Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo is the second album (and debut for Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

) of the future "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

, released in 1961. The album is also known under its working title Right Now It's Aretha.

Recording

Following in the footsteps of close friend Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke

Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...

, Aretha was "discovered" by famed Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

 producer John H. Hammond

John H. Hammond

John Henry Hammond II was an American record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the early 1980s...

. With the support of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, Aretha venured out to New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

's Columbia Record Studios to record her debut album for the label. John Hammond paired Aretha Franklin with the Ray Bryant

Ray Bryant

Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant was an American Jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray Bryant began playing the piano at the age of six, also performing on bass in junior High School...

 combo and arranger J. Leslie McFarland, while taking charge of the album's production, which was received to mixed reviews.

The album showcases a young Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

 (only 19 years old, at the time of these recordings), covering a range of jazz and pop standards. Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

 couldn't clearly classify Aretha's sound, as either jazz or pop. Aretha's subsequent albums would show her moving from the realms of both sounds, and audiences as she tries to define her "own soulful sound".

Though rare to find an original 6-eye pressing on vinyl, Columbia Records re-released these sessions and retitled them as
"The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Slides", in 1972.

Reception

"The word is out. A magnetic new artist, Aretha Franklin, only a short while away from her father's gospel church in Detroit, has been breaking up audience in theatres and nightclubs throughout the country and on Columbia single records. Combining a completely natural and uninhibited vocal style with an irresistible rhythmic sense, Aretha Franklin has established herself as one of the hottest new performers in show business and one likely to set new standarts in the entertainment industry.

"She doesn't just open the door - she breaks is down."

-From the liner notes by Frank Driggs

Tracks

• The album was recorded at the New York studios of Columbia Records, 207 East 30th Street, except tracks 1 and 4 which were recorded at the company's studios at 799 Seventh Avenue
• All songs produced by John Hammond and arranged by J. Leslie McFarland. Featuring Ray Bryant on piano.

Side One

1. "Won't Be Long" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:12

Recorded on November 29, 1960
With John McFarland, piano; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

2. "Over The Rainbow

Over the Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...

" (Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...

, E.Y. Harburg) 2:42

Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone

3. "Love Is The Only Thing" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:44

Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone; Paul Owens, vocal obbligato

4. "Sweet Lover" (J. Leslie McFarland, Sidney Wyche) 3:26

Recorded on December 19, 1960
With William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

5. "All Night Long" (Curtis Lewis) 3:01

Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Bill Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone

6. "Who Needs You?

Who Needs You (Baby)

" Who Needs You ? " is a jazz song written by singer Billie Holiday, and composer Jeanne Burns and published by E.B. Marks. This is one of seven songs written by or co-written by Holiday that she never recorded....

" (Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...

, Jeanne Burns) 2:50

Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

Side Two

1. "Right Now" (J. Leslie McFarland) 2:27

Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone

2. "Are You Sure" (Meredith Wilson) 2:44

From the Broadway musical production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown

The Unsinkable Molly Brown (musical)

The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a musical with music and lyrics by Meredith Willson and book by Richard Morris. The plot is a fictionalized account of the life of Margaret Brown, who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband....

 
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

3. "Maybe I'm A Fool" (J. Leslie McFarland) 3:20

Working title: "Baby, I'm A Fool"
Recorded on January 10, 1961
With Aretha Franklin, piano; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; Milton John (Milt) Hinton, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

4. "It Ain't Necessarily So

It Ain't Necessarily So

"It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible.The role of...

" (George Gershwin

George Gershwin

George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...

, Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....

) 2:57

With Lucky Warren, tenor saxophone; Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums

5. "By Myself" (J. Leslie McFarland, J. Bailey) 2:42

Working title: "(Blue) By Myself"
Recorded on November 17, 1960
With Chauncey (Lloyd) Westbrook, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; Belton (Sticks) Evans, drums; Al Sears, tenor saxophone; Quentin Jackson, trombone

6. "Today I Sing The Blues (Curtis Lewis) 2:47

Recorded on August 1, 1960
With Chauncey (Lord) Westbrook, Clifton (Skeeter) Best, guitar; William (Bill) Lee, bass; James Osie Johnson, drums; Tyree Glenn, trombone

Bonus Tracks

1. "Are You Sure (Rehearsal)" 2:17

Producer John Hammond announces the take number.

2. "Who Needs You? (Take 9)" 3:03

3. "Right Now (Take 1)" 2:13

With Aretha Franklin on piano.

4. "Maybe I'm A Fool (Take 4)" 3:57

Mono Mixes

1. "By Myself" 2:39
2. "Won't Be Long" 2:54
3. "All Night Long" 3:06
4. "Love Is The Only Thing" 2:44
5. "Right Now" 2:22