Aretha, 1968, Stockholm

October 15, 2011 5:57 AM

In the year 1968, at the height of her powers, one of the greatest singers America has ever produced was in Stockholm, where she served up a breathtakingly powerful and characteristically soulful performance that, lucky for us, was filmed by Swedish television. You know who I'm talking about, of course. "Lady Soul" - parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

1= (You Make me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
2= Come Back Baby
3= Dr Feelgood (this song is by Aretha herself, and appeared on this 1967 release)
4= Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) (this one too was penned by Aretha as well)
5= I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
6= Chain of Fools
7= Respect (penned by none other than Otis Redding, but, you knew that, right?)

posted by flapjax at midnite (18 comments total)

I've recently come into possession of her Live at the Fillmore West, and it is one mad romp of a live album. The 6x-speed version of Respect is spectacular. Soul at speed-metal tempo. She had an utterly amazing band in those days.
posted by Devils Rancher at 6:25 AM on October 15, 2011 [3 favorites]

I've recently come into possession of her Live at the Fillmore West

WANT. Really WANT.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:38 AM on October 15, 2011

If you like Live at the Fillmore West, you'll love Can't Fight the Feeling.
posted by box at 6:39 AM on October 15, 2011

#3 Dr. Feelgood

Holy shit!! That's amazing.
posted by chillmost at 6:56 AM on October 15, 2011

#3 Dr. Feelgood Holy shit!! That's amazing.

Yeah, great stuff, for sure. And if her phrasing was any later, she'd be singing the next song in the set!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:19 AM on October 15, 2011 [4 favorites]

Nobody, nobody, nobody can testify like Aretha. What a set of pipes.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:40 AM on October 15, 2011

Also, Otis Redding never gets the respect he's due. A lot of people don't know he also wrote this.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 7:52 AM on October 15, 2011

It was during this period that my parents and I would watch variety shows on TV, like Ed Sullivan and when Aretha would come on my parents would deride her singing as "yelling" and "shrieking." They would end every single rant with a single Hungarian word "borzalom"

I was less than 10 years old in those days but it was significant in that it was when I first realized that it was possible that my parents may be completely and utterly full of shit.
posted by victors at 7:53 AM on October 15, 2011 [6 favorites]

What an amazing period for being in Stockholm. I hadn't been aware of this concert, but really wished I could have been there for this one in 1966. I never realised Stockholm was such a hotspot during the '60s.

Thank you for this, flapjax.
posted by miorita at 8:31 AM on October 15, 2011

WANT. Really WANT.
posted by flapjax at midnite

Wolfgang's Vault
posted by mikelieman at 9:00 AM on October 15, 2011

Agree with all the praise above.. There's a (short) thesis to be written on 60's backing-groups. Ilove the hand-movements.
posted by Boggins at 11:38 AM on October 15, 2011

If you dig speed-Aretha, do not miss her performance of "Old Landmark" on her epochal 1972 live gospel album Amazing Grace.
posted by Trurl at 1:41 PM on October 15, 2011

Lady? Last I looked she outranks a Duchess.

Epi-tangential-reference-something-or-another

Hey nineteen...
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 4:46 PM on October 15, 2011

This is just such blatant promotion of your Arethaist Agenda!

Yes, AA has done wonders for me. "My name is flapjax at midnite, and I'm an Arethaist..."
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:58 PM on October 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

I heard a story once about a friend of a friend: He was in a fledgling relationship with a girl, and he offered to make her a mix tape. She said sure... and then she said, "but make sure there's no Aretha Franklin on it--I can't stand Aretha Franklin." And he was like, "Yeah, this isn't going to work out." Because seriously, who doesn't like Aretha Franklin? People you shouldn't hook up with, that's who.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 9:59 PM on October 15, 2011 [2 favorites]

"Hey nineteen, that's 'retha Franklin.
She don't remember the queen of soul.
It's hard times befallen the soul survivors.
She thinks I'm crazy, but I'm just growin' old..."

-- Donald Fagen and Walter Becker
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 11:24 PM on October 15, 2011 [1 favorite]

Great stuff, thanks f.a.m.
posted by micklaw at 4:51 AM on October 16, 2011

Ya know, Seekerofsplendor, I never really "get" their lyrics until I read them. And then suddenly Steely Dan's messages seem so clear. Thanks.
posted by IAmBroom at 6:57 PM on October 16, 2011