February 16, 2024

45 RPMs 77: Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem

  ~ 
45 RPM
    
    
On the 16th of February in 1971, Aretha Franklin recorded a cover of the beautiful song, Spanish Harlem and it was released on July 9th of that same year. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song was originally recorded by Ben E. King in 1960.     
 
Where King's version is languid and dreamy, Franklin's is faster, upbeat, bouncy and happy. The piano, played by Franklin herself, is absolutely beautiful, the reason I love her cover of the song. The backing vocals by The Sweethearts of Soul and Carolyn Franklin are gorgeous. An occasional keyboard riff by Donny Hathaway is a nice touch. The production by Arif Mardin is faultless.    



        
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Spanish Harlem, written by Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector - 3:30

Side 2:

B - Lean On Me, written by J. Cobb*, Van McCoy - 4:20

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Recorded At – Criteria Recording Studios
    Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
    Pressed By – Plastic Products
    Published By – Progressive (3)
    Published By – Trio (8)
    Published By – Van McCoy

 Credits:
 
      Arranged By [Strings Arr. By] – Arif Mardin
    Lacquer Cut By – DK*
    Producer [Prod. By] – Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd
    Piano, Vocals: Aretha Franklin
    Arranger, Producer: Arif Mardin
    Drums: Bernard Purdie
    Backing  Vocals: Carolyn Franklin
    Bass  Guitar: Chuck Rainey
    Guitar: Cornell Dupree
    Electric  Piano: Donny Hathaway
    Backing  Vocals: Erma Franklin
    Producer: Jerry Wexler
    Backing  Vocals: The Sweethearts of Soul
    Producer: Tom Dowd
    Writer: Jerry Leiber
    Writer: Phil Spector

 
Notes:

"PL" plant code printed in label matrices denotes Plastic Products pressing.

Recorded at Atlantic South-Criteria Studios, Miami, Fla.

[A]: Pub., Progressive-Trio, BMI
[B]: Pub., Van McCoy, B M I

Mfg. By Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y.

Runouts are etched, "X" in runouts indicates a lacquer blank from Transco was used.

Barcode and Other Identifiers
        
         
   Rights Society: BMI
    Pressing Plant ID (On labels): PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side label): A-21311-PL
    Matrix / Runout (B-side label): A-21423-PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 1): A - 21311 - 9 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 1): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 2): A - 21311 -10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 2): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 3): A-21311-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 3): A-21423-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 4): A - 21311 - 10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 4): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X

Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem
Label:    Atlantic – 45-2817
Format:    Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, PL - Plastic Products Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

        
        
        
        
Viewfinder links:       
         
Aretha Franklin        
Arif Mardin       
Phil Spector                    
The Sweethearts of Soul        
     
YouTube links:      
        
Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem        
Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem                 
      
        
         
        
        

Styrous® ~ Friday, February 16, 2024       






      

 



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