A new career-spanning Aretha Franklin box set, simply titled Aretha, will be released on November 20 digitally and as a four-CD collection.
The compilation features 81 remastered tracks, 19 of which have never been released either on CD or digitally. They include alternate renditions of some of the late Queen of Soul’s classic hits, plus demos, rarities and live performances.
Aretha is mostly arranged in chronological order, and begins with the two gospel songs that appeared on her 1956 debut single: “Never Grow Old” and “You Grow Closer.”
The box set also features 10 tracks dating from Franklin’s 1960-1966 tenure with Columbia Records, but the bulk of the box set is dedicated to her years with Atlantic Records, spanning from 1967 to 1979.
Among those tracks are 1966 home demos of “My Kind of Town (Detroit Is)” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” which she submitted to Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler to give him an idea about the material she might record for her first album for the label.
Aretha also features alternate takes of “Chain of Fools,” “Rock Steady” and “Spanish Harlem,” and her version of “Think” from The Blues Brothers soundtrack.
In addition, the compilation boasts a variety of duets, including a rendition of “Ooo Baby Baby” sung with Smokey Robinson from a 1970 episode of Soul Train; Aretha’s hit collaboration with Eurythmics, “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”; and her chart-topping duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).”
The box set, which can be pre-ordered now, closes with Aretha’s performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” from the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors salute to Carole King.
Aretha also will be available as a 20-track CD or two-LP set.
