Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo

Last updated
Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo
Aretha.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 27, 1961
RecordedAugust 1, 1960-January 10, 1961
StudioColumbia Recording Studios,
(New York City, New York)
Genre R&B, vocal [1]
Length32:47
Label Columbia (CS8412)
Producer John H. Hammond
Aretha Franklin chronology
Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo
(1961)
The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
(1962)
Singles from Aretha: With the Ray Bryant Combo
  1. "Love Is the Only Thing"
    Released: September 12, 1960
  2. "Won't Be Long"
    Released: December 23, 1960
  3. "Are You Sure"
    Released: April 3, 1961

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin, released on February 27, 1961, by Columbia Records. The album is Aretha's first release for Columbia, and is also known under its working title Right Now It's Aretha and sometimes simply as Aretha. [2] Following in the footsteps of her close friend Sam Cooke, Aretha was "discovered" by famed Columbia Records producer John H. Hammond, who on the cover notes of the 1973 edition of "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides" mentions, that she was in fact recommended by the composer Curtis Reginald Lewis. With the support of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Aretha ventured out to New York City's Columbia Record Studios to record her debut album for the label. Hammond paired Aretha Franklin with Ray Bryant, and combo and arranger J. Leslie McFarland, while taking charge of the album's production, which was received to mixed reviews.

Contents

The album showcases an 18 year old Franklin, covering a range of jazz and pop standards. Columbia Records couldn't clearly classify Aretha's sound, as either jazz or R&B. Aretha's subsequent albums would show her moving from the realms of both sounds, and audiences as she tries to define her "own soulful sound". Though rare to find an original 6-eye pressing on vinyl, Columbia Records re-released these sessions and retitled them as "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", in 1972. The exact same recording "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides", was once more re-released on vinyl, this time in 1973 by CBS/Embassy, trademarks of Columbia Records, probably being a UK edition, which on the center label bears these identification numbers: EMB S-31006 (KC 31953). There are some minor changes in the track list for the 1973 edition as well. (See the separate track listing below the 1972 listing).

Reception

"The word is out. A magnetic new artist, Aretha Franklin, only a short while away from her father's gospel church in Detroit, has been breaking up audience in theatres and nightclubs throughout the country and on Columbia single records. Combining a completely natural and uninhibited vocal style with an irresistible rhythmic sense, Aretha Franklin has established herself as one of the hottest new performers in show business and one likely to set new standards in the entertainment industry.

"She doesn't just open the door - she breaks it down."

-From the liner notes by Frank Driggs

Tracks

Track listing - 1972 Edition

Side One

1. "Won't Be Long" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:12
Recorded on November 29, 1960
With John McFarland, piano; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
2. "Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg) 2:42
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
3. "Love Is the Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:44
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone; Paul Owens, vocal obbligato
4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:26
Recorded on December 19, 1960
With William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
5. "All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) 3:01
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone
6. "Who Needs You?" (Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:50
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

Side Two

1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:27
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
2. "Are You Sure" (Meredith Willson) 2:44
From the Broadway musical production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
3. "Maybe I'm a Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:20
Working title: "Baby, I'm A Fool"
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
4. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) 2:57
Recorded on December 19, 1960
With Lucky Warren, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
5. "By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:42
Working title: "(Blue) By Myself"
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone
6. "Today I Sing the Blues" (Curtis Lewis) 2:47
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone

Bonus Tracks

1. "Are You Sure (Rehearsal)" 2:17
Producer John Hammond announces the take number.
2. "Who Needs You? (Take 9)" 3:03
3. "Right Now (Take 1)" 2:13
With Aretha Franklin on piano.
4. "Maybe I'm a Fool (Take 4)" 3:57

Mono Mixes

  1. "By Myself" 2:39
  2. "Won't Be Long" 2:54
  3. "All Night Long" 3:06
  4. "Love Is the Only Thing" 2:44
  5. "Right Now" 2:22

Track listing - 1973 Edition

Side One

1. "Won't Be Long" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:07
Recorded on November 29, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Aretha Franklin, piano
2. "Over The Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg) 2:35
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
3. "Love Is The Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:38
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:19
Recorded on November 29, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
5. "All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) 2:56
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone
6. "Who Needs You?" (Billie Holiday, Jeanne Burns) 2:45
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

Side Two

1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:20
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone
2. "Are You Sure" (Meredith Willson) 2:38
From the Broadway musical production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
3. "Maybe I'm A Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:15
Working title: "Baby, I'm A Fool"
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
4. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) 2:51
With Ray Bryant, piano; Warren Luckey, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums
5. "(Blue) By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:36
Working title: "(Blue) By Myself"
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone
6. "Today I Sing the Blues" (Curtis Lewis) 2:45
Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Ray Bryant, piano; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone


The cover notes on this edition were written by John Hammond, October 5, 1972. Among other things he mentions that all the sides on the record were originally made as singles, primarily for the jukebox market. At the end he writes: For some strange reason, this album has always been something of a secret, and I can only hope that it gets across to a new generation of Aretha admirers. Let me hasten to add that there has been no overdubbing, rechanneling or other messing around with the pure gold of the original.

Related Research Articles

Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages were a British rock group from the early 1960s, sporting an ever-changing line-up of musicians and a taste for horror themes and zany humour. The group was founded by drummer Carlo Little, who was a friend of David Sutch, better known as Screaming Lord Sutch.

<i>Aretha Now</i> 1968 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha Now is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on June 14, 1968, by Atlantic Records. The album is gold-certified. It reached No. 3 on Billboard's album chart. In 1993, it was reissued on CD through Rhino Records. The album was rated the 133rd best album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.

<i>With Everything I Feel in Me</i> album

With Everything I Feel in Me is the twenty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, Released on November 25, 1974, by Atlantic Records.

<i>Aretha in Paris</i> 1968 live album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha In Paris is a live album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released in 1968 by Atlantic Records. The album was recorded in Paris on May 7, 1968. It reached the Top 20 of Billboard's album chart. It was reissued on compact disc through Rhino Records in the 1990s.

<i>Soul 69</i> 1969 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Soul '69 is the fourteenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin released in 1969 by Atlantic Records, the album features covered material. The album charted at number 1 on Billboard's R&B albums chart and at number 15 on Billboard's Top Albums, but launched two largely unsuccessful singles, "Tracks of My Tears", which reached number 21 on "Black Singles" and number 71 on "Pop Singles", and "Gentle on My Mind", which charted at number 50 and number 76 respectively. The album was re-released on compact disc through Rhino Records in the 1990s.

<i>Aretha</i> (1986 album) 1986 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986 by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.

<i>Aretha</i> (1980 album) 1980 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the twenty-sixth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on September 30, 1980, by Arista Records. This was the second album with this title to be released by the artist, and her first for Arista Records after a 12-year tenure with Atlantic Records.

<i>Through the Storm</i> (Aretha Franklin album) 1989 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Through the Storm is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on April 27, 1989, by Arista Records.

The song "Jimmy Lee" was a hit single by American singer Aretha Franklin. The single was nominated for an American Music Award and was the lead-off track on her 1986 album Aretha, and was written by Narada Michael Walden, Lisa Walden, Preston Glass, Jeffrey Cohen. Narada Michael Walden also produced the track.

<i>Super Hits</i> (Miles Davis album) 2001 greatest hits album by Miles Davis

Super Hits is a greatest hits album from Miles Davis. Released in 2001, it reached #22 on Billboard's Jazz Albums chart.

Samuel "Sticks" Evans was an American drummer, percussionist, music teacher, arranger and musical director. He was credited variously as Sammy "Stick" Evans, Samie Evans, Sammy Evans, Sammie Evans, Stick Evans, Sticks Evans, and Belton Evans.

ChaunceyLeon Westbrook, known professionally as Chauncey "Lord" Westbrook, was an American jazz guitarist.

<i>Stable Mates</i> 1957 studio album by Yusef Lateef/A. K. Salim

Stable Mates is a split album by A. K. Salim and Yusef Lateef recorded in 1957 for the Savoy label.

<i>The Birth of a Band!</i> 1959 studio album by Quincy Jones

The Birth of a Band! is an album by Quincy Jones that was released by Mercury with performances by Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Harry Edison, and Phil Woods.

<i>Skull Session</i> 1975 studio album by Oliver Nelson

Skull Session is an album by American jazz composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1975 for the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>Swinging Like Tate</i> 1958 studio album by Buddy Tate

Swinging Like Tate is an album by saxophonist Buddy Tate which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.

<i>The Hawk in Paris</i> 1957 studio album by Coleman Hawkins with Manny Albam and His Orchestra

The Hawk in Paris is an album by saxophonist Coleman Hawkins featuring compositions related to Paris performed with an orchestra arranged and conducted by Manny Albam which was recorded in 1956 for the RCA Records subsidiary Vik label.

<i>The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1</i> 1994 compilation album by Aretha Franklin

The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 is a compilation album by singer Aretha Franklin, released by Rhino Records in March 1994. The album compiles 13 of her first 14 singles for Atlantic Records all of which were recorded during the 1960s. The original recordings were produced by Jerry Wexler, and this compilation was certified platinum by the RIAA.

References