bar. You'll believe she is tellin' the truth. When Aretha sings the chorus with that vampy harmonized female background it is the epitome of soul. Soul music is less about the subject matter and the style of singing than it is about the portrayal of real emotion projected into the interpretaion of the lyric. Aretha hits almost all the points on this projects with just one notable exception....
Aretha's failed version of the Delphonic's "Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time?" is really and truly a mess. Aretha overplays her hand with a overly ambitious background vocal arrangement which sounds like an early rehearsal tape of what it was meant to become. The voices don't blend here. One second soprano with a wide open vibratto is the chief offensive participant. She strains to sing the first soprano part and it sounds awful. Her own lead is at the top of her register and nearing vocal histrionics. Too much. She all but obliterates the beautiful melody. Leaving the original version the definitive version.
Aretha's turn at Dionne Warwick's "April Fools" is an ambitious attempt to show versatility and an appreciation for an absolutely beautiful lyric. Her overblown arrangement obscures the stunning sentimentality of the words. This song needed the sophistication and subtle approach that the writers intended. Dionne caught and mastered it. Sorry 'Ree.
This project is an excellent presentation of Aretha's vocal virtuosity; her composition skill and her funky piano genious. Many of her hits; "Respect", "Natural Woman", "Think", "Since You Been Gone" and many others can be heard on radio every day. These under-appreciated stylings are seldom heard anywhere other than a true Aretha officionado's turntable or CD player. A Classic in every sense of the word. If you don't have this. Your collection is incomplete.
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Young, Gifted and Black
Various Artists Manufacturer: Import [Generic] ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UBK5 Release Date: 2002-07-08 |
Tracks:
- Oh Carolina - The Folkes Brothers
- Madness - Prince Buster
- My Boy Lollipop - Millie, Millie Small
- Guns of Navarone - The Skatalites
- I'm in the Mood for Ska - Lord Tanamo
- Al Capone - Prince Buster
- 0.0.7 (Shanty Town) - Desmond Dekker & the Aces
- Rudy, A Message to You - Dandy Livingstone
- Tide Is High - The Paragons
- Train to Skaville
- Hold Me Tight - Johnny Nash
- Angel of the Morning - Joya Landis
- Wet Dream - Max Romeo
- Israelites - Desmond Dekker & the Aces
- Return of Django - The Upsetters
- Red Red Wine - Tony Tribe
- Wonderful World, Beautiful People - Jimmy Cliff
- Long Shot Kick de Bucket - The Pioneers
- Liquidator - Harry J
- Monkey Man - The Maytals
- Elizabethan Reggae - Boris Gardiner
- Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff
- Rivers of Babylon - The Melodians
- Kingston Town - Lord Creator
- Young, Gifted & Black - Bob & Marcia
Tracks:
- You Can Get It If You Really Want - Desmond Dekker
- Love of the Common People - Nicky Thomas
- Black Pearl - Horace Faith
- Montego Bay - Freddie Notes & The Rudies
- Sun Is Shining - Bob Marley
- Johnny Too Bad - The Slickers
- Double Barrel - Ansel Collins, Dave & Ansel Collins
- Rain - Bruce Ruffin
- Let Your Yeah Be Yeah - The Pioneers
- Black and White - Greyhound
- Cherry Oh Baby - Eric Donaldson
- Monkey Spanner - Ansel Collins, Dave & Ansel Collins
- Suzanne Beware of the Devil - Dandy Livingstone
- Big Seven - Judge Dread
- Everything I Own - Ken Boothe
- Help Me Make It Through the Night - John Holt
- Ire Feelings (Skanga) - Rupie Edwards
- Hurt So Good - Susan Cadogan
- Midnight Rider - Paul Davidson
- Fatty Bum Bum - Carl Malcolm
- Dat - Pluto Shervington
- Side Show - Barry Biggs
- Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna
- Money in My Pocket - Dennis Brown
- Police & Thieves - Junior Murvin
Album Description
2002 compilation is the ultimate reggae collection, featuring 50 hits & well-known songs from the classic era of the 60s & 70s when the success of Jamaican music was at its peak. This two CD set includes all the major ska, rocksteady & reggae hits from the period. Remastered sound quality, deluxe slipcased packaging, rare color photographs & sleeve-notes by UB40's Robin Campbell.Customer Reviews:
ska! what you should know........2004-01-25
The Golden Age of Reggae.......2003-11-18
The quality of the songs is underlined by the fact that many have been covered by different artists down the years, for example Oh Carolina (Shaggy), Madness (Madness), The Tide Is High (Blondie), Rivers Of Babylon (Boney M), Black And White (Three Dog Night), Montego Bay (Many covers over the years), whilst Neil Diamond's composition Red Red Wine was given a later reggae cover by UB40 and I think Bread's composition Everything I Own was also done in reggae style by Boy George. In both of the latter cases the inspiration was the original reggae interpretation.
My favourites are too many to mention, although tracks that really stand out include Millie's cheeky My Boy Lollipop, the moody Train To Skaville by The Ethiopians, the amazing Israelites by Desmond Dekker, the pulsating instrumental Liquidator by The Harry J. All Stars, Boris Gardner's Elizabethan Reggae which is an instrumental cover of The Gunther Kalman Choir's Elizabeth Serenade plus the song from whence the album takes its name: Young, Gifted And Black.
Other highlights include Greyhound's soulful Black And White and Dave And Ansel Collins' buoyant little ditties Double Barrel and Monkey Spanner that are brilliant blends of organ, voice and drums. Oh yes, and Junior Murvin's stunning social comment in his falsetto style on Police And Thieves. It's a pity about certain omissions: Desmond Dekker's It Mek, Bob And Marcia's Pied Paper and Pluto Shervington's Ram Goat Liver ought also have been here since they're all classics. But overall, this compilation is pure aural delight, a stunning showcase of Jamaica's gift to the world and superb value for money.
Great sampler of 60's/70's reggae.......2002-08-26
This set includes many songs that were big British pop hits, including My boy lollipop (Millie), 007 Shanty town, Israelites, You can get it if you really want (all Desmond Dekker), Hold me tight (Johnny Nash), Wonderful world beautiful people (Jimmy Cliff), Young gifted and black (Bob and Marcia), Everything I own (Ken Boothe's cover of the Bread classic), Help me make it through the night (John Holt's cover of the country classic), Side show (Barry Biggs) and Uptown top ranking (Althia and Donna).
The most famous reggae singer of them all, Bob Marley, is represented by Sun is shining. It's not his most famous song, but if this is your first reggae album, a Bob Marley collection should be your second.
Several songs here were unsuccessful for the original artists, but were later made famous by others, including Rivers of Babylon (The Melodians, a #1 UK hit for Boney M) and The tide is high (The Paragons, a #1 UK hit for Blondie). Red red wine, written by Neil Diamond, was eventually a #1 UK hit for UB40, who may well have been inspired by the Tony Tribe version included here. Oh Carolina became famous via Shaggy's cover of the song.
I don't know how well these records did in America, but I'm sure that Americans will recognise a lot of these songs, either in their original versions or via covers (and not just those I've listed).
Whether you just want one reggae album, or you want an introduction to start building a collection, you won't find anything better than this fascinating collection.
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Forever Young, Gifted & Black: Songs of Freedom and Spirit
Nina Simone Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000CNE15A Release Date: 2006-01-17 |
Tracks:
- To Be Young, Gifted And Black
- Backlash Blues (Live)
- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
- Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead) (Live)
- Mississippi Goddam (Live)
- Revolution (Parts 1 & 2)
- Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)
- Ain't Got No/I Got Life
- Westwind (Live)
- The Times They Are A-Changin'
- To Be Young, Gifted And Black (Live)
Customer Reviews:
Corrected info.......2006-07-17
Also, only Lisa Kelly is the administrator of her mother's estate.
You must buy this CD - its value is 500 stars!.......2006-06-19
At last we hear the song, the passion in all its glory and hellfire anger. Tell you what folks - I have heard this song often before (in edited 5 minute sound bites) - hearing the full (12.55) version will leave you drained - I cried the first and second time I listened it was so moving.
I reckon RCA must have quaked at its message. Despite the "I ain't about to be non violent honey" rhetoric - this is the most forgiving and humane message song ever recorded.
Please Andy Stroud and Lisa Kelly, executors of Nina's estate, release the full and unexpurgated version of the April 7, 1968 Westbury Music Fair concert. It has to be the ultimate testomony to an icon of the 20th century.
Then if RCA/BMG can keep their nerve release all the 1967 to 1974 material Dr Simone recorded/outakes and all. We would learn much for decades to come.
young gifted to old mastery.......2006-03-26
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Young, Gifted, and Black Country
The Mighty Lemon Drops Manufacturer: Devil in the Woods ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00035W5QO Release Date: 2004-11-23 |
Tracks:
- Inside Out
- Rollercoaster
- No Bounds
- Open Mind
- Closer To You
- Out Of Hand
- When I Dream
- (Band Introduction)
- Paint It Black
- Like An Angel
- Something Happens
- Sympathise With Us
- Now She's Gone
- Like An Angel
Customer Reviews:
An excellent release, capturing a truly magical time.......2004-11-28
01 Inside Out
02 Rollercoaster
03 No Bounds
04 Open Mind
05 Closer To You
06 Out Of Hand
07 When I Dream
08 Paint It Black
09 Like An Angel
LIKE AN ANGEL EP:
10 Something Happens
11 Sympathise With Us
12 Now She's Gone
13 Like An Angel
So the deal is this. Tracks 1 through 9 are live tracks captured in 1988 for Deidre O'Donoghue's SNAP radio show, caught live in the basement of KCRW on May 12,1988. It captures the Mighty Lemon Drops at a time when they were white hot. When they were really the darling children of 120 minutes on MTV (back in Kevin Seal's day). It's an awesome time to hear them live. The songs were recorded rather on-the-spot and the sound is wonderful. It's great to finally be apart of them, though I did catch them live several times over the years, the most stand-out-ish of which was with John Wesley Harding.
The last few tracks are from their "Like an Angel" EP which, as you can surmise, has been out of print since the horse and buggy era or, more precisely, 1985 (when it was released in scarce amounts).
Get this, get this, get this. It truly is a treasure you will cherish for years to come.
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Young, Gifted and Black
Nina Simone Manufacturer: Dynamic Entertainment LTD. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00008V70I Release Date: 2003-09-30 |
Tracks:
- Backlash Blues
- Do What You Gotta Do
- Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
- For a While
- Four Women
- I Loves You, Porgy
- I Sing Just to Know That I'm Alive
- I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl
- Mississippi Goddam
- My Baby Just Cares for Me
- Pirate Jenny
- See Line Woman
- House of the Rising Sun
- Other Woman
- You Took My Teeth
- Young, Gifted and Black
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Young, Gifted and Black, Vol. 2
Various Artists Manufacturer: Trojan Records UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002ADXZC Release Date: 2004-08-02 |
Tracks:
- Harder They Come
- Lively Up Yourself
- I Can See Clearly Now
- Ok Fred
- Don't Turn Around
- Oh Carolina
- Tease Me
- Mr. Loverman
- Boom Shack A Lack
- Incredible
- Who Am I
- It Keeps Rainin'
- Shy Guy
- No, No, No (Trojan Mix)
- Good Thing Going
- Close To You
- Amigo
- Girlie Girlie
- Pass The Dutchie
- Now That We've Found Love
- 54 46 Was My Number
- It Mek
- Silly Games
- Tears On My Pillow
- I Want To Wake Up With You
- Dedicated To The One I Love
- Night Nurse
- Cocaine In My Brain
- Vietnam
- Mad About You
- Brown Girl In The Ring
- Moon River
- Pied Piper
- Homely Girl
- You're Everything To Me
- Crying Over You
- Dollar In The Teeth
- Your Honour
- Here I Stand
- Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron
Album Description
Import exclusive two CD compilation. Details TBA. Trojan. 2004.
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Young, Gifted and Black
Nina Simone Manufacturer: Dynamic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0000CNY5Y Release Date: 2003-09-30 |
Tracks:
- Backlash Blues
- Do What You Gotta Do
- Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
- For a While
- Four Women
- I Loves You, Porgy
- I Sing Just to Know That I'm Alive
- I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl
- Mississippi Goddam
- My Baby Just Cares for Me
- Pirate Jenny
- See Line Woman
- House of the Rising Sun
- Other Woman
- You Took My Teeth
- Young, Gifted and Black
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SUMMERTIME GROOVE
YOUNG GIFTED AND BLACK Manufacturer: MARATHON RECORDS ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000NDQNLY |
Product Description
CD SINGLE
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Young Gifted & Black: Early Years
C.J. Lewis Manufacturer: Mci ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00002DGKA |
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Ghetto Religion Chapter One
Manufacturer: Angel D.U.S.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000CA47I4 Release Date: 2004-07-27 |
Christian Music:
- 1, 2 Step/Goodies [CD-single] [Import]
- 187: Music From The Motion Picture [Soundtrack]
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection [Original recording remastered]
- A Little Deeper [Explicit Lyrics]
- Adriana Evans
- Adventures in Paradise A
- All Things in Time/Unmistakably Lou [Import]
- Anthology
- Bad Dreams [Explicit Lyrics]
- Be My Girl: Their Greatest Love Songs
Christian Music
Fauré: Shylock; Pelléas et Mélisande; Cantique de Jean Racine; Requiem
Healing Moods, Vol. 1: Keys of Healing
Dead Ringer/Midnight at the Lost and Found/Bat Out of Hell [Box set] [Import]