It's about time. This is one of three "twofers" from Aretha's Columbia period that has been recently re-released. And there are many gems to be had here on each of the two original albums that make up this disc.

Of those three twofers though, this set that has the two albums that could really have been one double album, seeing as how they are "extra" tracks of a generally soulful variety that Columbia put together after Aretha left for Atlantic.

There is nothing here that is essential for lovers of soul music in general. Yet no real fan of Aretha's should be without these two albums, since they capture a lot of what Aretha would become when she gained worldwide fame as the Queen of Soul.

** Soul Sister **

This album pretty much lives up to its title, with Aretha tackling some songs that will forever change the way you hear them. The big band treatment given to "You Made Me Love You" is far removed from her earlier torchy version, but she adds a healthy dose of gospel to it. "Sweet Bitter Love" is a favorite among many fans and for good reason -- despite a string-filled arrangement that threatens to overpower the content of the song, Aretha prevails: a potential hoke-fest ends up being a triumphant statement.

It's not fair to compare this with her Atlantic releases, but Soul Sister comes pretty close in passion and spirit to them, as does the other original album on this twofer.

** Take It Like You Give It **

Same thing here: mostly light to medium soul with a few pop numbers thrown in. Odd ... the songs here are either pedestrian for Aretha or they are knockouts, with no middle ground. "Take It Like You Give It" is the pure Aretha sass and fire that would fully ignite during the golden Atlantic years. The gospel soul of "Lee Cross" is also indicative of what would really make Aretha a household name across the world.

On the quieter front, you have the Italianate "Land Of My Dreams" and Dionne Warwick-like "Only The One You Love." Although these are not soul numbers per se, Aretha's interpretation of them signals what she would do at Atlantic with other songs that were outside of the soul realm.

Vocally, Aretha is Aretha is Aretha. Even on the numbers where you can tell she's going through the motions ("Why Was I Born," "A Little Bit Of Soul"), her phrasing, sense of rhythm, and tonal quality are simply amazing.

** Disc presentation **

This is a budget release, and it shows. The sonics are decent, but they don't sound remastered. There are a few misspellings in the song titles. And while the back covers of the LP's are presented, the photos are so small that you wouldn't even think about trying to read the content. The only credits provided are the song titles and their authors.

But no matter. We have 2 unique treasures by the Queen of Soul, available for a REASONABLE price. Enjoy.

I've always wanted to obtain each of the individual albums that Aretha recorded at Columbia records. I believe that some of her best work was during this period. Although I have to say I was excited to finally get these recordings on CD, I was also disappointed. My disappointment stems from the fact that the liner notes are too small to read. I do not understand why they could not have been included as a page in the jacket. Maybe there's a good reason. Who knows?? I personally feel that the liner notes are pretty important because they give you a feel for the period during which the artist recorded. Columbia also did a great job of producing such great notes. Anyway, I'm greatful the albums are available on CD and that I can add these to my Aretha collection.

Lovers of singing legends knew by the mid-sixties that Aretha Franklin had truly arrived as a unique destined to be legendary voice and I became aware of this from several tremendous small jazz club concert experiences with Aretha w/small combo plus the release of the magnificent "Runnin' Out Of Fools" LP...became clear that this incredible once in lifetime great singer was here to stay! This great 2-fer is a companion release to "Runnin' Out Of Fools" & "Yeah!" which are long overdue issues of four classic Aretha gems towards the end of her stay at Columbia...those who thought this Diva career started with Atlantic Records, these wondrous 2-fer's should put those ill-conceived notions to rest! Aretha made awesome & brilliant recordings while at Columbia Records and that voice is amazing and magnificent in these must-have collections which were often accurately described as spine-tingling & hair raising!!!

Lady Soul takes a Judy Garland classic "You Made Me Love You" to the max and it is a sure thing that Garland must have been thrilled with this exhuberant take on her classic plus Aretha's wild & jazzy "Swanee". Aretha in recent years praised Judy Garland as being one of the great "soul singers" of all time being a personal inspiration making these versions all the more engrossing and special. An original Lady Soul classic "Sweet Bitter Love" and the haunting mesmerizing anthem "(No, No)I'm Losing You" (should have been a huge "Top 40" crossover success) show Aretha to be an original great vocal artist having her own way with a song and if radio would have programmed these glorious releases widespread fame would have come a few years sooner. Another mesmerizing masterpiece from "Soul Sister" recorded forty-years later with great success by Natalie Cole, even becoming a Grammy Award winner is the haunting & moving "Take A Look" and this original version is a stunning classic and sure to be what inspired the gorgeous Natalie Cole version.

"Take It Like You Give It" is another great work from Lady Soul being her last at Columbia Records as fame and fortune quickly followed on Atlantic Records where a funky Memphis formula worked and luckily this time radio programmed these new & fresh sounding songs which became artistic triumphs & most importantly successful commercial hits! "Take It Like You Give It" is filled with great performances such as the classic cooker "Tighten Up Your Tie, Button Up You Jacket (Make It For The Door)" and the rhythmic & riveting "Lee Cross" and these great songs were acclaimed R&B hits but exposure to Top Forty would have made them wildly successful yet TOP FORTY programmers would not program Aretha which seemed strange to many at the time...a loss for the masses but thankfully now available for everyone to savor and enjoy!

Bravo Lady Soul...all of these sessions work & really cook!!!

Over time Aretha's Columbia era music has been reissued in one anthology after another and only recently have the original albums come to light on CD. I purchased this one on a recent trip to New York and in all honesty there wasn't much of an idea as to what to expect from it. As long as I can remember I heard everything there is to say about her pre-Atlantic recordings:ranging from the label "not knowing what to do with her" (kind of a clishe in Aretha lore by now) and her music being uneven. Well upon a listening to these albums these are not true but there are other observations to make. First and formost,this albums are more historical for her than musically relavatory or innovative. Despite the obvious small group modern jazz influence in the production these albums are both soul music but of an extremely different kind than you'd find on...say

released a very short time after these albums. Let's take the first album from 1966. The music on the album part of the same kind of jazzy rhythm & blues style of soul that you might've heard on earlier albums by Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. There is a strong 50's flavor to the overall productions that in fact do seem mildly strange during the mid 60's,an era when Otis Redding,Rufus Thomas,The Impressions and Motown were pushing R&B into wild new directions with each new song. Highlites from this album include the jazz combo oriented "Swanne" and "(No ,No) I'm Losing You",a gospelish soul tune that does tenatively look to the future as well as the recent past. The second album Take It Like You Give It,released earlier in the same year as her big Atlantic breakthrough does in fact find her music pushing forward into mildly more contemporary waters as the influence of both her own homegrown Detroit Motown style soul/pop and Northern Soul were making their way into the production. There's still some of the 50's soul flavor here and again but on the testifying version of Tony Joe White's "Lee Cross",a surefire highlite as well as the title track you get this flavor that's closer to the music going on around her at that moment. Nothing has the strong,relaxed deep Southern funk/soul style she'd soon make her stock and trade but her take on "A Little Bit Of Soul" is more than aprapot: she sings of breakinging into the music industry and looking for her first hit which,in terms of the pop world she hadn't yet but the black community had already long been aware of her talents even at this juncture. I would recommend this as a first glimpse into Aretha's Columbia era music only after you'd first digested her first handful of Atlantic albums in the late 60's/early 70's because,while these are all excellent songs with lots of her personality and signiture gospel fire it doesn't fully embody the musical flavors that best supported that.