No Depression (p.90) - "The opening track, her demo of 'I Never Loved A Man', will galvanize the most jaded soul fan, as will nearly every subsequent number on this two-disc set. Astonishing..."
Q (Magazine) (p.119) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A]n intriguing assortment....Franklin's voice is captivating from the start, whether on the swinging soul of 'So Soon' or the gospel-tinged 'You Keep Me Hangin' On'."
Personnel: Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano); Cornell Dupree, Duane Allman, Eddie Hinton, Jimmy Johnson , Joe South (guitar); Hugh McCracken (gut-string guitar); Frank Wess, George Dorsey (alto saxophone); Charlie Chalmers (tenor saxophone); Willie Bridges (baritone saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet, flugelhorn); Richard Williams , Melvin Lastie (trumpet); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Spooner Oldham, Barry Beckett (organ); Jim Dickinson (keyboards); Chuck Rainey, David Hood, Eric Gale, Jerry Jemmott, Tommy Cogbill, Tommy McClure (bass guitar); Al Jackson Jr., Roger Hawkins (drums); Cissy Houston, Sweethearts Of Soul, Dee Dee Warwick, Erma Franklin, Pat Lewis, Sylvia Shemwell, The Sweet Inspirations, Almeda Lattimore, Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Evelyn Green, Wylene Ivy, Carolyn Franklin (background vocals).
This excellent set of rare and unreleased recordings is the mother lode for fans of Aretha Franklin's classic Atlantic material. Its two discs are packed with demos, outtakes, and B-sides that represent Franklin, arguably, at her rawest, most dynamic, and most appealing. The set, arranged chronologically, begins with stripped-down demos from her 1966 debut, I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY THAT I LOVE YOU (including a smoking version of "Dr. Feelgood"), and continues through her early '70s recordings for Atlantic.
In addition to the queen's powerhouse performances, the set also impresses with its wide range of material. Franklin offers interpretations of Paul McCartney's "Fool on the Hill," Ashford & Simpson's "You're All I Need to Get By," Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne," and Bobby Womack's "I'm in Love," among other surprises. The soul siren's facility with both pop and hard R&B is underscored by a serious gospel fervor. Many of the arrangements will sound surprisingly spare and/or different to those familiar with the released recordings from the era, but it's that difference that makes RARE & UNRELEASED such a treasure trove.