#154 Aretha Franklin, 'Amazing Grace' (1972)

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This list is full of twists and turns. I didn’t expect to be listening to an hour and a half of Gospel music, but here we are. ‘Amazing Grace’ was recorded live in January 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, with Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir performing alongside Aretha Franklin. Franklin’s voice will convert even the staunchest heathen into a believer. On this album, Franklin mixes spiritual songs with the contemporary, although, if you didn’t know them in their original form, you’d think church choirs had been performing them for centuries. She converted songs like Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ and the Rodgers & Hammerstein song (and Liverpool Football Club anthem), ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ into gospel songs.

The crowning moment of the record is the title track; an almost 11-minute song of the most beautiful singing on record. With this, Franklin showed why she was the best. Her version is measured and emotional. It’s the most powerful version I’ve ever heard. The album was certified double platinum and earned Franklin a Grammy for ‘Best Soul Gospel Performance.’ It’s not only the biggest selling album of her career, but also the biggest selling live Gospel album of all time.

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