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???

I'm a fan of Ree's music and I pay my due respect to the Queen of Soul but she misses it on this album.

She recorded too many tracks in her falsetto tone which becomes annoying after the fifth or so track. She also has a vocal sound that makes me think that she had her dentures in while she recorded this album.

The album overall pulls Ree in too many directions - from the hip hop flavoured tracks Holding On and No Matter What (featuring Mary J. Blige on background vocals) to Good News (a gospel track) to the title track and You Are My Joy (which Ree wrote and produced herself), there are too many genres on one album. And why did she include a reprise of You Are My Joy? It was unnecessary.

Overall, the album did not inspire me and after listening to it a few times, it left me empty. I hope Ree will make up for it in her next release. And Ree, please tone it down on the falsetto vocals.

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.

I have purchased and listen to this CD and very please to say that Aretha gets better with time. Aretha always manage to stay on top in the music industry by trying out new ideas (Hip Hop). I've read some of the other reviews and was wondering what was those people listening to. The song that Mary J Blige wrote and sang on is awsome(Holding On)! Don't know why it was not release as a single. The Aretha of the 60's sing and reflect the music of those times but in order to reach and sell music to the music generation of today one must be able sing and appeal to the audience that is buying the music of today. Aretha is just that type of artist, she is not afraid to dare to be different and that's why her music spand over so many decades. No, Aretha can't go back and relive the pass but she manage to stay current working with musician and song writers of today. YOU GO GIRL! Even some of the artist that has come along since has not been able to do that. As far as her vocal are concern, she don't wail like the Aretha of the 60's but she soars with the same soul conviction. I would like to hear her do some standard or cover some early Motown sounds but what ever she sings she SANGS!

I have read these reviews through and through and am amazed by some of the criticism and happy by some of the praise. Aretha Franklin takes things to new heights all the time. And you know why? Because she has always sung from her heart, her soul and her so damn happy attitude. No one ever has or ever will do it better. This album is nothing but a "feel good" album. So, for all the "vocal" critics out there ... I say loosin' up and enjoy. That's all she's doing here. If you can't have fun anymore, like Aretha obviously can, then I'm sorry to hear that. This girl goes and goes and goes and goes and goes and speaks out with that voice that many people need to hear (young and old). Let's just make "Good News" a single. You call your radio programmers enough, you may just have it!

And PS: Al Green, Ron Isley, Phil Bailey, David Peaston etc. sing in "falsetto". Women don't do that for all you critics. Aretha just sings. And if she feels like not screaming all the time, good for her! This is her best work since the Luther produced Jump To It album. God bless one great treasure we have in this life! We certainly need it at this time.