This record was released a few months after her more famous debut for Atlantic Records , and because of this has been unfairly overlooked by critics , and the record buying public .

In 1967 Aretha Franklin, arguably the greatest singer of the twentieth century , was at the height of her powers , and this shows by the way she turns a ragbag collection of songs into a soul masterpiece . The album starts off with a storming cover of Satisfaction ( Jagger , Richards ) , and then see's Aretha testifying on the Ray Charles classic - You Are My Sunshine . Two stunning ballads - Never Let Me Go , and - Prove It ( as good as anything she has ever recorded ) bookend the old garageband hit - 96 Tears . Willie Nelson's - Night Life , is another highlight , as it allows Aretha to give a masterly blues interpretation of the song . Side two starts off with a glorious version of Sinatra`s - That`s Life , and is followed by the majestic deep soul ballad - I Wonder . Aretha then ups the tempo on her sister`s - Ain't Nobody! ( Gonna Turn Me Around ) , which leads into the old Howling Wolf classic - Going Down Slow , on this song Aretha's singing and the performance of the band are sublime , and finally the record ends with her hit single , - Baby I Love You .

The musical arrangements are perfect , and they compliment Aretha's vocals perfectly , ( this would be the last album that her voice would sound so youthfully fresh and exciting ) . Aretha Arrives is the equal to any classic soul album and deserves to be remembered as such.

It seems strange to me now, all these years later, that "Aretha Arrives" was the first Franklin album I ever bought, back when I was 13. This is, in part, because it was released between two others ("I Never Loved A Man" and "Lady Soul"), which were undisputed masterpieces, and have only grown in legendary regard. (Before long, I'd rectify matters, and own them all.) But in the late summer of 1967, even 16 Magazine, then the last word in setting teen taste, was urging its readers to familiarize themselves with this album. That too, in retrospect, seems quite an anomaly, given the publications' far more focused attention on idols of the time like The Monkees and Paul Revere & the Raiders. By then, teens were used to Aretha sharing the top ten of singles with those acts and others, but her album material was much more slanted to adult concerns. I guess I was ready.

In his superb essay for the Franklin boxed-set, "Queen of Soul," Atlantic's Jerry Wexler concludes, "In the years we recorded together ... I never heard Aretha utter a prejudiced remark. She was, for example, enamored of modern rock, show tunes, ballads, and was always culling albums in every genre for songs that might suit her... Her genius transcends all categories." A helping of the proof of that is certainly contained on this disc as Aretha commandeers country ("You Are My Sunshine") and rock ("Satisfaction" & "96 Tears"). Frank Sinatra's own version of "That's Life" wasn't even a year old when Aretha covered it. Not only did I like hers, of course, but also she revised and improved my appreciation of the original. The very emotional "Going Down Slow" showed the singer, for what by no means would be the last time, concerned with the state of her physical well-being: "You see, my health is failing, and I'm goin' down slow..." I'm an Aries like Aretha, and this one still hits home. The sublimely tender "Never Let Me Go" may be my all-time favorite ballad by her.

The pugnacious and punchy "Baby I Love You" was, of course, the LP's key single (and "Respect's" immediate follow-up), unabashedly and confidently concerned with the contentment of one's lover ("I'd deny my own self before I'd see you without it!"). It has lost none of its potency.

Yes, coming between the unparalleled achievements of "Never Loved A Man" & "Lady Soul", "Aretha Arrives" was always a little shadowed, but that's not because ANYthing was ever missing in its grooves. (In comparison, even the most rabid Beatles fan wouldn't argue that "Magical Mystery Tour" subsequently outdid "Sgt. Pepper" even though each is a great album.) If you have those other two, this is the next Franklin album that belongs in your collection. (Nuts & Bolts Dept: "Aretha Arrives" was originally Atlantic LP 8150, existed in mono and stereo versions, and released August 4, 1967. As a single, Atlantic 2427, "Baby I Love You" & "Going Down Slow" preceded the LP on July 10th.)

I own the "Queen of Soul" boxed set & the inclusions from "Aretha Arrives" only whetted my appetite to hear the tracks which were left off.

Wow! Of course, we get the great "Baby I Love You" which has been unfairly overlooked on Oldies Radio who have just about worn out "Respect" & "Think". Her cover of "That's Life" is incredible. Like her Soul Brother, Otis Redding, she tears through "Satisfaction" which sounds like it was tailor made for her. "Prove It" is a wonderful ballad which deserves to be heard. To me, it surpasses "Natural Woman", maybe because radio has played "Natural Woman" to death. "Never Let Me Go" is a keeper as well!

All the tracks are fine, but for some reason the album doesn't come off as perfect to me which explains my 4 star rating.

Please don't hate me for finding a copy of this CD gem for $2 at my local Used CD Store. I'm thankful for the well-intentioned, but clueless young people who work there & tossed this in their budget bin. I have found other gems there too!

Worth checking out, especially if you aren't up for shelling out big bucks for the boxed set.

Let me just say this, as of today 2002 there is still no voice out there of this soulful passion for me. ARETHA ARRIVES adds more root to the soul she set out on I NEVER LOVED A MAN but here the songs cover greater range. In this era of formular buy this and hear what inspiration can to for a body of work.

Although Aretha's second album is not one of my favorites, ARETHA ARRIVES is worth having. Some of the soul ballads, such as "Never Let Me Go" and "I Wonder, don't have the same force and soulfulness that really gets one feeling as those on the albums Soul 69 and I Never Loved a Man albums. However, on this album is also one of Aretha's best-ever covers--"Going Down Slow." It's refreshing that it's not a love ballad, but about sin and "failing." Considering Aretha's heritage in the Church, the song has all the more weight. The final cry at the end runs straight through the body. Of course on the album there is the sexy, aggressive hit, "Baby, I Love You." The other tracks on the album are good, such as the Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction" and Sinatra's "That's Life," even if they don't let Aretha's talent shine through as brilliantly as some of her other renditions of other artists' work.