Aretha Franklin - Atlantic Records / WEA (1967 - 1979)
'Young, Gifted..' (1972)
Like its predecessor, 'Spirit in the Dark', 1972's 'Young, Gifted and Black' found Aretha moving with soul music's elite into a progressive phase that opened up the emotional content of her work even further. "All the King's Horses" mourns the death of her first marriage, while "Day Dreaming" and "A Brand New Me" point toward what we'd now call "healing." Two stabs at social comment, Nina Simone's title cut and, intriguingly, Elton John's "Border Song," round out this impressive portrait. (Rickey Wright) TRACKLISTING - 1. Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby) (3.42), 2. Day Dreaming (4.00), 3. Rock Steady (3.14), 4. Young, Gifted And Black (3.34), 5. All The King's Horses (3.56), 6. A Brand New Me (4.26), 7. April Fools (3.30), 8. I've Been Loving You Too Long (3.36), 9. First Snow In kokomo (4.04), 10. The Long And Winding Road (3.39), 11. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) (3.43), and 12. Border Song (Holy Moses) (3.19)