I needed to replace my "Aretha's Gold" album, which, unfortunately, is not on CD. After buying this, I was amazed to find that Rhino had dropped the ball and omitted "Dr. Feelgood" from this otherwise fine collection. This idiotic oversight can be avoided by purchasing the "30 Greatest Hits" album, instead. You'll be glad you did.

Having recently been to my first live Aretha concert, I just had to have her hits in my collection. This plus another which filled in the blanks gives me such enjoyment listening to this energetic, passionate singstress.

This collection has all the greats from "Respect" "Baby I Love You" "Chain of Fools" "Think" along with her renditions of some greats, e.g. "I Say a Little Prayer" and "I Never Loved A Man"

Her back up musicians crank out a solid, driving sound which matches so well with the Queen's energy. THis is just great stuff!

Like all RHINO's best of,this is a commandable collection of ARETHA's works in her early days at ATLANTIC.RESPECT,YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A NATURAL WOMAN and I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER(marvelous cover of the BACHARACH-DAVID song ,first recorded by DIONNE WARWICK)can be considered the highlights,but everything deserves to be there.ELEANOR RIGBY is my only complaint(RAY CHARLES's cover is great).If all the best of collections could be of the quality of those at RHINO,it would be heaven on this earth.

When I played this CD in my car...my mother asked for it, so I had to buy another Vol. 3-Very Best of Aretha Franklin! My mother and I agreed that they simply don't make songs like this any more. Aretha's CD brought back wonderful memories of the 60's. Today, we listen intent to exactly what Aretha was saying in these musical messages. We now understand Aretha's songs better than in the past. The music is wonderful, the background voices are majestical. What a wonderful combination of words, messages, instruments and singing. Yes, lay back - listen and enjoy this wonderful CD...They just don't make them like this anymore.

This compilation contains some of her very best songs. Aretha is without doubt "The Queen of Soul". One of the pearls of this collection is "I never loved a man (the way I love you)". This song inevitably puts a spell on the listener. It's a piece of pure and sentimental Rhythm & Blues. "Do right woman-Do right man" was the title of Aretha's first golden disc. " I say a little prayer" perfectly reveals her unique vocal style, although other singers, like Dionne Warwick have masterly interpreted this song. "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since you've been gone" will hardly let anyone sit peacefully in the chair. Arethe Franklin certainly has a very rare charisma in her vocal interpretation.