Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics is a covers album, and it knows exactly what it is doing. Released in 2014, it takes ten songs that have already been sung to death and hands them over to Franklin, who treats each one like a fresh arrangement rather than a tribute. The record runs 41 minutes across ten tracks, and it aims to prove that a great voice can make any song feel new.
Opening With At Last
The album starts with “At Last,” a slow build that lets Franklin stretch out her range before the record even reaches its first chorus. It is a strong opener, setting the tone for what follows.
Rolling in the Deep Through I’m Every Woman
“Rolling in the Deep” is the standout here, a heavy, gospel-tinged reading that shows off Franklin’s command of a song’s weight. “Midnight Train to Georgia” follows with a steady pace that suits the track’s travel theme. “I Will Survive” gets a version that plays up its theatrical side, and “People” keeps things simple and warm. “No One” is a quiet highlight, one of the few tracks that feels like a discovery rather than a cover.
“I’m Every Woman/Respect” is a bold choice, merging two tracks into one without losing either’s identity. It is a statement of intent, and it lands.
Teach Me Tonight and You Keep Me Hangin’ On
“Teach Me Tonight” is brief and sweet, a small break before “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” brings the energy back up. Neither demands much attention on its own, but both sit comfortably in the sequence.
Nothing Compares 2 U
The closer is “Nothing Compares 2 U,” produced by André 3000. It is a stripped-down version that finds Franklin at her most vulnerable, and it closes the album on a high note.
Running Order
| # | Track | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | At Last | 3:53 |
| 2 | Rolling in the Deep | 4:00 |
| 3 | Midnight Train to Georgia | 4:21 |
| 4 | I Will Survive | 4:31 |
| 5 | People | 4:04 |
| 6 | No One | 4:01 |
| 7 | I’m Every Woman/Respect | 4:56 |
| 8 | Teach Me Tonight | 2:41 |
| 9 | You Keep Me Hangin’ On | 4:41 |
| 10 | Nothing Compares 2 U | 4:17 |
The Verdict
Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics is not reinventing the wheel, but it does not need to. Franklin’s voice is the star, and she uses it to make these songs feel personal again. The production is clean, the sequencing is tight, and the standout tracks justify the whole project.
This is a solid, occasionally brilliant covers album from an artist who still sounds like she owns every room she enters.
- At Last3:53
- Rolling in the Deep (The Aretha version)4:00
- Midnight Train to Georgia4:21
- I Will Survive (The Aretha version)4:31
- People4:04
- No One4:01
- I’m Every Woman/Respect4:56
- Teach Me Tonight2:41
- You Keep Me Hangin’ On4:41
- Nothing Compares 2 U4:17
