50 years ago today (8/24/70), Aretha Franklin released Spirit in the Dark, her seventeenth album, and highly underrated effort featuring collaborations from Duane Allman and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Despite having two hit singles, “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)” and “Spirit in the Dark”, the album was Aretha’s first Atlantic album to fall short of Billboard’s Top 20. Today the LP retains a glorious, soulful charm and mystique that sets the template for today’s modern soul scene. Check out the powerful “Pullin” off the LP….
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This is one of my fave all-time albums. I played it constantly when it was released. And Spirit in the Dark would become the closing number for Aretha’s concerts for some time, notably on the Fillmore West album. Thanks for reviewing this gem!