200 ALBUMS. Today: #89. Continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#89

SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS:

ARETHA FRANKLIN

 [2014] 

Aretha Franklin puts any competition aspiring for her crown back in their place on the 2014 album 'Sings The Great Diva Classics'. The track listing wisely selects a wide range of material as well as eras. Franklin doesn't just remain in safe territory. She could have restricted herself to other R&B classics such as Etta James' "At Last" or Gladys Knight & The Pips' "Midnight Train To Georgia" (both are on the album). That would be too easy for her: she can tear up songs like those in her sleep. Franklin bravely asserts her place among vocalists by putting her stamp on Broadway (Barbra Streisand's "People"), and contemporary hits. She confidently re-interprets Alicia Keys' "No One" in a breathtaking reggae style; she transforms Prince / Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" and Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" (which sounds like it was written specifically for her). Gloria Gaynor's disco classic "I Will Survive" leads into the Destiny's Child hit "Survivor" seamlessly on another track the Queen makes her own. The Chaka Khan / Whitney Houston dance track "I'm Every Woman" is fused with her own anthem "Respect". She powers through The Supremes' Motown #1 "You Keep Me Hangin' On". It is gratifying to see Franklin still sounding strong and incomparable 6 decades into her revered career.

Highlight tracks: I Will Survive; No One; You Keep Me Hangin' On & I'm Every Woman.