Latest News

From LocalMemphis.com:

Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Available November 10 From Rhino

Available On CD, LP, And Digitally On November 10 From Rhino

LOS ANGELES – In January 1967, a 24-year old Aretha Franklin signed to Atlantic Records and began one of the most legendary runs in music history, releasing five U.S. hit singles in that year alone. Rhino celebrates the 50th anniversary of Franklin’s historic signing with an opportunity to hear her classic Atlantic masters like never before.

A BRAND NEW ME: ARETHA FRANKLIN WITH THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA pairs classic vocals from some of the most iconic songs that the Queen of Soul recorded for Atlantic Records with new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album will be available from Rhino on November 10 on CD, LP, digital download, and streaming services.

A BRAND NEW ME features Franklin’s instantly recognizable voice woven together with new orchestral arrangements. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded the music at Abbey Road Studios in London, with brand new backing vocals led by Grammy®-winning singer Patti Austin.

The result is another timeless record that retains the soul, groove, and gospel power of Franklin’s revered talent. Among the standout tracks are newly re-imagined versions of classics like the Billboard #1 R&B hits “Respect,” “Think,” “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied),” and “Angel.”

The album was produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, the masterminds behind the massive worldwide success of If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which recently topped the charts in multiple countries and has sold more than 1.5 million copies.

Nick Patrick says: “There is a reason that Aretha Franklin is called the ‘Queen of Soul.’ There is nothing more exciting than that incredible voice taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride through her amazing repertoire of songs. To have the opportunity to work with that voice on this project has been the greatest honor and to hear a symphony orchestra wrapped around those performances is breathtaking.”

Don Reedman says: “I was 15 years old when a song came on the radio called ‘Rock A Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody.’ It blew me away; the power, the soul. The feeling that went through me got me hooked on Aretha and I have been ever since. To be able to make this album and be able to select songs from hits like ‘Respect’ to ‘Think’ then blend them with classic songs like ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Border Song’ and create an album which is versatile and fresh is truly an honor.”

James Williams, Managing Director of The Royal Philharmonic says: “The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilled to perform on this new recording, combining Aretha Franklin’s iconic voice with lush new arrangements of her greatest hit songs for full orchestra, bringing a whole new generation to the music of this legendary performer.”

A BRAND NEW ME: ARETHA FRANKLIN WITH THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC
Track Listing

CD / Digital
1. “Think”
2. “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)”
3. “I Say A Little Prayer”
4. “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”
5. “A Brand New Me”
6. “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)”
7. “Angel”
8. “Border Song (Holy Moses)”
9. “Let It Be”
10. “People Get Ready”
11. “Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)”
12. “You’re All I Need To Get By”
13. “Son Of A Preacher Man”
14. “Respect”

LP
SIDE A
1. “Think”
2. “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)”
3. “I Say A Little Prayer”
4. “A Brand New Me”
5. “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)”
6. “Angel”

SIDE B
1. “Border Song (Holy Moses)”
2. “Let It Be”
3. “People Get Ready”
4. “You’re All I Need To Get By”
5. “Son Of A Preacher Man”
6. “Respect”

The Queen of Soul was feted over a three-day period as part of the inaugural Detroit Music Weekend festival with a street naming and a tribute concert, as well as her own free headline show in downtown Detroit that Franklin has said may be the last in her hometown.

… If that proves to be the case, Franklin left her Detroit fans — estimated by festival organizers at 14,000 — with a gracious finale. The hour-and-50-minute show brought out a batch of famous friends — including civil rights activist Jessie Jackson, Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, boxing champion Thomas Hearns, Detroit City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson and fellow musicians Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Freda Payne, Vickie Winans and Ivan Kral. … During a mid-show break Franklin also received a key to the city from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and a Metropolitan Detroit Virtuoso Award from Franklin’s opera coach Mary Lynch.

Read more at Billboard.

Watch as Detroit honors Aretha Franklin by renaming a street in downtown after her. It’s at the corner of Brush St. and Madison Ave. – WXYZ Detroit

One of the most significant milestones of Aretha Franklin’s career came 50 years ago this week, when her single “Respect” muscled the Young Rascals out of No. 1 to top the Billboard Hot 100. The defiant soul anthem was Franklin’s first pop chart-topper and cemented its place as her defining song.

“Wow, really?!” she said Thursday when told of this week’s anniversary. “Well, ‘Respect’ is standing up, as Jerry Wexler used to say.”

Read more at the Detroit Free Press.

Aretha Franklin is hard at work on a new album she hopes to have out in January, featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Elton John (on a version of “Your Song”), Lionel Richie and Yitzhak Perlman. “Lionel’s working on his piece, Stevie’s working on his piece; they’re both originals,” Franklin, who’s co-executive-producing the album, tells Billboard. “I’m working on a couple of things. I think there will be about 10 [songs] on it, maybe 11, but I’m thinking 10.” No title has been determined yet for the album, which will be Franklin’s first studio set since 2014’s Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics.

Read more at Billboard.

Aretha Franklin will perform a 90-minute concert at 6 p.m. June 10 for free as part of Detroit Music Weekend, a four-day concert in Detroit’s entertainment district June 8-11. A Franklin tribute also will be held on June 9, a ticketed event at Music Hall Center featuring the Detroit SuperBAND — a collection of players including members of Kid Rock and Aretha Franklin’s bands — and vocalists including Mitch Ryder and Thornetta Davis. Tickets begin at $25.

In addition, the city of Detroit will declare a section of Madison Street — between Brush Street and Witherall Street — “Aretha Franklin Way” during a dedication ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. June 8.

Read more at The Detroit News.

Aretha Franklin’s name will soon be gracing a Detroit street. Details of the street renaming, along with information on a presentation of a key to the city, will be announced May 4 by city officials as part of a media event formally introducing Detroit Music Weekend, a new summer festival in the city’s theater district. As reported by the Free Press, Franklin will headline the fest with a free outdoor performance.

Read more at the Detroit Free Press.

Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Barry Manilow at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives on April 19, 2017. Photo credit: Elliot Dal Pra London

Related News:

• Aretha Franklin To Perform At Clive Davis Documentary Premiere At Tribeca Film Festival – February 2, 2017

Listening to Aretha Franklin speak is like listening to someone who knows how the game ends, so self-assured at this point of her life that stories about performances or records are just great stories as opposed to milestone moments.

… Though Franklin announced earlier this year that she would be retiring from touring, looking to do one or two concerts across a few months, she’s not passing that torch any time soon. “The future of soul music? Me, because I’m not quitting. I’m not sitting down.”

She’s starting a collaboration with Stevie Wonder, which includes a duet with Jamie Foxx, at the end of April, and says it will be some of the “best and greatest music you’ve ever heard.”

Read more at the Chicago Tribune.