Weekend Video - Aretha Franklin

It’s always a treat to come across a video that’s only been watched by a few people – in this case just over 500 at first posting. It’s Aretha Franklin singing “Dr. Feelgood” in 1968. I believe the clip is from a performance in Amsterdam.

Although Franklin had been recording since 1956 (when she was a pure gospel singer) in 1968 she had just moved from Columbia Records to Atlantic and had ten Top Ten hits over the period of a year and a half. She was also in the process of becoming a major international star, touring Europe and releasing the album “Aretha in Paris”, recorded at the famous Olympia theater.

I love the old black and white stock of the video, and in addition to
the famous voice, the performance shows Aretha to be a fine and underrated keyboardist.