FRANKLIN, ARETHA - The First 12 Sides (Sealed) (LP)

Before Aretha hit big with her stomping southern soul sound in the late 60s, she'd already had quite a career. Beginning as a gospel singer Franklin spent the early 60s recording in a variety of styles to varying success. While her other releases were overproduced and poppy, these very early recordings with the Ray Bryant group are beautiful jazz vocal stylings in the manner of Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald. Beautifully recorded with no overdubs this is fantastic early 60s jazz and her voice is as perfect a fit for this material as it is for the soul she's famous for.