Originally released in Canada on vinyl way back in 1985 "Aretha Franklin: 30 Greatest Hits" from Atlantic records remains the absolute best overview of Aretha Franklin during her peak years from 1967 through 1974. While her subsequent work for Arista in the eighties produced some fine singles, most of those lacked the edge, energy and intensity of these earlier recordings. Of the 30 songs included on this terrific collection all but two made the Billboard Hot 100. And of these a total of 14 were Top Ten tunes. Quite surprising to me was the fact that Aretha managed only one #1 pop hit during her career and that one--you guessed it--was her 1967 smash "Respect". The story was a bit different though on the Soul/R&B charts where Aretha had a total of 20 #1 singles during her phenomenol career. She was also a significant player on Billboard's Top Pop Album charts during this period. In all, more than 30 of Arethas albums would make the charts.

Atlantic has included everything you would expect to find on a collection of one of their most prolific and successful artists ever. I can think of no major omissions. And all are the original 45 rpm recordings you heard on the radio. Enjoy once again tunes like "Chain of Fools", "Think" and the rollicking "Since You've Been Gone". You will also hear the more mellow side of Aretha with tunes like "Day Dreaming" and her big one from 1973 "Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". Atlantic has provided an attractive booklet loaded with information and also presents the Billboard chart information on each and every tune. For collectors and fans of 1960's and 1970's popular music "Aretha Franklin: 30 greatest Hits" must be considered an essential. Very highly recommended.

You can't have too many Aretha Franklin LPs. The organic sound of her early records, combined with the greatest voice in Soul and Pop music, made for a string of records almost uniformly great.

30 GREATEST HITS sweeps through those years, and pulls up short before the embarrassing "Highway Of Love" years. Songs like "Call Me," "You're All I Need," and "Oh Me Oh My" are perfect gems that you may not have heard before, and "Until You Come Back To Me" is one of the all time great forgotten singles.

This is an amazing collection of Aretha's artistry, unfortunatly the sound quality is quite awfull. I dont know if the problem was the original sources or the mastering onto CD but most of the songs sound muffled and weak. Aretha's voice is badly equalized, lost under the instruments and the chorus. The sound is fuzzy, not sharp, sort of what you get when you put a piece of cardboard over your speakers. As I said its a great collection, but due to the poor sound I rarely listen to it. This is a disc that merits a remastering procedure.

In just under 100 minutes, this anthology collects nearly every Top 40 hit from Aretha's stint at Atlantic records from 1967 through 1979. Here's the rundown on what you get, including year of release and chart position:

1. "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967), Pop #1, R&B #1

2. "Respect" (1967), Pop #1, R&B #1

3. "Do Right Woman, DO Right Man" (B-side of No. 1 above), R&B #37

4. "Dr. Feelgood" (B-side of No. 2 above)

5. "Save Me" (not released as a single)

6. "Baby I Love You" (1967), Pop #4, R&B #1

7. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967), Pop #9, R&B #2

8. "Chain of Fools" (1967), Pop #2, R&B #1

9. "Since You've Been Gone" (1968), Pop #5, R&B # 1

10. "Ain't No Way" (B-side of No. 9 above), Pop #16, R&B #9

11. "Think" (1968), Pop #7, R&B #1

12. "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968), Pop #10, R&B # 3

13. "The House That Jack Built" (B-side of No. 12 above), Pop #10, R&B # 2

14. "See Saw" (1968), Pop #14, R&B # 9

15. "The Weight" (1969), Pop #19, R&B # 3

16. "Share Your Love with Me" (1969), Pop #13, Soul #1

17. "Eleanor Rigby" (1969), Pop #17, Soul # 5

18. "Call Me" (1970), Pop # 13, Soul #1

19. "Spirit in the Dark" (1970), Pop #23, Soul #3

20. "Don't Play That Song" (1970) Pop #11, Soul #1

21. "You're All I Need To Get By" (1971), Pop 19, Soul #3

22. Bridge over Troubled Water" (1971), Pop #6, Soul #1

23. "Spanish Harlem" (1971), Pop #2, Soul #1

24. "Rock Steady" (1971) Pop #9, Soul #2

25. "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)" (B-side of No. 24 above), Pop #73, Soul #2

26. "Day Dreaming" (1972), Pop #5, Soul #1

27. "Wholly Holly" (1972), Pop #81, Soul #49

28. "Angel" (1973), Pop #20, Soul # 1

29. "Until You Come Back to Me" (1973), Pop #3, Soul #1

30. "I'm in Love" (1974), Pop #19, Soul #1

While Aretha would be at Arista for five more years, she only had one other pop hit for the label--1976's "Something He Can Feel," which went Pop #28, Soul #1. Why it got left off this collection is puzzling, especially taking into account that this anthology was originally released in 1986.

I bought this on vinyl when it first came out and it's still a spectacular collection of her seminal work at Atlantic. Short of tracking down a copy of 1992's out-of-print QUEEN OF SOUL box set, this collection is a no-brainer. Every song is a gem and belongs in any serious music fan's collection. ESSENTIAL

I have been a fan of Aretha Franklin it seems all my life , but truth is I am only 5 years younger than Aretha. As I was reading the biography of Aretha I came to understand why this Queen of Song is so talented and special and why we as her fans love her so much. Why we don't get to see her in too many concerts because of her fear of flying. How she was brought up in the church and started her career at the tender age of 14. I have just about every alblum Aretha Franklin has made and I give each one of them a five star. Keep up the beautiful work Miss Queen of Soul I'll always be your fan and will continue to play your music and let it soothe my soul forever!

your fan, Kathy Ford