Up until the release of “Amazing Grace” in 1972, it seemed as though Aretha Franklin could do no wrong. She took risks during her tenure with Atlantic Records, but everything she touched turned to gold.

Her ten-album run from 1966 thru 1972 ranks among the most consistently excellent creative runs for any music artist, in any style. In 1973, however, opinions started to become mixed, with a few of her handlers questioning her direction, while others bestowed praise on her willingness to expand her repertoire.

In this show, we cover music from “Hey Now Hey” and “Let Me in Your Life”, two ambitious albums that were labelled as controversial, for disparate reasons.

Songs featured are:

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Somewhere

So Swell When You’re Well

Angel

Just Right Tonight

Every Natural Thing

Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing

I’m in Love

Until You Come Back to Me

A Song for You