Aretha Franklin latest album, Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics, was released Tuesday on vinyl and will be available digitally and in stores on Oct. 21. In a new interview with Billboard, she says the cover project, which features tracks such as "Midnight Train To Georgia" and "Rolling In The Deep," has given her an excitement she hasn't felt since 1982.
"I haven't felt so up on a CD since 'Jump to It' [was released in 1982] or the first time one of my records was played on the radio," she told Billboard. "I don't think I have ever been as excited as I am now."
The album was produced by longtime collaborator Clive Davis, who came up with the concept and song selections. It is their first time working together in about a decade. It also features production from Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Harvey Mason Jr., and Andre 3000.
The album additionally features interpretations of classics including "At Last," "I Will Survive," and Barbra Streisand's "People."
"I like all of it. I like the whole CD, from cut to cut to cut. It kind of reminds me of, I said, 'You know, this is kind of similar to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On?" she said before the event. "You know the kind of records from cut to cut; I don't care what comes up (but) you like it. You like it! I think it may be that kind of album."
She performed Adele's hit "Rolling In the Deep," which mashes up with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," earlier this week on The Late Show With David Letterman. The version on YouTube has more than 1.5 million views (at time of publication).
Franklin also covers Alicia Keys' "No One," which has taken on a Caribbean vibe thanks to Keys herself, who suggested the idea to Davis.
Check out the tracklist and replay Franklin's Letterman performance below. Let us know what you think in the comments section!
Aretha Franklin Sings The Great Diva Classics Tracklist
01. At Last (Etta James Cover)
02. Rolling In The Deep (Adele Cover)
03. Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight and The Pips Cover)
04. I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor Cover)
05. People (Barbra Streisand Cover)
06. No One (Alicia Keys Cover)
07. I'm Every Woman (Chaka Khan Cover) / Respect
08. Teach Me Tonight (Dinah Washington Cover)
09. You Keep Me Hangin' On (The Supremes Cover)
10. Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinéad O'Connor Cover)
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