Album of the Week

Don't Fight the Feeling - Aretha Franklin & King Curtis Live at the Filmore West

To me, this has been one of the most exciting releases in years. It has all three legendary nights by the Queen of Soul and the best rythm section of their time (time=1971 ie pretty damned good). Playing not to the usual soul fans but to Grateful-Dead-and-Jefferson-Airplane-loving-longhairs, it could have gone either way - it went well.

If effortless, unified funky R&B groove was a rolfaroo, then King Curtis and the Kingpins, in their unique and meaningful
creation of said groove, would be mighty Mr Harris himself. Aretha's gospel-drenched soul may have its roots in the church, but her orgasmic rendition of Dr Feelgood would make even Carla blush.

Is that Ray Charles on the cover? The answer is yes; he steps up to join in the fun, and the fun's not spoilt by the fact that he doesn't know any of the words. Respect.

Too many songs to list, see link. Limited to 5000 copies, unlucky.