The first hour of the show tonight celebrated the career of Aretha Franklin. As Revd. Jessie Jackson commented on hearing of her passing, “tonight there is much music in heaven”. We played a track from her gospel singing in her father’s Baptists church in Detroit that gave the foundation to her style. Aretha said, “you never leave the church. You take it with you wherever you go.” There were the classic 60s recordings that will live forever. The resurgence of her career in the 80s and her duets with George Michael and the Eurythmics. We also heard from her last album, recorded in 2011, a year after her cancer diagnosis. She has 88 hits on the Billboard chart in a career spanning 1956-2014. She was awarded 18 Grammy awards. She was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. Rolling Stone magazine said that she had the greatest voice of all time. Looking back on her life she said, “Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” Thanks Aretha for the joy you gave to millions of people.
We celebrated the birthdays of Kevin Rowland of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, 65 today, Belinda Carlisle 60 today (is that possible?) and Gary Talley, guitarist with the Box Tops, 71 today.
Tonight’s playlist
Aretha Franklin
Respect
Amazing Grace
Think
I say a little prayer
Whose zoomin who
Freeway to love
Spanish Harlem
You make me feel like a natural woman
I knew you were waiting – duet with George Michael
Sisters are doing it for themselves – duet with the Eurythmics
Rolling in the deep
Chain of fools
Baby I love you
Abba – Dancing queen – requested by Phyl
Dexys Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen, Celtic soul brothers
Belinda Carlisle – Circles in the sand, I get weak
Box Tops – The Letter, Cry like a baby
Years and years – If you are over me – requested by Patrick
Lisa Harman – Me and my piano
Will Hoge – Still a Southern man
Piano Guys – Its gonna be OK
Zombies – Movin on
Belinda Carlisle – Circles in the sand, I get weak
Box Tops – The Letter, Cry like a baby
Years and years – If you are over me – requested by Patrick
Lisa Harman – Me and my piano
Will Hoge – Still a Southern man
Billy Preston – That’s the way God planned it – from the concert for Bangladesh.
Piano Guys – Its gonna be OK
Zombies – Movin on
[mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/RenH/phoenix-98-fm-friday-night-extra-with-patrick-sherring-17-august-2018/ width=100% height=120 hide_cover=1 light=1]
