At the start of 1964, nobody could have predicted the massive impact that the Beatles would have on American popular music - least of all the suits at Columbia Records.

Columbia harbored an open disdain for rock and roll, and actively did all that it could to dismiss it, so when the Beatles hit our shores, Columbia was left completely unprepared. After the death of Dinah Washington, it seemed like a great idea for Aretha to record a tribute record, but the sudden shift in popular taste meant that Aretha was looking backward while the rest of the country was running head-first into the future. Once again, Columbia misdirected Aretha and missed the mark, even though her performances remained outstanding.

Oddly, Columbia kept many her recordings unreleased. Once she left the label, though, Columbia would relentlessly recycle her recordings, both the released and the ‘rare’ unreleased tracks, doing this year after year, into the ‘90s!

Featured tracks include:

Say It Isn’t So

 Looking Through a Tear

I Won’t Cry Anymore

Once in a While

Unforgettable

Cold, Cold Heart

This Bitter Earth

Soulville

What a Difference a Day Made

Evil Gal Blues

Don’t Say You’re Sorry Again

Take a Look