 |  | I LITERALLY cannot get ENOUGH! |  |
Phooey! My father always tells me that he wishes I would have been living in the 1970s because it was such a memorable and enjoyable decade. I recently saw the movie, "Sparkle" and I loved it, especially the music. I'm young (born in 1985), so I had no idea that En Vogue's renditions of "Giving Something He Can Feel" and "Hooked on Your Love" were not the originals! Rather, they got these two songs from "Sparkle." I always felt that "Waiting to Exhale" was the best soundtrack ever, but this soundtrack is up there with it. It is magnificent, amazing, incredible, moving, beautiful, spectacular! Listen to me, I cannot stop listening to this soundtrack. I love meaningful lyrics, LIVE instruments and a beautiful voice and this soundtrack provides all of the above and the finished product is great. I liked the versions of the songs performed by the actresses in the movie, but Aretha impressed me with her versions as well.
"Hooked On Your Love" is one of the best songs ever, there is no arguing that point. The production is unique, the lyrics are so great and the melody matches wonderfully. Curtis Mayfield produced and wrote this music, therefore, he is a musical genius! "Look Into Your Heart" and "Loving You Baby" are also beautiful and helped to give this soundtrack the 5-star rating I granted it. "Sparkle" and "I Get High" are also nice, very nice. This album is just so short: Either you're going to wish there were more tracks, or you're going to play the album 2-3 times in one sitting.
You already know what is next. I want you to pick this album up as soon as you can so that you too can revel in this musical masterpiece. Your ears will love you for it!
Mikeisha's Top 5
1. "Hooked On Your Love"
2. "Loving You Baby"
3. "Look Into Your Heart"
4. "Sparkle"
5. "Something He Can Feel"
January 18, 2008 | | I wish the soundtrack was from the original cast in the movie | |
I love Areatha but I like the original singers from the movie. No they are not Areatha but they brought the songs to life. I just do not like the Areatha Franklin Version's of the songs.
July 31, 2007 | | Sparkle Soundtrack by Aretha Franklin | |
I like the Cd o.k. Aretha Franklin is an excellent singer. However, it is disappointing if you are looking for the songs to sound the same as they did in the movie. I felt that should have put the movie version as well as Aretha's version. That way it is a little something for everyone. The music is the exact same, but it is sung completely different.
May 30, 2007You can let this one rip from beginning to end. I remember being first exposed to this one while raiding my parents wax collection when I was a teen. First of all, I couldn't stop looking at the cover! Aretha was looking so slim, fine and "foxy" as they would have said it back in the day! Anyway, what made me put this one on was reading the liner notes and seeing it was produced by my man Curtis, who is, in my opinion, one of the greatest producers and arrangers of all time! I was also shocked to see the title "Something He Can Feel" and then discovering that En Vogue did not record it first! And of course, after hearing other classics like "Young, Gifted & Black", and "Spirit In the Dark", Aretha was definitely Soul Sister # 1 and "Sparkle" did not dissapoint! Like one Rolling Stone reviewer put it, "she is singing her heart out" and I couldn't agree more. The music is beautifully arranged and vocally Aretha is in MY opinion at her best! The way her voice dips, dives, soars, with so much control, she holds nothing back on this one, never compromising and she never once does she overdo it! The background vocals are also doin' it big on this album, especially on the last 30 seconds of the song "Sparkle". My fave though is "Look Into Your Heart", "mercy baby" indeed! Every one of the tracks on this album could have been released as a single. I saw the movie on tv after hearing this album so I guess my opinion of the actresses versions of these songs are jaded. Not to say they did a bad job but I guess it's kinda like going from steak to chicken dinner. I do not prefer the movie versions over Aretha's! However, I do work in a Record/CD store and alot of the old heads, while they have no ought against Aretha's versions, they're always asking to either special order or asking if the original motion picture sountrack will ever be released! I don't know, maybe it's someting there I'm missing but I can't say that I'm willing to give the movie another look which was just "okay" in my opinion. In any case, SPARKLE is definitely required listening from two soul giants giving you their best, pure soul, smack dab in the middle of a disco invasion!
April 13, 2007Prior to Aretha Franklin collaborating with Curtis Mayfield, she had recorded some uneven albums with long-time producer Jerry Wexler. It was time for Franklin to get a fresh start in the studio and Sparkle became that project.
Recorded in five days in January 1976 in Mayfield's Curtom Sudios, the eight songs - clocking in at 33 minutes - find Franklin singing with passion and renewed energy. The production is pristine, with Franklin's vocals dominating the mix, but aptly backed by the Haywood Singers.
The Mayfield lyrics aren't more real than on I Get High. The emotional roller coaster of love is explored in Something He Can Feel, Loving You Baby & Rock With Me. Franklin found chart success with Jump/Hooked On Your Love (that smooth Mayfield groove) & Look Into Your Heart. And the title track really sparkles, as the strings and horns compliment Franklin's soaring vocals.
Due to variety of reasons - disinterest, egos, etc. - the sessions are oftentimes disappointing when music legends get together, but this dream team delivered a vastly underrated soundtrack.
February 22, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(33 reviews)