Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin, Soul Train 1971
Today the world lost Don Cornelius after he took his own life. It’s a sad way to go for someone whose life was built on the joys of music and dancing. Here’s a great video of how he’ll be remembered.
That’s Life by Aretha and Frankie Valli
I’ve always liked this song, but had trouble with most versions of it. Frank Sinatra’s version is so iconic (like so many songs he sang), that everything else just seems to exist in his shadow.
Aretha Franklin recorded it on her second album in 1967, a year after the Frank Sintra version. This video is of her and Frankie Valli performing it on the Mike Douglas show on Christmas of that year, and while Frankie is doing a great job keeping up, Aretha really shines and seems to just belt it out effortlessly (not to mention playing a mean piano).
