Day 129: Libraries gave us power...

Album 399/1031

Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (1969)

All tracks produced by Jerry Wexler

Recording engineer: Tom Dowd

Side One

1. "Chain of Fools" (Don Covay) 2:46

Recorded on June 23, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals and piano; Jimmy Johnson and Joe South - guitars; Spooner Oldham - electric piano; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn Franklin,Erma Franklin & Ellie Greenwich - background vocals

2. "Money Won't Change You" (James Brown, Nat Jones) 2:09

3. "People Get Ready" (Curtis Mayfield) 3:42

Recorded on December 19 and 20, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals and piano; Bobby Womack - guitar; Spooner Oldham - organ; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow - trumpets; Tony Studd - bass trombone; King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess - tenor saxophones; Frank Wess - flute; Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone; Carolyn Franklin & The Sweet Inspirations - background vocals; horn arrangement: Arif Mardin

4. "Niki Hoeky" (Jim Ford, Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas) 2:31

5. "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) 2:44

Recorded on February 16, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals; Spooner Oldham - piano; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Gene Chrisman - drums; The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn & Erma Franklin - background vocals; strings conducted by Ralph Burns

Side Two[edit]

1. "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) 2:25

Recorded on December 16 and 17, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals; Jimmy Johnson and Bobby Womack - guitars; Spooner Oldham - electric piano; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow - trumpets; Tony Studd - bass trombone; King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess - tenor saxophones; Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone; The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn & Erma Franklin - background vocals; horn arrangement: Arif Mardin

2. "Good to Me As I Am to You" (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) 3:56

Recorded on December 16 and 17, 1967
Aretha Franklin - vocals and piano; Spooner Oldham - organ; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow - trumpets; Tony Studd - bass trombone; King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess - tenor saxophones; Frank Wess - flute; Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone. Eric Clapton of "Cream" - guitar obbligato. Note: Jimmy Johnson & Bobby Womack also played guitars on the take but were left off the mix-down.

3. "Come Back Baby" (Walter Davis) 2:25

Recorded on December 19 and 20, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals; Jimmy Johnson and Bobby Womack - guitars; Spooner Oldham - organ; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow - trumpets; Tony Studd - bass trombone; King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess - tenor saxophones; Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone; The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn & Erma Franklin - background vocals; horn arrangement: Arif Mardin

4. "Groovin'" (Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati) 2:57

5. "Ain't No Way" (Carolyn Franklin) 4:17

Recorded on December 19 and 20, 1967
Aretha Franklin - lead vocals and piano; Warren Smith - vibraharp; Tommy Cogbill - bass; Roger Hawkins - drums; Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Bernie Glow - trumpets; Tony Studd - bass trombone; King Curtis, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess - tenor saxophones; Frank Wess - flute; Haywood Henry - baritone saxophone; Carolyn Franklin and The Sweet Inspirations - background vocals; Cissy Houston - vocal obbligato; string and horn arrangement: Arif Mardin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Soul

Golf's verdict: The Queen of soul and RnB is on fire here. 'Chain of Fools' and 'A Natural Woman' have never been bettered.

Maire's verdict: Gorgeous voice but not all killer.


Album 400/1031

PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)

All songs written by PJ Harvey.

1. "Big Exit" – 3:51
2. "Good Fortune" – 3:20
3. "A Place Called Home" – 3:43
4. "One Line" – 3:14
5. "Beautiful Feeling" – 4:00
6. "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore" – 4:01
7. "This Mess We're In" (featuring Thom Yorke) – 3:57
8. "You Said Something" – 3:19
9. "Kamikaze" – 2:24
10. "This Is Love" – 3:48
11. "Horses in My Dreams" – 5:38
12. "We Float" – 6:07
13. "This Wicked Tongue" – 3:42 (UK & Japan bonus track)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stories_from_the_City,_Stories_from_the_Sea


Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! From first to last this is just a stunning album that I had all but forgotten. It's headed for the 'buy on vinyl' list (no higher status in our household) and kicking myself we did not take the opportunity to see her in Auckland earlier in the year...

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Once again I'd forgotten how good an album is. Really regretting not seeing her this year (bloody Dinosaur Jr!!*)

*Golf: We went to see Dinosaur Jr the night before instead. (They were great, but still...)

Album 401/1031

Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go (1996)

All lyrics written by Nicky Wire; all music composed by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier"	Wire, Richey Edwards		3:29
2.	"A Design for Life"			4:16
3.	"Kevin Carter"	Edwards	Bradfield, Moore, Wire	3:24
4.	"Enola/Alone"			4:07
5.	"Everything Must Go"			3:41
6.	"Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky"	Edwards	Bradfield, Moore, Wire	3:02
7.	"The Girl Who Wanted to Be God"	Wire, Edwards		3:35
8.	"Removables"	Edwards	Bradfield, Moore, Wire	3:31
9.	"Australia"			4:04
10.	"Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)"			4:17
11.	"Further Away"			3:38
12.	"No Surface All Feeling"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everything_Must_Go_(Manic_Street_Preachers_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Full of huge, soaring songs with lyrics that actually mean something. Great for a sing-along road trip.

Maire's verdict: We listened to this a lot when it came out. I find their music all too same-y. Golf will disagree.