Aretha Franklin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

A Brand New Me (Warner)

[rating: 3/5]

Ever since Buddy Holly’s plane went down over Iowa in 1957, record companies have been looking for ways to turn old masters into new money.  Here. we’re talking about taking an existing vocal track and adding new instrumentation and arrangements. On occasion, as with Holly, the results may enhance an artist’s legacy. Unlike releases from Nat King Cole, John Lennon, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley – who’ve all been given the treatment posthumously – Aretha Franklin is very much alive.

To commemorate the Queen of Soul signing to the Atlantic label 50 years ago, this collection sees eleven of her original vocal tracks fronting new arrangements provided by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Recorded at Abbey Road,  the producers Nick Patrick and Don Reedman have enjoyed considerable commercial success with recent Elvis Presley releases that began with If I Can Dream (2015). Occasionally thrilling, most of the time the Elvis experiment sounded like the kIng of rock and roll fronting a poor man’s ELO.

So how does Aretha fare?

There are moments when the orchestra adds to what was already sublime. The set opens with ‘Think’ and includes such staples as ‘I Say A Little Prayer’, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ and ‘People Get Ready’. Aretha’s original vocal takes have lost none of their majesty. The new arrangements are swooping when needed and there’s the required punch when necessary.

Purists won’t love the outcome. There’s a lingering feeling of ‘what’s the point’? Aretha’s original masters are as close to perfect as you can get. When things don’t work, it’s when the snare offends or the strings swoon for no apparent reason other than to remind you this isn’t the original version.

A bit of fun or an expensive curio … you can take your pick. There’s no doubting the calibre of the singer and the songs. But, how do you improve on perfection? You can’t.

Sean Sennett