Aretha Franklin..........7 Million Views

**jobeterob** · 10-16-2010, 11:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STKkW...eature=related

Is Cissy Houston in the middle of the Sweet Inspirations.

Aretha at her best.

**reese** · 10-17-2010, 07:39 AM

No. These are the Sweethearts Of Soul. I don't know their individual names. But I saw them on another Aretha European appearance from around this time. This appearance was taken from the Cliff Richard Show in 1970.

The Sweet Inspirations were a quartet, and by this time, they were working with Elvis. Also, Cissy was preparing to launch her solo careeer, or might have already left.

**captainjames** · 10-17-2010, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by reese

No. These are the Sweethearts Of Soul. I don't know their individual names. But I saw them on another Aretha European appearance from around this time. This appearance was taken from the Cliff Richard Show in 1970.

The Sweet Inspirations were a quartet, and by this time, they were working with Elvis. Also, Cissy was preparing to launch her solo careeer, or might have already left.

Aretha was and still is like fine wine. Love this woman.

**jobeterob** · 10-17-2010, 02:04 PM

Thanks Reese; you are one of the true masters of this forum and soul music.

**abfan** · 10-17-2010, 03:52 PM

I love this performance

phyl · 10-17-2010, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by abfan

I love this performance

jummp to i t is a funn song to dannce to. areatrhas goetting her honry on ha ahhaha i love it.

**jobeterob** · 10-17-2010, 08:32 PM

Can one of you tell me how to put the video on the thread instead of just the URL?

**cozmic** · 10-18-2010, 05:12 AM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

Can one of you tell me how to put the video on the thread instead of just the URL?

[ video = youtube; ..... ] + url + [/video]

..... = hLRjPK90Sc8

url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLRjPK90Sc8

if it's still unclear, then click "reply with quote" on abfan's post and you'll see how the formatting works

**jobeterob** · 10-18-2010, 12:36 PM

I think I learned. Thanks cozmic.

This version of I Say A Little Prayer from the Cliff Richard show is better than the released versions.

**rod_rick** · 10-18-2010, 07:12 PM

Who are the backing vocalist on this video [[I Say A Little Prayer)?

**jobeterob** · 10-18-2010, 07:16 PM

Rod..........read up the thread; I asked the same question and wondered if I had spotted Cissy Houston as the lady in the middle.

Reese knows this stuff like no one else. He says they are the Sweethearts of Soul and at the time of this video, Cissy and the Sweet Inspirations were of course working with Elvis...........they were the ladies on Suspicious Minds.

olamaebarto · 10-18-2010, 07:59 PM

That is classic.

pshark · 10-18-2010, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

Can one of you tell me how to put the video on the thread instead of just the URL?

Post your vid link into the

icon

**reese** · 10-18-2010, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

Rod..........read up the thread; I asked the same question and wondered if I had spotted Cissy Houston as the lady in the middle.

Reese knows this stuff like no one else. He says they are the Sweethearts of Soul and at the time of this video, Cissy and the Sweet Inspirations were of course working with Elvis...........they were the ladies on Suspicious Minds.

Thanks Jobeterob.

I don't think the ladies in this edition of the Sweethearts were with Aretha too long. I also saw them on a clip from an Italian show, which was probably filmed around the same time.

The main Sweethearts for many years were Aretha's cousin Brenda Bryant and Margaret Branch. The third spot was filled by Pat Smith, Pam Vincent, and Sandra Feva, among others. Their name was eventually changed to the Prima Donnas.

**jobeterob** · 10-18-2010, 10:36 PM

**jobeterob** · 10-18-2010, 10:41 PM

I love how the Sweethearts open the song with such a strong line; and how Aretha powers the song a few times but she never gives up control of her voice or the song. And Aretha sang against the Sweetheart just like Motown had Diana singing against the Supremes and that call and response created some of the best Motown songs. And at about 2:53 where the song reaches it climax after calming.

Thanks about the video posting; as you can see, I did it.

Totally love this song. And to think it was even Aretha's to start; of course, neither was Respect.

**cozmic** · 10-19-2010, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by pshark

Post your vid link into the

icon

That's even better. I missed to see that everytime when i posted, lol. Thanks pshark

**cozmic** · 10-19-2010, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

I think I learned. Thanks cozmic.

you're welcome !

topdiva1 · 10-19-2010, 10:56 AM

A thin Aretha - who knew - she looks fabulous - just great.

**marv2** · 10-19-2010, 08:08 PM

Carolyn [[Aretha's sister) has also sung backup for Aretha in concert, television and on film [["the Blues Brothers movie, etc.)

jonc · 10-19-2010, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by marv2

Carolyn [[Aretha's sister) has also sung backup for Aretha in concert, television and on film [["the Blues Brothers movie, etc.)

You sure know every back up girl marv2.

RossHolloway · 10-20-2010, 12:10 AM

Awesome performance.

**jobeterob** · 10-20-2010, 12:43 AM

I calculated she would have been 27 years old, or 26, when she did that show.

Funny where life takes a person over 40 years.

But that was one heck of a performance.

**reese** · 10-20-2010, 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

I calculated she would have been 27 years old, or 26, when she did that show.

Funny where life takes a person over 40 years.

But that was one heck of a performance.

This was 1970. So Aretha was 28 years old. Also, she had just had a baby.

topdiva1 · 10-20-2010, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by reese

This was 1970. So Aretha was 28 years old. Also, she had just had a baby.

Truely a flawless performance - and she still has it.

**jobeterob** · 10-20-2010, 02:07 PM

Amazing that Aretha had just had a baby here; the voice was as good as it would ever be and better than just about anyone elses. And she looked like a million dollars. I've read that Aretha says food on the road just killed her and she lost her ability to control what and how she ate on the road. I wonder if her family has some genetics causing the weight gain she's suffered over that last couple of decades.

**marv2** · 10-20-2010, 04:02 PM

Aretha was the only one that got heavy in her family. Carolyn, Cecil, Erma, Vaughn were all thin or average sized folks. Her Dad, the Rev. C.L. Franklin was never heavy.

**jobeterob** · 10-20-2010, 06:22 PM

Wow. That's interesting. I guess it tends to mean Aretha has personal eating habits or issues that led her to where she is today and that it is not a genetic tendency in the family.

It's pretty tough to sing when you get to the size Aretha has been at the last decade.

It's best to remember her as she was in this video ~ The Queen of Soul at her best. Incredible backgrounds too.

smark21 · 10-20-2010, 06:56 PM

Wasn't Aretha a smoker for a long time? I heard that when she finally quit the habit, that's when she became massively obese as she substituted food for nicotine.

jonc · 10-20-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by smark21

Wasn't Aretha a smoker for a long time? I heard that when she finally quit the habit, that's when she became massively obese as she substituted food for nicotine.

Then she must have been hauling on seven packs a day.

**reese** · 10-20-2010, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by smark21

Wasn't Aretha a smoker for a long time? I heard that when she finally quit the habit, that's when she became massively obese as she substituted food for nicotine.

Aretha was a decent size for much of her career, even losing a great deal of weight in the mid 70s. But her weight really ballooned after she stopped smoking in 1993.

**marv2** · 10-20-2010, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by smark21

Wasn't Aretha a smoker for a long time? I heard that when she finally quit the habit, that's when she became massively obese as she substituted food for nicotine.

Yeah she chained smoked Kools for nearly 50 years. She quit a couple of times in the past.

**abfan** · 10-21-2010, 09:19 AM

Which Background singers were these

**marv2** · 10-21-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by abfan

Which Background singers were these

I don't know them by name, but the two on the left can also be seen backing up Stevie Wonder on the Smokey Robinson TV Special when he performed "Signed, Sealed, Delivered".

**reese** · 10-21-2010, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by abfan

Which Background singers were these

The one on the left is Clydie King. In the middle is Venetta Fields. I'm not sure who the one wearing the afro puffs is.

They might have just been singing with her for a few appearances. Clydie and Venetta also did backup for her on her 1970 Tom Jones appearance.

**jobeterob** · 10-21-2010, 01:40 PM

Reese, you have the most incredible knowledge. So this lady on the left is the person who is famous for perhaps shadowing Jean Terrell in Nathan Jones in a way I've never been able to discern???

It appears that Aretha never had a really steady set of background singers but used several different sets; the backgrounds were so prominent in so many Aretha songs. Who does them for her these days? I gather Aretha does the odd concert but doesn't do very many; is that right?

**abfan** · 10-21-2010, 02:04 PM

Okay how about these.I know later in her career she used The Ridgeway sisters from Detroit who later went on to back up Anita Baker

**reese** · 10-21-2010, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by abfan

Okay how about these.I know later in her career she used The Ridgeway sisters from Detroit who later went on to back up Anita Baker

These I can't see too clearly. But it looks like her cousin Brenda Bryant on the left, and her sister Erma on the right. The middle woman might be Margaret Branch, but I'm not sure.

**reese** · 10-21-2010, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by jobeterob

Reese, you have the most incredible knowledge. So this lady on the left is the person who is famous for perhaps shadowing Jean Terrell in Nathan Jones in a way I've never been able to discern???

It appears that Aretha never had a really steady set of background singers but used several different sets; the backgrounds were so prominent in so many Aretha songs. Who does them for her these days? I gather Aretha does the odd concert but doesn't do very many; is that right?

Not sure whether or not Clydie is on NATHAN JONES, but yes, it is the same woman.

In the late 60s, Aretha had a backing group called the Moniques, consisting of her sister Carolyn, Wylene Ivey, and Evelyn Greene.
After that, Aretha's regular backup singers for many years were her cousin Brenda, Margaret Branch, and Pat Smith [[later replaced by Pam Vincent and later on, Sandra Feva.) Other singers in recent years have been Fonzi Tnornton, Vanesse Thomas, Millie Scott, and Shellie Pounder Craig.

Aretha tours quite a bit. There have been some years where I've seen her two or three times. She does do a lot of East Coast and midwest dates as she still doesn't fly. But she has still made it out to California on occasion.

**jobeterob** · 10-21-2010, 07:57 PM

Incredible knowledge Reese. Thanks.

**abfan** · 10-21-2010, 09:06 PM

Here is another great performance I always liked from the 90's...Who's backing her here

**nomis** · 10-21-2010, 10:08 PM

Shouldnt this thread be in the main section ? Aretha AINT Motown...

**jobeterob** · 10-21-2010, 10:32 PM

Sorry Nomis..............it was me who put this in the Motown section; I was trying to bury Tony Turner nonsense. And in the widest sense, Aretha is Motown; she is from Motown and lots of the public call her "Motown". But no, it should not be here!

Sure is a good song though, isn't it!