Amazing Grace

Amazing 🤩

Firstly appreciation should be given to the technicians for sorting out this filming disaster and giving us a great DVD of a 'fly-on-the-wall' recording of Aretha and her small band, her friendly mentor Rev James Cleveland and the amazing Southern California Community Choir, before a smallish select congregation. And thank you to the Franklin family for authorising its completion, after Aretha's disappointment and with-holding of the filming result. Surprisingly, although Aretha was a singing superstar at the time, the filming organisation was abysmal; with no clapperboard to match vision and sound, and what looks like a load of free-ranging cameramen just doing their own thing.Nearly half of the quaint local church is a jumble of stacked chairs and unused space, because I think this was primarily a 'sound-recording' for Jerry Wexler and Atlantic records. No one I guessed, envisaged the impact this 'gospel project' would have from the Queen of Soul.Aretha sits patiently as setting-up takes place, until she sings gloriously in her own gospel-song arrangements. The room is hot, Aretha perspires and she looks a little bit lonely, in need of a glass of water … but she delivers a super professional performance. On the second night, her father and Clara Ward are there and her husband? I spotted Aretha's sister Carolyn backstage as well and she seemed more at ease but didn't we always love Aretha's early apparent shyness, when she wasn't singing. Film of the bemused congregation was meagre, which is a shame as they were all dressed-up for church, although the film-crew picked out Mick Jagger snuck in on the back-pew (how did he get in?). Later, her family members did get more footage on the special-guest front-row and Gertrude ward came down front to have a 'church-fit'.For me, I loved seeing the rare-footage of her band; Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Bernard Purdie and Pancho Morales and also three female members of the choir were brought out, to back her in place of her usual back-up singers (Sweethearts of Soul).So a good DVD experience, the slower performances are a bit 'heavy' for me but the upbeat and gospel interpretation of the pop titles are wonderful … and you really 'feel the spirit'.

The title says it all. Amazing Aretha Franklin!!

Not much to say just very disappointing, didn't find it entertaining at all, almost turned it off, found it BORING.

A fabulous recording featuring one of the best choirs and some of the finest musicians of the time, plus of course, Rev James Cleveland and Aretha Franklin. Those of us who have cherished this double album since it was first released on vinyl so long ago can at last see the filmed performance.

01. Mary Don't You Weep 7:2902. Medley: Precious Lord, Take My Hand / You've Got A Friend 5:3403. Old Landmark 3:4004. Give Yourself To Jesus 5:1605. How I Got Over 4:2206. What A Friend We Have In Jesus 6:0307. Amazing Grace 10:4508. Precious Memories 7:2009. Climbing Higher Mountains 2:3210. Remarks By Reverend C.L. Franklin 1:5611. God Will Take Care Of You 8:4812. Wholy Holy 5:3013. You'll Never Walk Alone 6:3114. Never Grow OldHaving now listened to this, this track list is not in the correct order, but at least you can see what is on the DVD. I would have liked to correct it but it is difficult to recognise all the songs.

Amazing singing and some really moving and inspiring moments where Aretha seemed to channel her amazing faith in her religion. And the way she sings Amazing Grace would surely move anybody... All done in a very American gospel setting - humbling to witness that.Mostly the audience and the performers were great. The choir, the choir master and the minister who led the who show were all great. I didn't at all like some of her family members, they didn't have the same integrity as Aretha and the choir. Fortunately we only saw glimpses of them...The movie showed me a part of Aretha that I didn't really know... So I now have another reason to admire one of the all time great singers...

Well I bought the the LP back in 1972 and the Rhino release (double CD) from 1999. Couldn't get to the cinema to see this so was delighted to received the DVD version today. Great filming, exciting, and all of that!!! But why are the tracks Give Yourself To Jesus, God Will Take Care Of You and You'll Never Walk Alone included on the DVD film? Disappointed with that