The fact that this album was not laden with duets makes it worth your while. There's only two -- the mediocre "Doctor's Orders" with Luther Vandross and the timeless "Ever Changing Times" with Michael McDonald (compared with FOUR duets from the album prior to this one!). The other cuts are 100% Aretha, doing all of the vocal acrobatics and imparting the passion you'd expect from the Queen.

The only reason I give this album 4 stars instead of 5 is because she's not quite in top voice (this album is recorded a couple years before she gave up the smokes; she sounds a little raspy on some cuts, and out of breath on others, with her upper range sounding quite gritty). However, Aretha "not in top voice" is still way better than a lot of the "divas" we have to choose from today!

The main point is whether or not Ree puts her heart into it, and I can tell you she does. "I Dreamed A Dream" was performed for the President at the 1993 Inaugural Convention, and the studio version almost captures that magic. "Everyday People," especially the remix by Shep Pettibone, is the best of early 90's R&B/soul. "What Did You Give," an original Aretha composition, is a great song, as are the classic "You Can't Take Me For Granted" and the title track.

This CD is a good sample of R&B/soul from 1991, well-produced and enjoyable. The fact that Ree is the center of what's going on makes it all the more worth buying. Enjoy!

Here she covers strong material like Sly Stone's Everyday People (of which there is also the Shep Pettibone remix), Mary Goes Round - a stomping piece of funk with George Clintonesque overtones, the uplifting ballad I Dreamed A Dream, the stunning You Can't Take Me For Granted with its propulsive rhythm and pianocrobatics, and Doctor's Orders, an electrifying duet with Luther Vandross. And Aretha is exactly what the doctor orders if you want sweeping passionate ballads and dance numbers with real power and emotion.

Great Album, several classic songs, including amazing duet with Michael McDonald and the everlasting "You Can't Take Me For Granted"

Although not one of her strongest, but a very satisfying album with Billboard Charted Hits like: "Everyday People" (#13), "Someone Else's Eyes" (#53), and "Ever
Changing Times" with Michael McDonald (#19), Plus the Album Favorite "Doctor's Orders" with Luther Vandross. Bottom line this was still another Solid Seller for Aretha Franklin and Arista Records.

I know a lot of people who claim to worship Aretha Franklin, but not many who own everything she's ever recorded. Few people seem to feel the need to. And honestly, I don't think it's unfair to say that she's recorded a number of less-than-great albums. The rather unfortunately titled WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU SWEAT certainly falls into that category. Aside from "Ever Changing Times," her celebrated duet with Michael McDonald, and a few other tracks, this record comes off as a pretty uninspired affair. And although some will no doubt disagree, her attempt to "gospelize" the Broadway tune "I Dreamed A Dream" sounds to my ear like a near total misfire. Not completely, because some of her riffing at the end is rather inventive and inspired. But not every tune lends itself to a soul treatment. And this may be one of them. (The live YouTube clip from the Clinton inauguration though suggests that she could pull off the number under the right circumstances).

The two versions of "Everyday People" that open and close the album are a bit too close for comfort. (I always thought the purpose of a "remix" was to give a totally different slant on a song: that's hardly the case with these two near-mirror image takes on the same song.) Still it's nice to hear Aretha pay a bit of homage to Sly and Co. And it's kind of refreshing to hear "the Queen" declare herself to be just "Everyday People."

No Aretha album can be said to be a total wash-out. She always manages pull off a few interesting vocal tricks, and I guess that is the mark of a great singer. But sometimes even great singers get trapped in a rut. Aretha's best work gave her space to breathe and to improvise, but within the limits of a tight groove. The arrangements on this record seem too meandering and at times almost lethargic. You can't expect a "Respect" or "Never Loved a Man" each time out, understood. But Aretha's vocals never really catch fire in this modern soul setting.