Aretha Franklin - "Amazing Grace"

I can't think of a better album to start this project off with than this masterpiece. I picked it randomly, I swear - it was the first cd in the top left drawer of my collection. But I think there was a higher power involved in that. Listening to this album reminds me of all that I love about music. I grew up dancing around the house to Motown on Saturday mornings, and singing in the church choir on Sunday mornings. "Amazing Grace" is Aretha, after already establishing herself as a pop music star, returning to her roots to record an incredible gospel album. Two discs worth, in fact.

Admittedly, when my brother in law gave me this album for Christmas, I was a little daunted. I usually don't love live albums - I almost always like the original recordings better than the follow up live recordings. And though I have a lot of love for gospel music, I rarely think to turn it on. Well, there's no original/live issue going on here. "Amazing Grace" is full of well known and lesser known traditional hymns, recorded over two nights in Los Angeles 1972 with an all star choir, conductor, and musicians. The live character of the album is completely integral to the impact of the music. It's a recording of an experience. Of course, this is a church experience, and so might not immediately appeal to folks who aren't Christian. But the power of this music is so transcendent, it would be a shame to pass over it. These are not only Aretha's roots, they're the roots of most soul music. And the emotions, the pain and the joy that come through so clearly and beautifully, are core to all of us.

So, if this one isn't in your collection, put it on your list. Or email me and I'll mail you my copy. Cause I definitely just burned it into my collection.