Amazing Grace
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Community Score: 10.00

Aretha Franklin disproved the notion that once you leave the church, you can't go back. She returned in triumph on this 1972 double album, making what might be her greatest release ever in any style. Her voice was chilling, making it seem as if God and the angels were conducting a service alongside Franklin, Rev. James Cleveland, the Southern... Read More

Spirit in the Dark
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Community Score: 5.00

Spirit in the Dark was one of Aretha Franklin's more overlooked albums from her Atlantic prime, despite the inclusion of a couple hit singles (the title track and "Don't Play That Song"). The disc includes five of her own compositions (the most she ever recorded for a single album) and her usual eclectic choice of cover material. On this record,... Read More

Brother, Brother, Brother
Artist: The Isley Brothers
Young, Gifted and Black
Artist: Aretha Franklin

It's nearly impossible to single out any of Aretha Franklin's early '70s albums for Atlantic as being her best, particularly given the breadth of her output during this era. In terms of albums rather than singles, it's probably her strongest era, and if you count live albums like Amazing Grace, choosing a standout or a favorite record isn't any... Read More

New and Improved
Artist: The Spinners
Community Score: 10.00

The Spinners were on a roll; after years of neglect at the hands of Motown, their ship just kept coming in, and in, and in with Atlantic Records. New and Improved is an absolute classic, yet it gets less run than some of their other LPs. Everything from the romanticism of "Smile We Have Each Other," a real tearjerker, to the self-assured, driven... Read More

Just as I Am
Artist: Bill Withers
Community Score: 10.00

Though low-key by the standards of early-'70s soul, Withers' debut record is by most measures an astonishing maiden outing. Perhaps being at a relatively advanced age for a singer-songwriter doing his first album (Withers was in his early thirties by the time it was released) helped give the songs a maturity and weight lacking in most initial... Read More

All Day Music
Artist: War
Community Score: 8.00

As controlled as their self-titled debut was loose, War's sophomore effort, All Day Music, appearing a little over six months later in November 1971, was packed with subtly understated grooves. A hit with the fans, the LP peaked in the Top Ten, ultimately spending a massive 39 weeks on the charts. Side one is a gorgeous slab of mellow grooves... Read More

Back to Oakland
Artist: Tower of Power
Community Score: 10.00

Tower of Power followed their self-titled gold album with an even better album that didn't enjoy similar sales success. Back to Oakland had tougher, funkier and better-produced cuts, stronger vocals from Lenny Williams (who was more comfortable as their lead singer), and included an excellent ballad in "Time Will Tell," and a rousing tempo in... Read More

Rags to Rufus
Artist: Rufus & Chaka Khan
Community Score: 8.00

In many respects the group seems to be feeling their way through this. Luckily, Rags to Rufus does feature some can't-miss propositions. The great rock and funk mix of "You've Got the Love" all but sums up what Chaka Khan was going to be doing for the long haul. The biggest hit here, "Tell Me Something Good," is a rare instance of an artist like... Read More

Rufusized
Artist: Rufus
Community Score: 8.00

In the early '70s, Rufus was one of the most popular and interesting bands in R&B and rock. Of course, the reason was Chaka Khan, who possessed an amazing voice that was well versed in rock and jazz every bit as much as R&B. Their debut went nowhere, Rags to Rufus offered two instant classics, and Rufusized displayed their skill as album... Read More

Nightbirds
Artist: LaBelle
Community Score: 8.30

The finest of Labelle's original albums, Nightbirds was recorded in New Orleans with funkmeister Allen Toussaint handling the production chores and, one assumes, members of the Meters taking care of the session work. Worth the price of admission for the Bob Crewe-written "Lady Marmalade" alone, the album veers between the strutting New Orleans,... Read More

Private Numbers
Artist: Veda Brown

Judy Clay has ten of the 18 tracks on this CD, the remainder belonging to Veda Brown, an even more obscure late-period Stax female soul belter. Clay's work for the label was gutsier in general than the sides she waxed during the same time for Atlantic, although only one of them made any chart impact, "Private Number" (a duet with William Bell).... Read More