Product Description

This aptly named best-of album collects the creme de la creme of Lady Soul's post-Atlantic Records work, a fruitful period in which she re-invented herself as an all-purpose pop diva. Highlights include several star duets, among them "United Together", a classic Burt Bacharach ballad done with Michael McDonald, and the perky "Doctor's Orders", with Luther Vandross; as well as more urban fare such as the tell-it-like-it-is "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "Jump to It". There's also a show-stopping rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream", the big number from the musical LES MISERABLES, and the brilliant crossover smash "Freeway of Love", an almost-rocker which introduced Aretha to the MTV generation.

Track Listing

1. Freeway of love
2. I knew you were waiting (for me) feat. George Michael
3. Jump to it
4. Willing to forgive
5. Doctor's orders feat. Luther Vandross
6. United Together
7. Who's zoomin' who
8. A deeper love
9. Honey
10. Get it right
11. Another night
12. Ever changing times feat.Michael McDonald
13. Jimmy Lee
14. You make me feel (like a natural woman) feat.Bonnie Raitt & Gloria Estefan
15. I dreamed a dream
16. Jumpin'jack flash

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81213 in Music
• Released on: 1996-02-24
• Number of discs: 1

From Amazon.com
When Aretha Franklin signed with Arista Records, marking the end of the 13-year tenure at Atlantic that saw her transform both her own art and the face of soul music itself, she was at loose ends. Even when she scored hits for the new label, they were often the result of casting about for a commercial foothold in the post-disco marketplace rather than the savvy combination of pure artistry and smart trend-watching of her greatest Atlantic moments. Thus, the tracks collected on Greatest Hits (1980-1994) are hardly her most essential; "Jump to It" and "Freeway of Love" are fun, but "Jimmy Lee" and the George Michael duet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" reflect fairly dull accommodations with '80s pop conventions. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Pass the sick bags...
Let's start with a clarification: I LOVE Aretha Franklin, her voice is simply magnificent and she amply deserves her soubriquet as the Queen of Soul.

However, I do have issues with this collection - one of which is that she is very poorly served by the material. Compared to her earlier songs, this disco-fied ensemble is very weak, just a few numbers fit to lick the boots of Respect, I Say a Little Prayer etc. So many usual suspects here: either the identikit skittering guitar and drum beat, or else syrupy ballads that leave me feeling nauseous. Arrangements are generally lush and detract from the overall effect. Nothing to electrify the soul, send a shiver down the back - little, in short, to remind you why Aretha is the greatest performer of her generation.

Not only that, but there are various duets which tend to depress me - a younger artist hoping that some of the greatness will rub off on their shoulders and an older artist hoping to revive a flagging career is never a match made in heaven, and Aretha simply doesn't need it. A piano is enough to show her unique talent.

And it gets worse too. You thought the ballads were bad? The self-congratulatory ego-rubbing love-in recorded at an award ceremony included here is just horrendous and should be excised forever. If you want to hear how good Aretha is, just listen to the power and majesty of that voice - it speaks volumes! So if you are a newcomer to Aretha Franklin, stick with her material pre-1980.

Hits from the 1980s and beyond
Aretha's star seemed to fade during the disco era of the middle to late 1970s, but then she made a comeback. This collection covers her time on Arista from 1980 to 1994 and distils the best work from five albums. It includes the huge hits Freeway Of Love and the duet I Knew You Were Waiting For Me (with George Michael). Other impressive songs include Jump To It, Doctor's Orders (with Luther Vandross) and Get It Right. I also like Willing To Forgive, Ever Changing Times, A Deeper Love and this version of Natural Woman featuring Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan. Her version of Jumpin' Jack Flash is quite a tour de force with Keith Richards doing his thing on electric guitar. Although I prefer her classic work from the 1960s and 1970s like Spanish Harlem, Respect and her exquisite rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, this collection demonstrates that she found lots of new spark in the 1980s and contributed a memorable body of work in that and the following decade.

The Original "Miss Thang" does it again
This is an album that surpasses all the "greatest" previous' albums. I am an "Aunty Ree" fan who discovered the lady in my youthful days,(80'S) and know the Lady has "Rocked", does "Rock" and will continue to "Rock" if she decides.
From the essential
#"Respect" (and we so do),
#"You Make Me Feel" (Lady, if I was born a few years before, you could have been singing this to me but this could be wishful thinking on my part),
#"Think" (they dont even try to make them like this no more - and if/when they do- Please dont try),
#"I'll Never Love a Man" (and you all know she won't)

to the her later and more obscure (does she do obscure),

#"It Isnt, It Wasn't" and Elton's collaboration,
#"Through The Storm"(I bought this at the time on picture disc and was so shocked it wasn't a major hit)
this is a great collabaration for the Aretha "Virgin" (OK, use the word "first timer" or "Novice".)
However if I would be so pertinent to criticise, why not have included stronger (in my opinion) songs such as
#"Giving Him Somthing He Can Feel"(covered by En Vogue well) which could/would remind the world who did it before and better,
#"Share your Love" (and I would), and even
#"Spirit in the Dark" (Remember it from a video featuring Ray Charles Live -Nuff said).

These are personal favourites and not hits but there are songs on this album that are not remembered as well as those suggested ( and I suspect by a number of fans over the years).
I would be the first to agree, the 80's/90's have not been so fortunate for Her Majesty, hits wise, but there is confusion on this side. The quality is so-so and there are notable omissions. Where is the divine
#"Honey" and
#"Jump to It"

#"Baby, I Love You" so belongs on the 1st side but appeals because of its appearance in the film Goodfella's that it crosses time scales.

However the 2nd disc/side should have provided more of her collabarations.
#Luther Vandross"Doctors Orders"
#Michael McDonald "Everchanging Times",

which would have displayed her style,influence,and ability to crossover in those times (George Michael "Knew who was waiting" for a hit), however understandably some of these where not chart hits and only album songs (shame).
Overall, this is an album that will appeal to any Aretha afficicinado, and will provide the novice with a quality guide to the work of a modern artist.

However as a long term fan,or someone who has heard a lot of her work, (and for those new fans check her out) there will be major mental debates/arguments as to which songs have been left out/put in, but Hey that can only be a good thing.