Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin's Historic Gospel Recording
This installment of the acclaimed 33 1/3 series chronicles one of the most significant moments in gospel and soul music history. In January 1972, Aretha Franklin returned to her religious roots at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, delivering a performance that would become a multi-million selling double album.
The Historic Recording Session
For two days in January 1972, Aretha Franklin sang at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles while tape recorders and film cameras rolled. Everyone there knew the event had the potential to be historic: five years after ascending to soul royalty and commercial success, Franklin was publicly returning to her religious roots. Her influential minister father stood by her on the pulpit. Her mentor, Clara Ward, sat in the pews. Franklin responded to the occasion with the performance of her life and the resulting double album became a multi-million seller-even without any trademark hit singles. But that was just one part of the story.
Franklin's warm inimitable voice, virtuoso jazz-soul instrumental group and Rev. James Cleveland's inventive choral arrangements transformed the course of gospel. Through new interviews, musical and theological analyses as well as archival discoveries, this book sets the scene, traces the recording's traditional origins and pop infusions and describes the album's enduring impact.
What's Inside This 33 1/3 Book
Aaron Cohen, associate editor of DownBeat magazine and 2011 ASCAP Deems Taylor Award winner, provides comprehensive analysis through new interviews, musical breakdowns, and theological context. The book explores Rev. James Cleveland's innovative choral arrangements, the virtuoso jazz-soul instrumental performances, and the album's lasting influence on gospel music.
