LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! The world lost one of the most important, influential and iconic voices of all time a few months ago when Aretha Franklin passed away. To celebrate this legendary artist’s irreplaceable musical legacy, Rhino Records is readying a trio of releases honoring the Queen Of Soul.
Available today as a digital single is the “Solo Piano Version” of “Silent Night,” a new mix of the holiday classic that was originally included on Franklin’s 2008 holiday album This Christmas. This stunning new version features Franklin on piano, accompanied only by her unparalleled voice. “Silent Night” (Solo Piano Version) is available now on all digital download and streaming services.
“I was thrilled when Aretha called me to produce her long awaited Christmas record. It had been a dream of hers for decades,” says album producer Tena Clark. “Her beautiful spirit is radiant throughout the record and this new mix of “Silent Night” showcases what an incomparable force she truly was, both on vocals and piano. There has and never will be a voice like the Queen Of Soul.”
On November 16th, the aforementioned Franklin holiday album This Christmas will also be released on vinyl for the first time. The nine track album, pared down from original length to fit on LP, features the Queen of Soul’s distinctive take on holiday standards such as “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” along with some newer yuletide tunes like “This Christmas” and “My Grown-Up Christmas List.”
December 7th will see the release of the Atlantic Records 1960’s Collection, a six-LP boxed set that includes her first five studio albums with Atlantic, plus and LP with 11 demos and out takes that are making their vinyl debut. Limited to 5,000 copies, the set features each album pressed on 140-gram vinyl and presented in sleeves that faithfully re-create the original release. Atlantic Records 1960’s Collection includes the five studio albums that Aretha released between 1967 and 1969: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Mono), Aretha Arrives (Mono), Lady Soul (Stereo), Aretha Now (Stereo) and Soul ’69 (Stereo).
Mark the dates, this will make a great gift for every Aretha Franklin fan on your holiday list!
