Spirit in the Dark
Spirit in the Dark | ||||
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Studio album by Aretha Franklin | ||||
Released | August 24, 1970[1] | |||
Recorded | May 26–27, 1969[2] October 3, 1969[3]-March 10, 1970[4] | |||
Genre | Soul, R&B | |||
Length | 40:28 | |||
Label | Atlantic (#8265), Rhino (1993 Re-release) | |||
Producer | Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler | |||
Aretha Franklin chronology | ||||
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Singles from Spirit in the Dark | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | A[6] |
Pitchfork | 9.0/10[7] |
Rolling Stone | (favorable)[8] |
Spirit in the Dark is the seventeenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on August 24, 1970, by Atlantic Records. It received critical acclaim, but was met with middling sales, despite having two hit singles, "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", which peaked at #1 R&B, #11 on the Hot 100, and "Spirit in the Dark", peaking at #3 R&B and #23 Hot 100, in Billboard magazine. It was Aretha's first Atlantic album to fall short of Billboard's Top 20, but it is now seen as one of Aretha's classic Atlantic LPs.
In 1993, Rhino Records re-issued the album on compact disc.[1] "Try Matty's" is used as the jingle for radio host Matt Siegel's Boston Kiss 108 show.[9]
Track listing
Unless otherwise indicated, Information is based on the album's liner notes[1][10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Don't Play That Song" | Ahmet Ertegün, Betty Nelson | 3:02 |
2. | "The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday's Kiss)" | Rick Darnell, Roy Hawkins,[11] Art Benson, Dale Petite | 4:41 |
3. | "Pullin'" | Jimmy Radcliffe, Carolyn Franklin,[12] Aretha Franklin | 3:38 |
4. | "You and Me" | Aretha Franklin | 3:34 |
5. | "Honest I Do" | Jimmy Reed, Ewart Abner Jr. | 3:19 |
6. | "Spirit in the Dark" | Aretha Franklin | 4:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
7. | "When the Battle Is Over" | Jessie Hill, Mac Rebennack | 2:43 |
8. | "One Way Ticket" | Aretha Franklin | 2:52 |
9. | "Try Matty's" | Aretha Franklin | 2:32 |
10. | "That's All I Want from You" | Fritz Rotter | 2:44 |
11. | "Oh No Not My Baby" | Gerry Goffin, Carole King | 2:55 |
12. | "Why I Sing the Blues" | B.B. King, Dave Clark | 3:05 |
Personnel
Information is based on the album's liner notes.[1][10]
- Main
- Aretha Franklin – vocals (5, lead on 1–4, 6–12), piano (1-6, 8–12)
- Duane Allman – guitar (7)
- Margaret Branch – background vocals (1-2, 7–8, 11)
- Brenda Bryant – background vocals (1-2, 7–8, 11)
- Harold "Hog" Cowart – bass guitar (8-9, 12)
- Dave Crawford – organ (8-9, 12)
- Cornell Dupree – guitar (8, 11–12)
- Buzz Feiten – guitar (1)
- Evelyn Green – background vocals (3, 9–10, 12)
- Wylene Ivy – background vocals (3, 9–10, 12)
- Almeda Lattimore – background vocals (1-3, 9–12)
- Pat Lewis – background vocals (3, 9–10, 12)
- Ray Lucas – drums (8, 12)
- Jimmy O'Rourke – guitar (9)
- The Sweet Inspirations – background vocals (4, 6)
- Ron "Tubby" Ziegler – drums (9)
- The Dixie Flyers[13]
- Sammy Creason – drums (1-2, 4, 6, 10)
- Jim Dickinson[14] – additional keyboards (1-2, 4, 6, 10)
- Charlie Freeman – guitar (1-2, 4, 6, 10)
- Tommy McClure – bass guitar (1-2, 4, 6, 10)
- Michael Utley – additional keyboards (1-2, 4, 6, 10)
- Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section[15][16]
- Barry Beckett – keyboards (7, additional on 3, 5, 11)
- Roger Hawkins – drums (3, 5, 7, 11)
- Eddie Hinton[17] – guitar (3, 5, 7, 11)
- David Hood – bass guitar (3, 5, 7, 11)
- Jimmy Johnson – guitar (3, 5, 7, 11)
Charts
Chart (1970) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums | 25 |
U.S. Top R&B Albums | 2 |
References
- ^ a b c d Franklin, Aretha. "Spirit in the Dark" (remastered CD liner notes). Rhino. 1993.
- ^ Aretha Franklin, etc. "Atlantic Recording Sessions: May 26–27, 1969 (NYC)". Jazz Disco. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ Aretha Franklin with Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. "Atlantic Recording Sessions: October 3, 1969 (Miami, FL)". Jazz Disco. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ Aretha Franklin with The Dixie Flyers. "Atlantic Recording Sessions: March 10, 1970 (Miami, FL)". Jazz Disco. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: F". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Marino, Nick (May 20, 2018). "Aretha Franklin Spirit in the Dark". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ Amatneek, Bill (November 12, 1970). "Aretha Franklin: Spirit in the Dark : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
- ^ Mosley, Holly (August 24, 2018). "Album of the Week...'Spirit in the Dark'". Contactmusic.com.
- ^ a b Franklin, Aretha. "Spirit in the Dark" (Original Album Notes). Atlantic. 1970.
- ^ Franklin, Aretha (2003). "The Thrill Is Gone (1970)". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ Franklin, Aretha. "You're All I Need to Get By" (Single). Atlantic. 1971.
- ^ Donn, Larry (September 12, 2019). "Rockabilly Days: Sammy Creason". Delta Boogie.
- ^ Harris, Craig (September 12, 2019). "Biography: The Dixie Flyers". Allmusic.
- ^ Kurutz, Steve. "Biography: Jimmy Johnson". AllMusic. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Potter, Jeff (April 26, 2017). "Roger Hawkins: The Pulse of Muscle Shoals". Modern Drummer. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Michael B. Smith and Roxanne Crutcher (May 2000). "The Most Important Things in Life are Rock & Roll...and a Hot Carr..." Swampland.com.
- v
- t
- e
- Aretha (1961)
- The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
- The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962)
- Laughing on the Outside (1963)
- Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964)
- Runnin' Out of Fools (1964)
- Yeah!!! (1965)
- Songs of Faith (1965)
- Soul Sister (1966)
- Take It Like You Give It (1967)
- I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
- Aretha Arrives (1967)
- Lady Soul (1968)
- Aretha Now (1968)
- Soul '69 (1969)
- Soft and Beautiful (1969)
- This Girl's in Love with You (1970)
- Spirit in the Dark (1970)
- Young, Gifted and Black (1972)
- Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) (1973)
- Let Me in Your Life (1974)
- With Everything I Feel in Me (1974)
- You (1975)
- Sparkle (1976)
- Sweet Passion (1977)
- Almighty Fire (1978)
- La Diva (1979)
- Aretha (1980)
- Love All the Hurt Away (1981)
- Jump to It (1982)
- Get It Right (1983)
- Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985)
- Aretha (1986)
- Through the Storm (1989)
- What You See Is What You Sweat (1991)
- A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998)
- So Damn Happy (2003)
- This Christmas, Aretha (2008)
- A Woman Falling Out of Love (2011)
- Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics (2014)
- Aretha in Paris (1968)
- Aretha Live at Fillmore West (1971)
- Amazing Grace (1972)
- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (1987)
- Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972 (2007)
albums
- Take a Look (1967)
- Aretha's Gold (1969)
- Aretha's Greatest Hits (1971)
- The Best of Aretha Franklin (1973)
- Aretha Sings the Blues (1980)
- 30 Greatest Hits (1985)
- Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings (1992/2014)
- Greatest Hits: 1980–1994 (1994)
- The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 (1994)
- Greatest Hits (1998)
- Aretha's Best (2001)
- Respect: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin (2002)
- The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years (1960–1965) (2002)
- Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul (2007)
- Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen (2007)
- A Brand New Me (2017)
- The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970 (2018)
- "Precious Lord (Part 1)" (1959)
- "Today I Sing the Blues" (1960)
- "Won't Be Long" (1960)
- "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (1961)
- "Operation Heartbreak" (1961)
- "I Surrender, Dear" (1962)
- "Try a Little Tenderness" (1962)
- "Say It Isn't So" (1963)
- "Skylark" (1963)
- "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1964)
- "One Step Ahead" (1965)
- "You Made Me Love You" (1965)
- "Mockingbird" (1967)
- "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967)
- "Respect" (1967)
- "Baby I Love You" (1967)
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967)
- "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
- "Chain of Fools" (1967)
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1968)
- "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (1968)
- "Think" (1968)
- "You Send Me" (1968)
- "The House That Jack Built" (1968)
- "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968)
- "See Saw" (1968)
- "My Song" (1968)
- "The Weight" (1969)
- "Tracks of My Tears" (1969)
- "I Can't See Myself Leaving You" (1969)
- "Gentle on My Mind" (1969)
- "Share Your Love with Me" (1969)
- "Eleanor Rigby" (1969)
- "Call Me" (1970)
- "Son of a Preacher Man" (1970)
- "Spirit in the Dark" (1970)
- "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970)
- "Don't Play That Song" (1970)
- "Border Song (Holy Moses)" (1970)
- "You're All I Need to Get By" (1971)
- "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1971)
- "Spanish Harlem" (1971)
- "Rock Steady" (1971)
- "Day Dreaming" (1972)
- "Angel" (1973)
- "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (1973)
- "I'm in Love" (1974)
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1974)
- "Something He Can Feel" (1976)
- "Break It to Me Gently" (1977)
- "What a Fool Believes" (1981)
- "It's My Turn" (1981)
- "Jump to It" (1982)
- "Get It Right" (1983)
- "Freeway of Love" (1985)
- "Who's Zoomin' Who" (1985)
- "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (1985)
- "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986)
- "Jimmy Lee" (1986)
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987)
- "Rock-A-Lott" (1987)
- "Oh Happy Day" (1988)
- "Gimme Your Love" (1989)
- "Through the Storm" (1989)
- "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (1989)
- "Everyday People" (1991)
- "Someday We'll All Be Free" (1992)
- "Ever Changing Times" (1992)
- "A Deeper Love" (1993)
- "Willing to Forgive" (1994)
- "A Rose Is Still a Rose" (1998)
- "Here We Go Again" (1998)
- "Put You Up on Game" (2007)
- "Angels We Have Heard on High" (2009)
- "Rolling in the Deep (The Aretha Version)" (2014)
- Awards and nominations
- Discography
- "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)"
- Amazing Grace (2018 film)
- Genius (2021 television series)
- Respect (2021 film)
- Ted White
Category