You're the only one that catches certain things like those small bends at the ends of notes. That's why we're here for the reactions to the goats. One of my favorite Aretha performances ever!
The woman next to her father is her great idol and gospel great Clara Ward, this song was her First recording ever released as a teenager, which she sang before one of her fathers infamous preaching. And not even taking into account the message of the song, gospel giant James Cleveland leading all of this, the gospel roots on fulltime display. She was Singing FOR the people! Brilliant! Great choice!
Aretha sing with and on purpose. She could produce any sound that she wanted at this time. Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul and the Queen of Soul, is Aretha Franklin.
Man after these amazing grace sessions her voice just got better and better. Theres short footage of her singing at Mahalia Jackson's memorial service that was the same year and her voice was so extremely BRIGHT and clear.
This film was such an experience in a theater. I went with one of my best friends who is Greek Orthodox. I was raised Pentecostal. He was amazed at the tears I shed watching this woman using her voice to connect with God. I had to explain that I knew these hymns. This was how we worshipped in church when I was growing up. I don’t know what anyone truly believes in- but, something greater than us was coming through Aretha Franklin.
My church rented out a theater and an older Italian couple had bought 2 tickets and so they joined us (after I offered to buy them back because it was going to be BLACK CHURCH). They stayed and HE STOOD UP DURING "AMAZING GRACE" and just stared and rocked. WE HAD CHURCH!!!
I could listen to her all day. I love how she always use to take her time with the song, it's like she's telling us a story. Whitney used to do the same thing and they were not about showing off their voice but rather speaking the truth through music and touching our heart and soul. Now it's all about who can impress the most or sing the best.
that moment when we all think she's done singing and you could just see the spirit take over her, the Rev was right on queue with positioning that mike. Again i say she is the greatest singer to have ever walked this planet.
Wow, thank you for this! I was stunned when I saw this, Aretha put everything she had in this performance! Long Live the Queen! There's a land where we'll never grow old!
Aretha learned all of these techniques from the black Juilliard...the church. The growls and squalls are very common in gospel. Manipulating vocal textures is what she learned from her Dad.
Amazing Grace is one of my favorite album, I bought when it finally dropped in June 1972. They recorded live the Amazing Grace album in January 1972 at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in LA with the Southern California Community Choir, but Aretha had it archived and wouldn’t release the video. After her death it was released and a documentary series with Cynthia Erivo was made. Check it out.
Oh My God!!! I cackled when you said sista maybelle bout to throw down 🤣🤣. My favorite part is when James Cleveland gives Aretha the mic and Aretha starts sanging again!! Man it was like a revival up in there.
Aretha was truly a gift from God, and I am grateful to be living during her reign as the Queen Of Soul. Her voice was beautiful, heavenly and anointed! Thanks for sharing this!!!!😍
The woman beside Aretha’s Father C.L. was Aretha’s mentor and sort of mother figure Clara Ward, who’s a gospel legend. Clara was also a longtime girlfriend of C.L. Franklin. The woman in the red dress who looked like she was going to hit Aretha was Clara’s Mother Gertrude Ward.
I loved your review. And I appreciate this clip from the recent Amazing Grace movie BUT…..you have got to hear the album version ! Those high notes she did towards the end are ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY! Hands down one of the greatest vocal performances of all time! Where those notes peaked are astonishing!…That’s Josephine Howard of the famous Caravans trading licks with Aretha. She also the mother of soul legend Miki Howard ( who was 11 during the taping and can be seen in the footage)
That voice in the back at the end when Aretha repeats the phrase , “Yes It Is” on the song I’m So Glad I Got Religion is the late Josephine Howard, she was a member of the choir that backed up Aretha, the Southern California mass choir, Josephine is also a former member of the gospel group, the caravans, and her daughter mikki Howard who was also a teenager and there at that night is a world renowned R&B singer and mikki dad is clay graham of the gospel group the pilgrim jubilees, history was all over this project. Btw James Cleveland threw the towel at Aretha
This performance was phenomenal, again from the same recording known as the greatest gospel album of all time, Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace 1972 with her godfather Rev James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir behind her. I had this on CD and it wore out now had the DVD documentary and vinyl, this was how you do a live gospel project. The man who wiped her face during the early part was her father the late great Rev CL Franklin, and the lady on the other end of them was the world renowned legend, also Aretha’s hero, Clara Ward (Sis Maybeline 😂) and her mother Gertrude Ward was the one who was in the Spirit as she sang. She also did this at 14 years old her very first record recorded in her dads church in 1956.
Amazing performance and reaction! NOW, my friend, it's time for you to watch Yolanda's cover of this song, during Aretha's Grammy tribute. I can't find it anymore on RU-vid, but I'm confident that in the US you can find it easily! Don't disappoint me! 😂💪
Dude, love your commentary on singing. Not sure if it's well-known or mentioned here, but Aretha was asked to record a gospel album after her successful "secular" career. "On one condition," she said. What she wanted was to record in church in order to get the feedback from the worshippers she was used to. Call & response! This song selection is part of the movie, "Amazing Grace." It came out about a decade or so ago. I grew up in a home and on Sunday's....whew! Aretha's voice filled our home and "Mary don't you weep" was my jam. By the way, I started listening to your reaction at work and about six or seven minutes in, I was feeling the Spirit! So, I had to stop and finish this one at home or I might've fell out, too. Aretha at this point was at the pinnacle of her talent and skills. And thank you for also mentioning her piano playing. I've always said her prowess on it was just as powerful as her voice. All hail the Queen!! ... of gospel and soul!
The lady in the background you were referring to at 14:19 mark was Mikki Howard’s mother Josephine Howard this was actually their church they belonged to when they moved to California from Chicago. Mikki talked about quite often. You have time look her up with the Caravans Josephine Howard.
With the black-rimmed glasses. She had a sour face during Aretha's performance of "Amazing Grace" and never stood once even though 99 percent of the choir did.
Son that lady you called Sis. Maybeline is Gertrude Ward who was the mother of Clara Ward, Aretha's mother. Learn your gospel music history. Those women were giants.
