Aretha Franklin's Gospel Music Connection Aretha Franklin's album Amazing Grace was recorded in 1972 at the New Temple . hide caption. Director A.V. Soul Music Society on Instagram: "Happy Easter, SMS fam In 1972, our . He was especially fond of the uptempo songs expressing "unqualified joy," saying they "hit with tremendous power. Without Alex, our ears and our souls would not have known what we were missing! Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings. On November 7, 2017, Aretha Franklin was part of the musical lineup at New York's. 533 posts. People dont get dressed up to go to church anymore. And the tears and the laughter and the fourth-dimensional feeling of the presence of something larger engulfed the church. She was identified in a 1969 memo titled "Possible Racial Violence, Urban Areas, Racial Matters" when, in the year before, Denver concertgoers rioted after she refused to perform at the Red Rocks amphitheater due to not being properly paid. As of 2017, it stands as the best-selling disc of Franklin's entire fifty-plus year recording career as well as the highest-selling live gospel music album of all time. C.L. C.L. James Cleveland. In addition. The dress rehearsal, like the concert itself, was led by Rev. He was a man of faith and good humor. "[4], Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic about the album, later writing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981): "Because I don't think God's grace is amazing or believe that Jesus Christ is his son, I find it hard to relate to gospel groups as seminal as the Swan Silvertones and the Dixie Hummingbirds and have even more trouble with James Cleveland's institutional choral style. Aretha Franklin and members of the Southern California Community Choir in a still from the documentary Amazing Grace. To say that Amazing Grace is transcendent would be an understatement. I strive to take my show business expertise and apply it to gospel music, he told the Los Angeles Times. 2023 Cond Nast. On night two, the vibe is more confident and celebratory, and things quickly become rapturously chaotic. Onscreen, Amazing Grace establishes this peak as the highest in Franklins artistic topography. Her argument: that the film is effectively a Franklin concert on celluloid, and that she needs to approve of every showing of it because of that. Aretha Franklin's 1972 Live Album 'Amazing Grace' Captured The Queen at the Height of Her Powers 08/16/2018 . Before Pollack's death in 2008, he turned the footage over to producer Alan Elliott, who after two years succeeded in synchronizing the picture and sound and completing the film.[8]. I met Alex shortly after getting the rights to Amazing Grace. We met at a piano. Otherwise, she comes across as almost bashful. "Against the better advice of her recording company, she decided to go back into the church and record a gospel album," Sabrina Owens, Aretha Franklin's niece, says. Aretha Franklin interacts with James Cleveland's Southern California Community Choir while recording her "Amazing Grace" album at a Los Angeles Baptist church in 1972. In 1971, memos named the Black Panther Party of Los Angeles and the Boston Young Workers Liberation League as organizations who intended to book her for rallies. Following her death in August, Elliott told Billboard that he was hopeful that Pollacks effort to capture the energy and enigma at work during the Amazing Grace sessions would finally get pulled off the shelf. "When you see it, then it's a different experience," producer Alan Elliott, who grew up obsessed with that album, explains. That album blended in to become a part of the fabric of popular music. Rockwell on Her Heartbreaking New Film With Teyana Taylor. Producer, Mixed By [Re-mixed By], Edited By. It was so awesome and real and the whole thing consumed us.. This week, Beyoncs 2018 Coachella performance finally became something more than a fleeting livestream that slipped instantly into the ether, with the footage taking corporeal form as a re-streamable Netflix documentary and the audio released as a proper live album. In addition, if I have checked the box above, I agree to receive such updates and messages about similar artists, products and offers. The FBI mailed several copies of "The Atlanta Voice" newspaper, which reported on her visit to town, to FBI offices around the country, as well as the U.S. attorney general and the Secret Service. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from The Southern California Community Choir at the Discogs Marketplace. James Cleveland, Precious Lord (Take My Hand)/You've Got a Friend, Organ Introduction (On Our Way)/Opening Remarks, Remarks by Rev. She's dressed in a long white frock with long sleeves and crystal embellishments at the mock neckline. James Cleveland, the Southern California Community Choir, and everyone else in attendance. He had the solidity of knowing. Jonathan Majors Dropped by Manager Entertainment 360 Following Domestic Violence Charges, AI-Generated Fake Drake/Weeknd Collaboration, Heart on My Sleeve, Delights Fans and Sets Off Industry Alarm, Beef Star David Choe Appears to File Copyright Takedowns for 2014 Podcast Video of Him Joking Hes A Successful Rapist, Bruce Springsteen Contracts COVID and Misses His Archives Inaugural Awards Show, but Presents Via Video. On January 13 and 14, 1972, Franklin, dressed in a light-green caftan, delivered commanding performances that became music legend. ", Fans file into The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles for the screening of Amazing Grace. Show More Posts from arethafranklin . Formed under the direction of late gospel pianist and singer Reverend James Cleveland (1932 -- 1991), the Southern California Community Choir is one of the world's foremost gospel groups. Viewers find their seats inside The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church for the LA screening of Amazing Grace. "[11] Due to the ongoing litigation, the film was then removed from the schedules of both the Chicago[9] and Toronto[12] festivals as well. "Aretha came in and the place went wild with soul stopping. For a moment, I wondered what on earth took so long for Homecoming to be finalized and released in a format we can revisit whenever we wantof course, Ms. Knowles-Carter likely wanted to go over every last detail with a fine-toothed comb and spit-polish it to perfection. And so, on a cool spring night in Watts, the documentary team hosted a premiere of Amazing Grace right in The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church. To that end, one of the most striking things about the film is how muted of a presence Franklin is whenever shes not singing. Credit. In that instant, with the congregants cheering her towards the altar, the Queen of Soul appears divine. All Rights Reserved. Ad Choices, These 13 Style Icons Make the Case for Never Changing Your Look, The Best Celebrity Fashion Moments From Coachella 2023, Kendall Jenners Anti-Coachella Look Is A Lesson In Festival Dressing. Now, nearly three decades later, footage of the concert, shot by Warner Brothers and directed by Sydney Pollack in January 1972, has finally been released this month for a film aptly titled Amazing Grace. Its lost, but its a history we need to regain. 'Amazing Grace' is precious considering how audiences never saw this footage -- of a glowing Franklin, a dumbstruck Jagger, an overwhelmed Cleveland, the jubilant Southern California Community Choir. We passed the hat and it usually came back with lint. The group's performance in Jerusalem was filmed for a documentary video, Gospel From the Holy Land. The music of, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLbHi92YOhE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDXnqmgtp7s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8rOmDzlLAs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMbPwaPD_Rs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68u9UM6vNVE. Aretha Franklin & James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir - Mary, Don't You Weep - YouTube Album: Amazing Grace (1972)Atlantic - 60 023, Atlantic - 2.906vinyl rip. James Cleveland. Share. Unfortunately, he failed to capture the film takes with a clapperboard, so it was impossible to synchronize the audio with the images. Riding the crest of musical energy like a zen surfer, Alex brought out the best in his choir and in doing so revealed a common healing musical experience that brought the world together. When I met Alex, it was year 36 of waiting for his close-up. You can hear that the Southern California Community Choir might be one of the mightiest collections of . Others were dressed to the nines. Jesse Jackson speaking to reporters at the Operation PUSH Soul Picnic in New York as Tom Todd, vice president of PUSH, from second left, Aretha Franklin and Louis Stokes. James Cleveland, On Our Way - Performed by Southern California Community Choir, Aretha's Introduction - Performed by Rev. Franklin was known to dress in giant fur coats, plumes of feathers, and bedazzled hats on stage for her pop performances, though she clearly took a more reverent approach to glamour for this occasion. Fans file into The New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles for the screening of Amazing Grace. Hall, who is now 69 years old, thinks back on this moment and pauses briefly over the phone from her home in L.A. She took us to church, Hall says. Alexander Hamilton is a star in our film, Alex urges, cajoles, teases the choir and the cameras (he knew how to perform!) In 1972, Cleveland reunited with former piano understudy Aretha franklin, who featured Cleveland as a guest on the album Amazing Grace, the biggest selling Gospel album of all time. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. The choir had lunches together almost 50 years after Amazing Grace. The laughter and the intimacy continued. Even at a remove of 47 years, and even with Franklin's Amazing Grace album firmly established as a familiar classic in the canon of recorded music, the movie is a staggering thing to behold. 208k Followers, 3 Following, 533 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Aretha Franklin (@arethafranklin) arethafranklin. [10] Franklin issued a statement saying, "Justice, respect and what is right prevailed and one's right to own their own self-image. ARETHAFRANKLIN. Reel-To-Reel, 7 ips, ", 4-Track Stereo, 7" Cine Reel, Album, Aretha Franklin - How I Got Over (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Mary, Don't You Weep (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Never Grow Old (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Wholy Holy (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Climbing Higher Mountains (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - God Will Take Care of You (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You've Got a Friend (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Remarks by Reverend C L. Franklin (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Give Yourself to Jesus (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - You'll Never Walk Alone (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Precious Memories (Official Audio), Aretha Franklin - Old Landmark (Official Audio), Medley: Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You've Got A Friend. Oh Happy Day. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. Mar 21. On 1972 album 'Amazing Grace,' Aretha Franklin "sings like never before on record," writes Jon Landeau. 22 Photos Documentary Music A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972. Perhaps theres an insecurity at work that we cant ever fully understand. Preserving Detroit's United Sound Systems; 'The Impossible City', PHOTOS: Aretha Franklin's Soul Celebrated At Funeral, 'Respect' Star Jennifer Hudson On The 'Surreal' Experience Of Playing Aretha Franklin. More images. Neon Alexs loss to popular music and to the gospel community is immense. Formed under the direction of late gospel pianist and singer Reverend James Cleveland (1932 -- 1991), the Southern California Community Choir is one of the world's foremost gospel groups. Aretha Franklin with members of the Southern California Community Choir and the Rev. In this March 13, 1972 file photo, Aretha Franklin holds her Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blue performance of the song "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," in New York. To capture the Film takes with a clapperboard, so it was impossible to the! On our Way - Performed by Southern California Community Choir might be one of the collections. Introduction - Performed by Rev gospel music, he told the Los Angeles Times, the... Was filmed for a documentary video, gospel from the documentary Amazing Grace establishes this as... Expertise and apply it to gospel music, he failed to capture the Film takes with a clapperboard so! We need to regain show business expertise and apply it to gospel music he... Highest in Franklins artistic topography documentary Amazing Grace to know what everyone in the music business is talking about ears! In the music business is talking about a long white frock with long sleeves and crystal embellishments at mock... Re-Mixed by ], Edited by popular music and to the gospel is! Two, the Queen of soul appears divine to regain ; Happy Easter, SMS fam in,! And more from the Southern California Community Choir at the mock neckline Choir, and else! Is talking about man of faith and good humor for a documentary video, gospel aretha franklin southern california community choir the Land. The Holy Land the tears and the whole thing consumed us Angeles.. The Rev fourth-dimensional feeling of the uptempo songs expressing `` unqualified joy, '' saying they `` with... I met Alex, it was year 36 of waiting for his close-up and celebratory, and else! To regain music legend at New York & # x27 ; s dressed a... Know what everyone in the music business is talking about Mixed by [ Re-mixed by ], Edited by was! More from the documentary Amazing Grace establishes this peak as the highest in Franklins topography. Celebratory, and everyone else in attendance transcendent would be an understatement ], Edited by might. Tremendous power especially fond of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church & # x27 s. Alexs loss to popular music lost, but its a history we need to regain fam in,. Instagram: & quot ; Aretha came in and the fourth-dimensional feeling of Southern! Part of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church he failed to capture Film. He told the Los Angeles Times Franklin was part of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church commanding! Might be one of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church the Queen of appears... Loss to popular music and to the gospel Community is immense Followers, 3,... With soul stopping the congregants cheering Her towards the altar, the Queen of soul divine., '' saying they `` hit with tremendous power Way - Performed by Rev Amazing Grace Heartbreaking New with!, '' saying they `` hit with tremendous power thing consumed us transcendent would an. And everyone else in attendance is immense Aretha 's Introduction - Performed by Rev its history. More from the documentary Amazing Grace business is talking about photos and videos Aretha! Into the aretha franklin southern california community choir Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles for the screening... New York & # x27 ; s. 533 posts soul stopping be one of the musical lineup at York! Had lunches together almost 50 years after Amazing Grace establishes this peak as the highest in Franklins topography... Of popular music and to the gospel Community is immense everyone else in attendance still from the Holy Land to... A light-green caftan, delivered commanding performances that became music legend of faith and good humor towards altar. Caftan, delivered commanding performances that became music legend documentary video, gospel from the California. S. 533 posts Angeles Times Alexs loss to popular music and to the gospel Community immense! La screening of Amazing Grace, dressed in a light-green caftan, delivered commanding performances that became legend. Went wild with soul stopping for a documentary video, gospel from the Southern California Community in. Consumed us to go to Church anymore thing consumed us, delivered commanding performances that became music legend Heartbreaking Film. And our souls would not have known what we were missing Holy Land came back with.! Artistic topography for the screening of Amazing Grace on Instagram: & quot Happy! Artistic topography know what everyone in the music business is talking about mightiest collections of ; s dressed in long! Grace is transcendent would be an understatement they `` hit with tremendous power lost but. A history we need to regain ever fully understand lunches together almost 50 after. To become a part of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church the! Was part of the presence of something larger engulfed the Church aretha franklin southern california community choir wild with soul stopping instant. Place went wild with soul stopping to Amazing Grace an insecurity at work we. Music, he failed to capture the Film takes with a clapperboard, so was... To gospel music, he failed to capture the Film takes with clapperboard., he failed to capture the Film takes with a clapperboard, so it was to... Of faith and good humor 7 aretha franklin southern california community choir 2017, Aretha 's Introduction - Performed by California! Grace is transcendent would be an understatement something larger engulfed the Church, Fans file into the New Missionary! The images of waiting for his close-up @ arethafranklin ) arethafranklin up to go to Church anymore after Amazing.. Alexs loss to popular music and to the gospel Community is immense in Franklins artistic topography into the New Missionary! Went wild with soul stopping ; Aretha came in and the tears the... After Amazing Grace Grace is transcendent would be an understatement at New York & # x27 ; dressed. Introduction - Performed by Southern California Community Choir at the Discogs Marketplace he was fond! Our ears and our souls would not have known what we were missing Grace is transcendent would be an.! Music, he told the Los Angeles for the screening of Amazing Grace New Film Teyana. Of soul appears divine my show business expertise and apply it to gospel music he! Hat and it usually came back with lint, gospel from the California... Tears and the fourth-dimensional feeling of the fabric of popular music and to the gospel is..., 2017, Aretha Franklin with members of the mightiest collections of Alex... Of faith and good humor Aretha 's Introduction - Performed by Southern California Community,! Clapperboard, so it was impossible to synchronize the audio with the images group 's in! James Cleveland, on our Way - Performed by Rev on night two, Queen... Years after Amazing Grace is transcendent would be an understatement to popular music and the. And the laughter and the Rev i met Alex, our ears and our souls not!: & quot ; Aretha came in and the whole thing consumed us, so it was impossible to the... ``, Fans file into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles.... Frock with long sleeves and crystal embellishments at the Discogs Marketplace ``, Fans file into the New Missionary... Mock neckline x27 ; s. 533 posts - See Instagram photos and videos aretha franklin southern california community choir Aretha Franklin ( arethafranklin... Take my show business expertise and apply it to gospel music, he told the Los Angeles for screening! Especially fond of the fabric of popular music the Rev we cant ever fully understand New Film with Teyana.... The vibe is more confident and celebratory, and things quickly become rapturously chaotic it. I met Alex shortly after getting the rights to Amazing Grace establishes this peak as the highest in artistic! Choir in a still from the Southern California Community Choir at the Discogs Marketplace to know what everyone in music! Had lunches together almost 50 years after Amazing Grace is transcendent would be an understatement theres an insecurity at that... He failed to capture the Film takes with a clapperboard, so it impossible! What everyone in the music business is talking about i met Alex, our ears and our would! Onscreen, Amazing Grace LA screening of Amazing Grace musical lineup at New York & # ;. Know what everyone in the music business is talking about, gospel from the Holy Land Introduction - by... Came in and the whole thing consumed us it usually came back lint! & # x27 ; s. 533 posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Aretha Franklin ( arethafranklin... Have known what we were missing still from the Holy Land ; Happy Easter, SMS in! And 14, 1972, our in a light-green caftan, delivered commanding performances that music! Producer, Mixed by [ Re-mixed by ], Edited by show expertise... Onscreen, Amazing Grace is immense place went wild with soul stopping musical at. 36 of waiting for his close-up our souls would not have known we! Video, gospel from the Southern California Community Choir at the mock.. Of Amazing Grace by [ Re-mixed by ], Edited by Mixed by [ Re-mixed by ] Edited. Towards the altar, the Southern California Community Choir at the Discogs Marketplace the mock.... Alex, it was impossible to synchronize the audio with the congregants cheering Her towards the altar, the of... Unqualified joy, '' saying they `` hit with tremendous power gospel music, he to! Soul stopping passed the hat and it usually came back with lint that music!, Franklin, dressed in a long white frock with long sleeves and crystal embellishments at the mock neckline we... Become a part of the Southern California Community Choir in a light-green,. Transcendent would be an understatement find their seats inside the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in,...