Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace

33⅓ Main Series #84

by Aaron Cohen

For two days in January 1972, Aretha Franklin sang at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles while tape recorders and film cameras rolled. Everyone there knew the event had the potential to be historic: five years after ascending to soul royalty and commercial success, Franklin was publicly returning to her religious roots. Her influential minister father stood by her on the pulpit. Her mentor, Clara Ward, sat in the pews. Franklin responded to the occasion with the performance of her life and the resulting double album became a multi-million sellerGÇöeven without any trademark hit singles. But that was just one part of the story.

Franklin’s warm inimitable voice, virtuoso jazz-soul instrumental group and Rev. James Cleveland’s inventive choral arrangements transformed the course of gospel. Through new interviews, musical and theological analyses as well as archival discoveries, this book sets the scene, traces the recording’s traditional origins and pop infusions and describes the album’s enduring impact. 

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, History

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2011

Reviews

[Chazzbot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A particularly strong entry in the long-running 33 1/3 series, Cohen's book offers a well-researched, in-depth look at the recording of this iconic album, and its influence on popular culture. Cohen provides a brief history of Franklin's experience in the gospel church, how the arrangements were made to record her two-day performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, how the band came together (with short bios of each performer), an analysis of each song, and an overview of the album's impact. In addition, Cohen notes how Franklin's attire on the album cover both helped the album enter the playlists of black radio stations and alienated some pop stations, how the album initiated a divide between "traditional" and "contemporary" gospel music that persists to this day, and the key differences between the original album and the later release of the complete recordings of the performance.

Suffice it to say, it is difficult to imagine that a more comprehensive analysis of this album will ever be written. Cohen incorporates his interviews with many of the key players in the performance and recording, and cites a host of secondary sources as well. Reading this volume not only gave me a better appreciation for the album, but its impact on popular culture. If you have any interest in Aretha Franklin's career, gospel music, or popular music in general, this is a must read.

[Rachel Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly fantastic book. A few months ago, I managed to come across a copy of this album on vinyl, and when I was checking out, the cashier recommended I grab the book to read alongside it. Well, I definitely listened to the album long before I read the book, but I'm so glad I finally got to it.

The book does an amazing job of explaining every aspect of the album: Aretha Franklin's personal and professional life and how that influenced her desires for the album; different denominations in Black churches and how their worship music contributed to gospel trends; James Cleveland, Alexander Hamilton, the Southern California Community Choir, and how they shaped gospel trends into the 80s and beyond; the reception of the album by Black Americans and white people in the US and overseas; the album itself in a detailed examination of its underlying music theory; and so much more.

It's worth repeating: this is a truly fantastic book. I'm hoping that the next time I pick up an entry in this series, it'll be just as engrossing of a read. 5 stars.

[Christopher Renberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book on the album in question and the artist who created it. Throw in additional background informtion on the gospel music of the late 60s and early 70s and it was a mighty fine read and made a good playlist to boot!

[Michele Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful Introduction

This book is a helpful introduction to the circumstances and the aesthetics upon which Aretha Franklin’s album Amazing Grace was built. As the film of this two day event that took place in 1972 under the leadership of Rev James Cleveland is poised to be released to the general public in January 2019, it is good to know the particulars of what happened on those dates as well as to gain some insight into why this footage has been withheld until after Aretha’s death. This book contains lots of background on all the main participants as well as the selection and arrangements of the songs. I have loved this album since it first became my grandmother’s favorite on LP in 1972. Everything Aretha did at that time was a marvel to me. It was only in subsequent decades that I began to learn the significance of her extraordinary mastery in gospel singing and piano.

[Bradley Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After achieving groundbreaking success as a soul music pioneer and superstar during the mid to late 1960s, Aretha Franklin would reach back to where it all began to create one of her greatest and most enduring albums. Over the course of two nights in January 1972, Franklin recorded a live gospel album at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, returning to her religious roots within a working class Black neighborhood still healing from the collective trauma of the civil unrest that occurred seven years prior. Taking gospel, from both the Baptist and Pentecostal traditions, and infusing it with pop sensibilities, Franklin’s monumentally influential live gospel album not only provided an outlet for Franklin to carry her musical foundation forward, it spoke to the times in a way that recognized the intersectionality of the Black church and the advocacy for racial parity. Through interviews, archival research, theological analysis, and genuine love and respect for the music’s aesthetic and messaging, Cohen provides an illuminating and enlightening look into the circumstances that resulted in a masterpiece from one of music’s true masters.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An album I'm not as familiar with, but a book that still makes the process of its creation interesting and engaging. One of the better laid out and put together 33 1/3 books I've read.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, explores the making of the album and everything surrounding it

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice telling of Aretha's life, career, and the recording of this album.

[Mark Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful introduction to an absolutely amazing recording session. Be sure to listen to Aretha Franklin!

[Kelly Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people probably wouldn't expect a gospel album to show up on the 33 1/3 series, but we are dealing with Aretha Franklin, and just about anybody would listen to her sing the Good News. I guess that is why it shouldn't be a surprise a Jewish man reviewed this album and dedicated the review to understanding other faiths. The reviewer, Aaron Cohen does a masterful job filling out the details behind this album, and it is evident he loves the music. It was interesting to see him spell Holy Spirit without caps, which is contrary to gospel tradition, but more consonant with the Hebrew notion of God's spirit as depicted in the early chapters of Genesis. In general, Cohen is more sensitive to the religious mindset present on this album than John Darnielle is on his review of Master of Reality, which is a Christian Stoner Metal album if Ozzy and his band are being honest.

[Chhaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not strictly a "making-of" Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace double album, this is more akin to a cultural, racial and social history of the era that brought the album into fruition as well as a thorough look at all the people involved or who influenced the album in any way. Exhaustive is about the word here.

I'd recommend listening to the Sound Opinions episode, listening to the album, reading the book...and then listening to the album again!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently saw the Sydney Pollock documentary about the making of this historic album, and wanted to learn more. This extensively researched, illuminating & compact little book was the perfect companion. It shed a light on the relationships between all the major players and answered a number of questions I had about why Franklin decided to record this album where she did. Totally fascinating and an excellent example of the 33 1/3 format.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, this definitely sounds like a fascinating period in American music history, though I'm afraid I know little about the evolution of American gospel in contrast to American R&B. Still, I think the book could have excluded some facets and delved deeper into the racial undercurrent that is vaguely alluded to in the book. Might have made for a more in depth look at Franklin's evolution.

[Michael Sedor · Rating 4 out of 5]

emphasis on historical context opened my eyes to and made me love an album and artist and musical style I'd long ignored. wanted the mystery of the books many juicy, illicit asides to have been elaborated upon

[Gary Shindler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, I prefer books in this series that just stick with the album and don't go off on fictional tangents like Master of Reality or Let It Be (the Replacements).

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read a relatively detailed account of modern day gospel music, and Aretha Franklin's role then this is the book to turn to.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice survey of gospel music and Aretha Franklin's place and contributions to it with this album.