According to Billboard, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is more than halfway done recording a covers album that is slated for release in September. The as-of-yet untitled album will be co-produced by OutKast's Andrew Benjamin, a.k.a. Andre 3000, and will feature Franklin's renditions of ten songs by female singers (or "divas" as they're being referred to). The album will also be executive produced by the legendary Clive Davis.
As for the progress of the album, Billboard reports that there are "five songs done, a sixth in motion, and four more to go." Franklin has been working with producers such as Don Was, Daryl Simmons, and Babyface, with Andre 3000 stepping in to produce the last four tracks after Was "had to bow out due to schedule conflicts."
"I'm pretty sure it's going to be fun working with (Andre 3000), just watching his videos and things," she said. "It should be fun. And, of course, they all come with great music, so I expect that."
Among the tracks recorded for the album so far are Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train to Georgia," Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It," Barbra Streisand's "People" and Donna Summer's "Last Dance." One of the most anticipated songs on the album, however, is Franklin's rendition of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," which she's set to record next.
"(The originals) are classic versions and we're certainly aware of that, and we're going to do them justice," says Franklin. "People are different, you know? What they did is not what I'm going to do, and what I'm gonna do is not what they did. That's just what makes it different. You won't be disappointed; we're going to give you exactly what you're expecting and what you're not expecting."
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