Album of the Day

While Nina Simone may not have written the title song to YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK for her, Aretha Franklin truly embodied those qualities. Supported by an all-star ensemble including Billy Preston, Dr. John and guitarist Cornell Dupree, the Queen of Soul rises to new heights as both a keyboardist and a singer here, earning a Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy in the process. The gold-certified 1972 Atlantic set includes four Franklin-penned tracks, two of which made the Pop Top 10 (“Day Dreaming” and “Rock Steady”), and the originals are joined by an eclectic array of covers (from The Beatles, Burt Bacharach and Elton John, among others) that the legendary performer makes uniquely her own. An inspiring release that captures every facet of Aretha Franklin's talent, YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK is now available in a special yellow vinyl edition for Black History Month.