Aretha Franklin "New Album" Era

[shaq91]

ARETHA FRANKLIN It takes a brave vocalist to sing a duet with Aretha Franklin, but she has rounded up an album's worth, including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and George Michael. Not yet titled. Nov. 13. Arista. (Jon Pareles)
www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/arts/music/09poplist.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

[necola]

Aretha Franklin's JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN, In Stores November 13th


Multiple Grammy Nominee Fantasia duets with Aretha on the lead single, 'PUT YOU UP ON GAME, impacting radio on Oct.1st.


www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-12-2007/0004661691&EDATE=

[shaq91]

Arista recording artist Aretha Franklin, the incomparable Queen Of Soul and 17-time Grammy winner, adds another jewel to her crown with the release of a must have collection of show- stopping duets from her new album, Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With The Queen. Franklin, a Grammy Living Legend, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will release this stellar collection on November 13, 2007.

Franklin duets with a combination of music icons and some of the hottest voices in music today including Whitney Houston ("It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be"), John Legend ("What Y'All Came To Do"), Luther Vandross ("Doctor's Orders"), Annie Lennox ("Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves"), Keith Richards ("Jumping Jack Flash"), Elton John ("Through The Storm"), Frank Sinatra ("What Now My Love"), George Michael ("I Knew You Were Waiting"), Michael McDonald ("Ever Changing Times"), George Benson ("Love All The Hurt Away"), and good friend Mary J. Blige ("Don't Waste My Time"). Aretha and Mary J. also join on a second tune, "Never Gonna Break My Faith" (with the Harlem Boys Choir). Rounding out the collection are two thrilling performances, both tributes to Aretha on her classics, "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" with Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan; and "Chain Of Fools" with Mariah Carey.

biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070912/nyw136.html?.v=94

[CedricCed]

This sounds amazing!!! Whitney Houston..WOW!!! I wanna Pre-Order this now..Look @ those names!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Push The Button]

That Whitney duet is from the early 90's. Most of those have been recorded for years.

[CedricCed]

don't matter to me..still goin to get it...and how u kno that?

[shaq91]

ceddie05 said:

This sounds amazing!!! Whitney Houston..WOW!!! I wanna Pre-Order this now..Look @ those names!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cause tats an old song which was released a long time ago and can be found anywhere. i think the chain of fools wit mariah is their live performance from vh1 save the music 98

[areyoureadytojump]

Billboard.com:

Two New Tracks Bolster Franklin Duets Collection

September 13, 2007

by Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Two newly recorded songs will join a host of high-profile, previously released duets on a new Aretha Franklin collection, "Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen." The set is due Nov. 13 via Arista and is led by the single "Put You Up on Game" with Fantasia," which hits radio Oct. 1.

The other new track is "What Y'All Came To Do" with John Legend. Among the gems from Franklin's back catalog appearing on the album are duets with Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Annie Lennox, Frank Sinatra, George Michael and the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards.

In addition, "Jewels" includes Franklin and Bonnie Raitt's take on "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" and the Queen of Soul's pairing with Mariah Carey on "Chain of Fools," plus Franklin's performance of Puccini's "Nessum Dorma" from the 1998 Grammys.

Franklin has two appearances on her upcoming schedule: Sept. 18 in New York as part of the Dream Concert and Oct. 11 in Red Bank, N.J.

[marcjm]

The fact that so many of these songs are used and abused duets is a turn-off for me. It's been the longest since her last CD, and all we get is 3 new songs.

[SoulMusic]

I'll get the duet with Fantasia and the one with John Legend from Itunes when the album is released. She can keep the rest of those songs.

[jamaicantasiaboy]

wow can't wait to hear that song, fantasia rules

[lion]

This is a Clive Davis project and has nothing to do with Aretha's new album,which will be out under her own label(ARETHA RECORDS,if I'm not mistaking)...yes,she recorded 2 songs,but that's not a "new" album,so,don't worry...

[reception]

Aretha Franklin Opens Up About Losing Weight
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 08:00 AM EDT

By Mark Dagostino

"Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin will be joining Usher, Stevie Wonder, Ludacris, Garth Brooks, Robin Thicke and other all-stars for Sept. 18's Dream Concert at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall.

On her bus en route to New York, PEOPLE caught up with the slimmed-down singing legend, 65, to discuss her new look and what'son the road ahead.

It's no secret you've had some struggles with your weight in recent years.
Who hasn't had a weight issue? If not the body, certainly the big head! (Laughs.) But I have no such issues now.

How much have you lost?
A lot of weight. I won't say the number, but I found the magic numbers on the treadmill. Slowly but surely. It's all happy.

No surgery?
I would never, ever do that. I know many women who [had gastric bypass surgery]] who are having a bad time now, unfortunately. It's nothing I would ever do.

So, tell us about the Dream Concert.
It's going to be one magnificent evening. We're trying to raise money [to build] the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall [in Washington, D.C.]. It will stand between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial, and I wanted to help because MLK Jr. was a family friend - and because I believe in what he was doing.

Have you been working on new music, too?
I have a single coming out in two weeks - a duet with Fantasia [Barrino], called "Let Me Put You Up On Game."

And a movie?
For television. My autobiography, From These Roots. Hopefully it will happen early spring. I have verbal commitments from Billy Dee [Williams] to play my father, and Terrence Howard to play Smokey Robinson.

Who'll play you?
I'm not sure yet. Jennifer Hudson came to read for me. I also have an interest in Halle Berry possibly doing it. And Fantasia.

Any of them would be great.
That's for sure! It really is exciting just to watch it all come to fruition.

[JaydaKyssed]

Put you up on game has been released and here it is...
www.zshare.net/audio/3748390bb9908c/

[jamaicantasiaboy]

the song is so hottt, let me put you up on game, the song blows!!!

[Running changes]

The song is cool :)
Might not be so original as a track,but I think the 2 voices blends together well...and I think Aretha is singing better here than any track on SO DAMN HAPPY ;)

[SHOOTER]

Something's not working in that song for me.

[shaq91]

when is put you up on game gonna be released to itunes?

[sdot23]

Christina Aguilera is on the album?

www.ottawaxpress.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=12992

"...She just called me last Sunday because Aretha Franklin is doing a duets album and she's doing one of the cuts and she asked me to produce it. I said, 'Hell yes!' because I'm big Aretha fan. Christina wants to keep it fun, sort of like when we did Ain't No Other

Man, without copying it. Actually we both wish it was that record because Aretha would have torn that to pieces, but we'll do something brand new." More than simply a huge name to stand behind, he says Xtina has become "like a baby sister" to him.

[marcjm]

Put you Up on Game is actually already on ITunes.

[necola]

marcjm said:

Put you Up on Game is actually already on ITunes.

Yes it is on ITunes and i would love to see a video with Re and Tasia for this song.

[shuman]

Not sure how I feel about this. need to hear/read more

[Bunifa Latifah Jackson]

nick16 said:

Christina Aguilera is on the album?

www.ottawaxpress.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=12992

"...She just called me last Sunday because Aretha Franklin is doing a duets album and she's doing one of the cuts and she asked me to produce it. I said, 'Hell yes!' because I'm big Aretha fan. Christina wants to keep it fun, sort of like when we did Ain't No Other

Man, without copying it. Actually we both wish it was that record because Aretha would have torn that to pieces, but we'll do something brand new." More than simply a huge name to stand behind, he says Xtina has become "like a baby sister" to him.

I think Christina is making part of Aretha's actual new album, not this duet one

[JaydaKyssed]

Put U Up on game was submitted to the grammys for a possible nomination.

[shaq91]

Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen
1. "Jumpin Jack Flash" (with Keith Richards)
2. "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" (with Eurythmics)
3. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)
4. "What Now My Love" (with Frank Sinatra)
5. "Put You Up On Game" (with Fantasia; first single)
6. "What Y'all Came to Do" (with John Legend)
7. "Never Gonna Break My Faith" (with Mary J. Blige)
8. "Through the Storm" (with Elton John)
9. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (with Whitney Houston)
10. "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" (Live) (with Gloria Estefan & Bonnie Raitt)
11. "Doctor's Orders" (with Luther Vandross)
12. "Ever Changing Times" (with Michael McDonald)
13. "Chain of Fools" (Live with Mariah Carey)
14. "Don't Waste Your Time" (with Mary J. Blige)
15. "Love All The Hurt Away" (with George Benson)
16. "Nessun Dorma" (Live at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards)

[shaq91]

Official Cover

[SMuha]

migu said:

nick16 said:

Christina Aguilera is on the album?

www.ottawaxpress.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=12992

"...She just called me last Sunday because Aretha Franklin is doing a duets album and she's doing one of the cuts and she asked me to produce it. I said, 'Hell yes!' because I'm big Aretha fan. Christina wants to keep it fun, sort of like when we did Ain't No Other

Man, without copying it. Actually we both wish it was that record because Aretha would have torn that to pieces, but we'll do something brand new." More than simply a huge name to stand behind, he says Xtina has become "like a baby sister" to him.

I think Christina is making part of Aretha's actual new album, not this duet one

I don't think so. Excerpt from NY Times article:

Ms. Franklin has already completed an album for her own label, Aretha’s Records, called “Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love.” It features songs she wrote and produced herself, rather than those by the established hit makers behind most of the material she recorded for Mr. Davis. “I made all of the selections,” she said, “and I really, really was just thrilled with that, that I didn’t have to ask anyone anything.”

[robbie23]

they shut down bloor st. (Toronto) when she performed last night for the unveiling of the Holt Renfrew Xmas window and she sounded amazing ... she can still sing with the best!!!!
although, contrary to what she may have said in that interview above, homegirl didn't lose any weight .. she was HUGE!!!!
i took some pics ..

[shaq91]

has the duets album leaked yet?

[areyoureadytojump]

Aretha Franklin edging into semi-retirement
By Gail Mitchell
Fri Nov 9

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Aretha Franklin's storied career is the focus of two new retrospectives, "Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul" and "Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Franklin Live in Philly, 1972."


Partnered with young gun Fantasia, Franklin is also back on the R&B charts with "Put You Up On Game," one of 16 tracks featured on the compilation "Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen," due in stores November 13. The J Records release includes guest turns by Annie Lennox, George Michael, Mary J. Blige and John Legend.

Billboard recently caught up Franklin before a charity concert in New York.

1. WHAT ONE SPECIAL MEMORY SURFACED AFTER REVISITING THE "JEWELS" DUETS?

The duet with Frank Sinatra, "What Now My Love," is one of my favorites. It was 1969 and I went to Los Angeles to perform "Funny Girl" on the Academy Awards. Frank introduced me that night; to be introduced by the chairman of the board was a big moment for me. I had always wanted to duet with him. Frank always had the best arrangers, and his song selection and phrasing were impeccable.

2. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON YOUR DUET WISH LIST?

Absolutely. Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan. And you never know, Natalie Cole and I may do something. We've touched on that.

3. IS A NEW STUDIO ALBUM ON THE WAY?

It's called "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love" on Aretha's Records. I think we're going to go to the Internet with that album, probably in the spring. Two fine young writer/producers, Troy Taylor and Gordon Chambers, worked on the album, which is mostly R&B with some pop. I also did some of the writing and production chores with Mike Powell and my son Kecalf.

4. WHERE DO THINGS STAND WITH YOUR STAGE PLAY, "ARETHA: FROM THESE ROOTS?"

That's coming along very well. Now we're talking about it as a follow-up to a telefilm that I'm negotiating with one of the networks. I'm very disappointed, though, that I haven't received the film proposals I would have loved to see from Hollywood. I did get a couple but they were very poor offers. They don't seem to respond to female celebrities in some ways as they do in others. So negotiations for a film broke off.

But the play is still definite. I have a consortium of gentlemen who are going to back it. I held auditions over five days and out of the 500 people we auditioned, I selected one. That gives you an idea as to how scrutinizing I am when it comes to this project.

5. HAVE YOU CONQUERED YOUR FEAR OF FLYING YET?

I'm driving out to L.A., but this is going to be my last time coming to the coast until I'm flying again. I'm going to give it one more try. The last time I took Fearless Flyers classes was about five years ago. If it doesn't happen, at least I tried.

Actually, I'm kind of planning my semi-retirement. I will always be singing somewhere but I won't be going on the road to the degree that I have before. But I'll still do select things and still record. I'm more into supporting my sons now and getting their careers out there.

Kecalf writes, produces and also has a degree in film. Eddie sings and I've recorded some things with him. And Teddy has his own rock group that goes to Europe three to four times a year to do the festivals.

6. IS AN "AMERICAN IDOL" APPEARANCE IN THE WORKS?

We've talked a number of times. Unfortunately, the show is on hiatus at the time I'm usually coming out to the coast. But since I'm coming in February, maybe I'll be able to do it this time.