I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Album #: 85
Album Title: Lady Soul
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Genre: R&B, Soul, Blues
Recorded: FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, U.S.A.
Released: January, 1968
My age at release: 2
How familiar was I with it before this week: Many of the songs
Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at #75 - rising 10 spots
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Natural Woman
 |
The "diner scene" from The Blues Brothers, Aretha is dancing
with Elwood (Ackroyd) and Jake (Belushi). |
The summer of 1980 was a big one for me. We had just moved to London, Ontario, after five years in Kingsville, a small fishing and farming town on Lake Erie that didn't even have a movie theatre. Suddenly, there I was living in London, a city with theatres, arcades, record stores, a transit system and more possibilities than a wide-eyed kid knew what to do with. |
| Downtown London in 1980 |
One of those possibilities presented itself at Westmount Mall, just across the street from the high school, Saunders Secondary, that I would attend in the coming September. The Blues Brothers was playing there, and I saw it three times that summer. With a bicycle, a few babysitting dollars in my pocket and not many friends yet, the movie theatre became an easy distraction. Looking back, those are golden days. When you are a teenager you generally have some independence and limited responsibility. Add to that some disposable income (frankly, all my income was disposable) and the world is your oyster.As a diehard Saturday Night Live fan, I was there for Belushi, Aykroyd, the car chases and the comedy. What I didn't realize at the time was that the movie was also introducing me to some of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century. Aretha Franklin was one of them, and for many years Think was Aretha to me.Later that summer, when I turned 15, my Aunt Eileen, who lived in Chicago, gave me The Blues Brothers soundtrack for my birthday. Much of the movie was shot in Chicago and that’s what probably prompted her to buy the gift. It was an important record for me at 15. It, and the film, were my introduction to legendary musicians and their music, including Taj Mahal, The Spencer Davis Group, Cab Calloway, Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, James Brown, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker and, of course Aretha. |
| James Brown as Reverend Cleophus James in The Blues Brothers. |
Lady Soul enabled me to discover the artist behind that scene. It was likely a record in Belushi and Ackroyd's record collections. Released in 1968, Lady Soul captured Aretha Franklin at the height of her powers. Coming off a remarkable run of success at Atlantic Records, she blended gospel, soul, R&B, and pop into a sound that felt both deeply rooted and contemporary. The album produced some of her most enduring recordings, such as Chain of Fools, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby), songs that helped cement her reputation as the undisputed Queen of Soul.What impressed me most about Lady Soul wasn't just the quality of the hits, but the confidence running through the entire record. Aretha sounds completely in command, whether she's delivering a powerhouse vocal or pulling things back for a more intimate moment. The musicianship is equally strong, creating a groove that feels effortless while providing the perfect backdrop for one of the greatest voices ever captured on record. Nearly 60 years later, the album still sounds vibrant, alive, and surprisingly modern. This past week, it was a delight listening to it each morning as I prepared for students' arrival.Next week, my adventure with Ms. Franklin continues with I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. However, now that I have shared my Blues Brothers movie connection, I'll have to figure out another angle for that post.
.jpg)
.jpg)
