I'm not sure what Anthony Nelson was thinking when he suggested that our beloved Queen should "pass the torch". All it takes is two or three notes of the first song, "The Only Thing That's Missin' Is You", and you know that this is the real deal from the one and only Queen Of Soul. I love alot of other female artists such as Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight and Etta James. However, the feeling that you get from Ree can only come from her! When she starts playing piano on "So Damn Happy" it takes me to a place where no one else can take me. She is a true living legend and there is absolutely NO ONE that would ever be worthy of taking the torch from her!
I know that a duet album had been in the rumour mill for along time. I don't know if it is still in the works, but I'd like to suggest a long-awaited duet with Aretha and Mitch Ryder! Both Detroit natives, both rock/soul belters - how could it miss???

This is a good set of tunes from the Queen, without one dud in the bunch.

I like the old-school tunes that Aretha penned the best, especially You Are My Joy, which borrows from Richard Smallwood's spiritual composition of a similar title. I love that classic retro sound, especially with Ree on the keys. Aretha's other original cut, the title track, reminds me of a combo of her own 1968 take of You Send Me and Natalie Cole's This Will Be.

The Burt Bacharach number, Falling Out Of Love, is amazing. With Aretha's more mellow sound of today an entire album's worth of new Bacharach material would truly be classic, especially since her skills would prevent the Schmaltz Syndrome that affects so much of Burt's music of the past 15 years or so.

Holdin' On is my favorite nu-school track, even though it's got a strong old-school Curtis Mayfield vibe to it. Great vibe, cool and knowing street attitude from the Queen, and one of the best vocals on the album are all featured here. Aretha's art involves way more than "screaming." This song proves that her subdued vocals in many ways arguably put her in a class of one even more than some of the intense performances do.

Every single song on the album is lyrically and melodically strong, something I couldn't say about the "Rose" album. The songs would be good no matter WHO recorded them, they really would. But having the Queen interpret each of these cuts is buttercream frosting on the cake. And Aretha sounds like she had a good time in the studio with these numbers, all of which are tightly produced.

The "only thing missin" for me is at least ONE song where Aretha goes all out vocally. I was thinking she just might do this. From what I've personally seen and heard she still can when she wants to. I would have been happy with at least ONE well-timed holla or squall, apart from the thrilling soar that opens the album. But Ms. Franklin is in decent to good 2003 voice throughout here on all songs. Everybody's Somebody's Fool includes one of the best vocal runs I've heard from Ree in a while at the end of the bridge. The title track is a gently swinging number that allows Aretha to show off her incredible timing in various subtle ways, and that wonderful You Are My Joy is quite possibly Aretha's most impassioned studio vocal since 1991's What Did You Give.

We have 11 brand new, QUALITY songs by the Queen, and they all carry a positive message of some sort. This is enough "good news" for me to give this album a solid 4 stars.

Those of you who saw Miss Aretha throw her wig out into the audience at one of her many tributes, know of what I speak. When I heard this CD I would have thrown my wig...if I owned or wore one. I have never heard an Aretha Franklin CD (or LP) that I didn't love. This one is certainly no exception. Alright now ReRe: "Lets Kick the Ballistics!!!!!!!"

In a music world filled with mediocrity and video driven stars it is refreshing to have another album from the Queen. Aretha has always sung the soul of a people without making herself the victim in a song. True her voice is not what it once was, but at 61 Aretha can get more emotion out of a turned phrase and one squalled note than any of the so-called divas and pretenders to her throne. When you are this good the drawback becomes that the material is not always up to your peformance, and I believe that is the case here. Her last album "A Rose is Still A Rose" was a better album in terms of songs. However, with the songs "Good News," "The Only Thing Missing," "Ain't No Way" (don't worry this is not a re-make but a new song), and the Mary J. Blige written "Holdin On," the Queen proves that being comtemporary and having artistry are not mutually exclusive.

It is rumored that Aretha is retiring from touring. Let us hope that she never retires from the studio and leave us to the mediocrity jackals.

I am awaiting the album that Aretha afficionadas have long salivated for: a duet album with her male equivalent Ray Charles.

A five year absence has done wonders for Aretha Franklin.This Album is one of Aretha Franklin's best,So Damn Happy,Wonderful,and a new version of Ain't No Way are just a few of the Albums Highlights.After almost Half A Centery in the entertainment business,this is a wonderful farewell to a Legendary Career.