Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo is the second studio album
(and debut for Columbia Records) of the future "Queen of Soul"
Aretha Franklin, released in 1961. The album is also known under
its working title Right Now It's Aretha.
Studio album by Aretha Franklin
Released February 27, 1961
Recorded August 1, 1960 - January 10, 1961
(Columbia
30th
Street Studio, New York)
Genre Jazz, traditional pop
Length 32:47
Label Columbia CS8412
Producer John H. Hammond
Recording
Following in the footsteps of close friend Sam Cooke, Aretha was
"discovered" by famed Columbia Records producer John H. Hammond,
who on the cover notes of the 1973 edition of "The Great Aretha
Franklin: The First 12 Slides" mentions, that she was in fact
recommended by the composer Curtis Reginald Lewis. With the
support of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Aretha venured out
to New York City's Columbia Record Studios to record her debut
album for the label. Hammond paired Aretha Franklin with the Ray
Bryant combo and arranger J. Leslie McFarland, while taking charge
of the album's production, which was received to mixed reviews.
The album showcases a young Aretha Franklin (only 18 years old, at
the time of these recordings), covering a range of jazz and pop
standards. Columbia Records couldn't clearly classify Aretha's
sound, as either jazz or pop. Aretha's subsequent albums would
show her moving from the realms of both sounds, and audiences as
she tries to define her "own soulful sound".
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 Slides", in 1972.
The exact same recording "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12
Slides", 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).
Reception
"The word is out. A magnetic new artist, Aretha Franklin, only a
short while away from her father's gospel church in Detroit, has
been breaking up audience in theatres and nightclubs throughout
the country and on Columbia single records. Combining a completely
natural and uninhibited vocal style with an irresistible rhythmic
sense, Aretha Franklin has established herself as one of the
hottest new performers in show business and one likely to set new
standards in the entertainment industry.
"She doesn't just open the door - she breaks it down." (From the
liner notes by Frank Driggs)
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" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:12
Recorded on November
29, 1960
With John McFarland,
piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
2. "Over The Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y.
Harburg) 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; Milton John (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 Wilson) 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 (Lloyd) Westbrook,
guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans,
drums
4. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin,
Ira Gershwin) 2:57
With Lucky Warren,
tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill)
Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
5. "By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey)
2:42
Working title: "(Blue)
By Myself"
Recorded on November
17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lloyd)
Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks)
Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone
6. "Today I Sing the Blues" (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. "Won't Be Long" (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" (Harold Arlen, E.Y.
Harburg) 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 Wilson) 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,
Ira 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. "Today I Sing the Blues" (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.
