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Wednesday 11 December 2019

"Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings" by ARETHA FRANKLIN with JAMES CLEVELAND and THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOIR – The 14-Track Live Double Album of Gospel Music from June 1972 (USA) and September 1971 in the UK - Available As An Expanded Complete Recordings Version - Inside "The Atlantic Albums Collection" (November 2015 Rhino/Atlantic 16-Album/19CD Clamshell Box Set - Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...




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"...So Sweet The Sound..."


In 2019 there are a few ways to purchase hard copy CDs of Aretha Franklin's groundbreaking live Gospel double-album "Amazing Grace" (originally issued in June 1972 on Atlantic Records). Personally, I'd suggest going the long way round because the rewards are so much greater...

August 1993 saw a straightforward remaster onto 2CDs, then Rhino of the USA went the whole hog in May 1999 and issued "Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings" with 13 Bonus Tracks (27 altogether) in die-cut card digipak packaging. Further to this, November 2015 saw that extended 2CD version slipped quietly into the humungous 16-Album/19-CD Box Set "The Atlantic Albums Collection" (without really advertising it).

The 1999 version has been deleted years now and in some places, greedy sellers are asking over a hundred quid. Pretty packaging and liner notes aside, I say if you want the 1972 album (and more) – go for the motherlode – the box set – currently about forty-six pounds new in December 2019 and delivered to your door next day for Christmas. Talk about more bang for your buck, let me sales-rep you the box set for a moment...

Although it doesn't advertise it on the front of the box or indeed on the shrink-wrap description sticker for that matter - the albums contained within "The Atlantic Albums Collection" (released November 2015 in the UK on Rhino Records 081227951993 - Barcode 081227951993) are the Rhino/Atco CD Reissues released across the Nineties. Ably Remastered by Rhino's longstanding engineering duo of tape experts DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT - fans will know that some were 'Expanded Editions' - and deck the halls with holistic holly - Rhino has been smart enough in its digital dotage to include the whole dang lot - including "Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings" from 1999 and not the bare-bones 1993 issue.

The bounty on offer here is staggering – 336 tracks in total including 30 Bonuses across the fourteen Stereo albums Aretha released between 1967 and 1976, massively expanded versions of both Aretha Live At Fillmore West and Amazing Grace while the final two 2007 CD compilations offer up a further 14-track live set from 1972 (her vocals in blistering form) and 35 primo studio outtakes, rarities and single-sides from 1967 to 1976 in a stunning 2CD anthology. Amazing Grace, so sweet the sound - indeed.

Let's now get to that heavenly double...and how to unravel the convoluted presentation of it on "Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings"...

Disc 1, Thursday Night Show, 13 January 1972 (78:27 minutes):
1. Organ Introduction (Our Own Way) - KEN LUPPER
2. Opening Remarks - REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
3. On Our Way – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOIR
4. Aretha's Introduction - REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
5. Wholy Holy – ARETHA FRANKLIN
6. You'll Never Walk Alone – ARETHA FRANKLIN
7. What A Friend We Have In Jesus – ARETHA FRANKLIN
8. Precious Memories – ARETHA FRANKLIN with REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
9. How I Got Over – ARETHA FRANKLIN
10. (a) Precious Lord, Take My Hand (b) You've Got A Friend – ARETHA FRANKLIN
11. Climbing Higher Mountains – ARETHA FRANKLIN
12. Amazing Grace – ARETHA FRANKLIN
13. My Sweet Lord (Instrumental) – ARETHA FRANKLIN
13. Give Yourself To Jesus – ARETHA FRANKLIN

Disc 2, Friday Show, 14 January 1972, 14 January 1972 (78:11 minutes):
1. Organ Introduction (On Our Way)/Opening Remarks – KEN LUPPER & REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
2. On Our Way – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOIR
3. Aretha's Introduction – REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
4. What A Friend We Have In Jesus – ARETHA FRANKLIN
5. Wholy Holy – ARETHA FRANKLIN
6. Climbing Higher Mountains – ARETHA FRANKLIN
7. God Will Take Care Of You – ARETHA FRANKLIN
8. Old Landmark – ARETHA FRANKLIN
9. Mary, Don't You Weep – ARETHA FRANKLIN
10. Never Grow Old – ARETHA FRANKLIN
11. Remarks By Reverend C.L. FRANKLIN – C.L. FRANKLIN
12. Precious Memories – ARETHA FRANKLIN with REV. JAMES CLEVELAND
13. My Sweet Lord (Instrumental) – ARETHA FRANKLIN

The original 14-Track 2LP vinyl set credited to ARETHA FRANKLIN with JAMES CLEVELAND and THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOIR was issued June 1972 in the USA on Atlantic SD-2 906 and September 1972 in the UK on Atlantic K 60023 (peaked at No. 7 on the US LP charts) was pieced together from performances across both nights. But this reissue presents both shows as they were in strict unedited play-list order with no nod towards the original we’ve been used to all these decades. Here is the way to acquire the original playlist from the 27-tracks listed above:
Side 1: Use Track 9 on CD2, 10 on CD 1, 8 on CD2 and 14 on CD1
Side 2: Use Tracks 9, 7 and 12 on CD1
Side 3: Use Tracks 8 on CD1, 11 on CD1, 11 on CD2 and 7 on CD2
Side 4: Use Tracks 5 on CD1, 6 on CD1 and 10 on CD2

Credits:
As well as Lead Vocals where noted above, Aretha also plays piano on "Wholly Holy" and "Never Grow Old" and the Celeste on "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Reverend James Cleveland plays piano throughout (except on "Wholly Holy" and "Never Grow Old") and has duet vocals with Aretha on "Precious Memories". CORNELL DUPREE plays Guitar, KEN LUPPER on Organ, CHUCK RAINEY on Bass, BERNARD PURDIE on Drums, PANCHO MORALES on Congas with THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHOIR, Directed by Reverend James Cleveland with Assistance from Alexander Hamilton. Produced by JERRY WEXLER, ARIF MARDIN and ARETHA FRANKLIN. The front and rear of the MINI LP gatefold card sleeve are exactly the same as the original 1972 double-album – but the inner gatefold reflects the extended 27 tracks listing.

It is a little disconcerting to hear a different opening with casual (almost unaffected) chatting taking place in the background. But then that gorgeous soft organ playing comes floating in – setting the scene. Then the applause as Reverend Cleveland announces the first religious session for Aretha - urging the crowd to get involved and give into the spirit. He praises the band but as the Southern California Community Choir kicks into "On Our Way" with that organ pumped – the Audio is stupendous (glory be indeed) and you so get why Rhino wanted the whole thing out. Doing it live – he wants the small audience to sound like two thousand. But then – and again the audio wallops you – you get that piano intro to Marvin Gaye's gorgeous "Wholly Holy" – one of the highlights on his masterpiece "What's Going On" issued on Motown less than nine months prior to these 1972 recordings. Atlantic USA issued an edit of "Wholly Holy" as a 45 on Atlantic 2901 with "Give Yourself To Jesus" on the flipside – and even that made No. 41 on the US charts.

Inspiration is everywhere on this double-album. The doubling up of the Thomas Dorsey classic "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" with the inherent Soulfulness already in Carole King’s "Tapestry" gem "You've Got A Friend" feels so natural and right – a genius inclusion. Another contemporary nugget "My Sweet Lord" by Hari Krishna Beatles George Harrison is given an instrumental finisher. Trying to get home, the choir joins Aretha as they go "Climbing Higher Mountains". Her version of the Rogers and Hammerstein anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" is transformed into a magisterial follow-your-dreams powerhouse – the crowd shouting her name as she lets the vocal chords rip on every teased out lyric.

Of the new stuff, the 2:57 minute footstomping piano-bashing amen rabble-rouser "Old Landmark" was left off the original probably because, although its joyous, it feels out of place and frankly reminds me of that scene in The Blues Brothers movie when Jake shouts have you seen the light and Belushi goes cartwheeling down the aisle. Sixteen minutes of the title cut "Amazing Grace" is given a preamble by a clearly grateful and moved Reverend Cleveland – Aretha humming before she goes into that awesome piano and vocal opening line. How sweet the sound barely describes it...

"The Atlantic Albums Collection" by Aretha Franklin is a beautiful little thing and like Rhino's similarly well-endowed 2012 Joni Mitchell box set "The Studio Albums 1969-1979" is frankly an embarrassment of classy musical riches (with aesthetically pleasing matt card sleeves repro'ing the original period-gorgeous artwork and quality mastering - both look and sound cool too).

But that it contains "The Complete Recordings" of "Amazing Grace" puts this big old lummox into the stratosphere. Treat yourself to this passion – and remember - while you were once blind – now you can see...

PS: 22 March 2019 also saw a 4LP VINYL variant of "Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings" reissued on Rhino R1 75627 (Barcode 603497854196). It comes in a slightly altered configuration to the 2CD set.

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