Reviewed by Tony Cummings

A fascinating compilation this one - two dozen tracks, largely of '60s and '70s R&B which so impressed the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, that she later deigned to record her own versions (often with huge success). So you've got Otis Redding's version of "Respect", Thelma Jones' original of "The House That Jack Built" and (from an earlier era) Helen Humes' "Today I Sing The Blues". One or two of the singers subsequently returned to the church and gospel music (Brenda Holloway, Dionne Warwick) while the main gospel interest of the tracks here is Clara Ward's storming 1949 recording of "The Day Is Passed And Gone". Come to think of it, Aretha based much of her entire vocal style on the soul-drenched vocals of that particular Philadelphian gospel matriarch. Maybe Ace could be persuaded to compile an entire album of Clara's early recordings. In he meantime, soul music archivists will enjoy this fine collection immensely.

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