''Aretha'' is the debut

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by American singer-songwriter

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

, released on February 27, 1961, by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

. It features the Ray Bryant Combo. The album is Aretha's first release for Columbia, and is also known under its working title ''Right Now It's Aretha''. Following in the footsteps of her close friend

Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred ...

, Aretha was "discovered" by famed

producer

John H. Hammond John Henry Hammond II (December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) was an American record producer, civil rights activist, and music critic active from the 1930s to the early 1980s. In his service as a talent scout, Hammond became one of the most infl ...

, who on the liner notes of the 1973 edition of "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides" mentions that she was in fact recommended by the composer Curtis Reginald Lewis. With the support of her father, Reverend

C.L. Franklin Clarence LaVaughn Franklin ( ''né'' Walker; January 22, 1915 – July 27, 1984) was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist. Known as the man with the "Million-Dollar Voice", Franklin served as the pastor of New Bethel Baptist ...

, Aretha traveled to New York City's Columbia Record Studios to record her debut album for the label. Hammond paired Aretha Franklin with Ray Bryant and arranger J. Leslie McFarland, while taking charge of the album's production, which received mixed reviews. The album showcases an 18-year-old Franklin, covering a range of pop standards. Columbia was experimenting to see what kind of music worked best with Aretha's style. Though rare to find an original 6-eye pressing on vinyl, Columbia Records re-released these sessions and retitled them as "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", in 1972. The exact same recording "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", was once more re-released on vinyl, this time in 1973 by CBS/Embassy, trademarks of Columbia Records, probably being a UK edition, which on the center label bears these identification numbers: EMB S-31006 (KC 31953). There are some minor changes in the track list for the 1973 edition as well. (See the separate track listing below the 1972 listing).

Tracks

* The album was recorded at the New York studios of Columbia Records, 207 East 30th Street, except tracks 1 and 4 which were recorded at the company's studios at 799 Seventh Avenue. * All songs produced by John Hammond and arranged by J. Leslie McFarland. Featuring Ray Bryant on piano.

Track listing - 1972 Edition

Side One

:1. "

Won't Be Long "Won't Be Long" (stylized all in capitals as ''WON'T BE LONG'') is a collaboration single by Japanese group Exile and singer-songwriter Koda Kumi. It debuted on No. 2 on Oricon and stayed there for the weekly ranking, bringing its monthly ran ...

" ( J. Leslie McFarland) 3:12 ::Recorded on November 29, 1960
With John McFarland, piano; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :2. " Over the Rainbow" (

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ...

E.Y. Harburg Edgar Yipsel Harburg (born Isidore Hochberg; April 8, 1896 – March 5, 1981) was an American popular song lyricist and librettist who worked with many well-known composers. He wrote the lyrics to the standards "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" ( ...

) 2:42 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone :3. "Love Is the Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:44 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone; Paul Owens, vocal obbligato :4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:26 ::Recorded on December 19, 1960
With William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :5. "All Night Long" ( Curtis Lewis) 3:01 ::Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone :6. " Who Needs You?" ( Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:50 ::Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

Side Two

:1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:27 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone :2. "Are You Sure" ( Meredith Willson) 2:44 ::From the Broadway musical production of '' The Unsinkable Molly Brown''
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :3. "Maybe I'm a Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:20 ::Working title: "Baby, I'm A Fool"
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :4. " It Ain't Necessarily So" ( George Gershwin,

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...

) 2:57 ::Recorded on December 19, 1960
With Lucky Warren, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :5. "By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, Joe Bailey) 2:42 ::Working title: "(Blue) By Myself"
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone :6. "

Today I Sing the Blues "Today I Sing the Blues" is a song written by Curtis Lewis and performed by Aretha Franklin. The song reached number 10 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1960. The song appeared on her 1961 album, '' Aretha''. The song was produced by John Hammond.. F ...

" ( Curtis Lewis) 2:47 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone

Bonus Tracks

:1. "Are You Sure (Rehearsal)" 2:17 ::Producer John Hammond announces the take number. :2. "Who Needs You? (Take 9)" 3:03 :3. "Right Now (Take 1)" 2:13 ::With Aretha Franklin on piano. :4. "Maybe I'm a Fool (Take 4)" 3:57

Mono Mixes

#"By Myself" 2:39 #"Won't Be Long" 2:54 #"All Night Long" 3:06 #"Love Is the Only Thing" 2:44 #"Right Now" 2:22

Track listing - 1973 Edition

Side One

:1. "

" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:07 ::Recorded on November 29, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Aretha Franklin, piano :2. " Over The Rainbow" (

) 2:35 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone :3. "Love Is The Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:38 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone :4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:19 ::Recorded on November 29, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :5. "All Night Long" ( Curtis Lewis) 2:56 ::Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone :6. " Who Needs You?" ( Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:45 ::Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

Side Two

:1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:20 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone :2. "Are You Sure" ( Meredith Willson) 2:38 ::From the Broadway musical production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :3. "Maybe I'm A Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:15 ::Working title: "Baby, I'm A Fool"
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John Milt Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :4. " It Ain't Necessarily So" ( George Gershwin,

) 2:51 ::With Ray Bryant, piano; Warren Luckey, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums :5. "(Blue) By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:36 ::Working title: "(Blue) By Myself"
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone :6. "

" ( Curtis Lewis) 2:45 ::Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
The cover notes on this edition were written by John Hammond, October 5, 1972. Among other things he mentions that all the sides on the record were originally made as singles, primarily for the jukebox market. At the end he writes: ''For some strange reason, this album has always been something of a secret, and I can only hope that it gets across to a new generation of'' Aretha ''admirers. Let me hasten to add that there has been no overdubbing, rechanneling or other messing around with the pure gold of the original.''

References

{{Authority control Aretha Franklin albums 1961 debut albums Columbia Records albums Albums recorded at CBS 30th Street Studio Albums produced by John Hammond (producer)