My Greatest 100 (or so) Albums...

Young, Gifted and Black (Atlantic, 1972) Aretha Franklin. Here, in her post Memphis/Muscle Shoals phase, Aretha puts one of the greatest voices on earth to work on some well chosen covers and two really amazing original Rock Steady and Daydreaming. This seemed to be Lady Soul's answer to Carol King's Tapestry (we'll get to it) and had largely the same effect. Freeing not only herself from preconceptions and the larger machinations of the music biz, but setting an example for other artists as well. Great record!