Album of the Day

Any proclamation by the Queen of Soul should command your attention, but ARETHA NOW is particularly noteworthy. Cut at New York's Atlantic Studios with the venerable Jerry Wexler behind the boards, the 1968 collection includes a pair of iconic Top 10 singles: opener “Think” is an original while “I Say a Little Prayer” illustrates Aretha's ability to make any song her own (and it's not easy to steal the spotlight from Dionne Warwick). Outstanding performances of “See Saw” and “You Send Me” further that argument, and the album, which includes appearances from the likes of guitarist Bobby Womack, keyboardist Spooner Oldham and saxophonist King Curtis, was named one of the best of the 1960s by Pitchfork. Aretha Franklin passed away a year ago today, and while the Queen is gone, ARETHA NOW ensures her voice will sing forever.