Written by Stevie Wonder/Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax and definitively recorded by The Queen of Soul this might be one of my favorite recordings from that 1970′s wellspring of Soul known as Atlantic Records. I love the Funk Brothers, Booker T. Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr., and Muscle Shoals backing bands as much as anyone but the folks that show up on some of those Atlantic recording dates like this one… (more…)

Election Day is quickly upon us and it’s time for you to make a choice!!! While we wouldn’t consider ourselves to be a political site per se, we are a site that uses the power of music to inspire positive change. In the midst of numerous concerns and issues on the ballot, we encourage you – no matter your choice – to stroll to the poll and make your voice heard!! Here are a few songs to get you inspired to do so!!! (more…)

Since Egypt Sherrod made the decision to take her top-rated radio show to Atlanta’s V-103, she’s infused the South’s Metropolis with her brand of star power and community awareness, while keeping her finger square on the pulse of the city. In recent weeks she’s interviewed the much-maligned Mimi Faust (“Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta”), the soon-to-be Mrs. Chad Ochocino Evelyn Lozada and the always entertaining Braxton sisters.

However, it was her recent interview with the legendary Aretha Franklin that ranks among the crowning jewels of Egypt’s stellar career. The Queen of Soul recently called into the Queen of the Radio’s show to discuss a variety of subjects.

Read’s Egypt’s thoughts on interviewing the legend:

I thought the highlight of my career was when PRINCE surprised me in the studio and talked to me on my show for a whole 45 minutes – in person! But today may have even trumped that. The Living Soul Legend, Ms. Aretha Franklin, The QUEEN OF SOUL, called me today. We talked about her honorary doctorate degree from Princeton University, her top three most memorable moments in her career, and the status of her biopic!

Listen or read the interview at Egypt Said So…

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T…” You would have to be living under a rock to have never heard this song. Even if you’d never heard Aretha Franklin sing “Respect”, chances are you’ve heard somebody somewhere sing this song… and it might have taught you how to spell the word.

“Respect” was orginally written and recorded by Otis Redding for Stax Records in 1965. Aretha Franklin recorded the song in 1967 and the song became a #1 hit, an anthem and a signature song for her. “Respect” won two Grammy Awards and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987. Aretha Franklin’s version of “Respect” gets so much respect that in 2002 the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry.

“Respect”, from Aretha Franklin’s debut Atlantic Records album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You.

The passing of Ms. LaDonna Adrian Gaines better known as the “Queen of Disco”, Donna Summer has been a great loss to many.  Among those in mourning for their friend are Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Here’s what they had to say regarding the recent news:

I will miss her very much.  My love goes out to her family. I’m here for them.  Donna and I had a friendship for over 30 years.  She is one of the few black women I could speak German with and she is one of the few friends I had in this business.

-Chaka Khan

 So shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer.  In the 70s, she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping.  Who will forget “Last Dance.”  A fine performer and a very nice person. She was a delight to the industry.  She and Giorgio Moroder made sales and musical history in the 70s.

-Aretha Franklin

According to TMZ, it has been reported that Summer was battling lung cancer. Several sources believe she contracted it by inhaling toxic particles after the 9/11 attack in New York City.  While reports have not been completely confirmed of how or when the singer contracted cancer, we know she will be dearly missed. A staple of the 70′s and 80′s dance scene, Summers was best known for hits like “She Works Hard for the Money”, “Bad Girls” and “Last Dance”. Her achievements include three Multi-Platinum albums, six American Music Awards, 5 Grammy Awards and named the first female African American to receive an MTV Video Music Awards nomination. In later years, Summer continued to rock the top ten hits on Billboard’s Dance Chart with hits like “I’m a Fire“, “Stamp Your Feet”, and “Fame (The Game)”. In addition, Summer also  performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in honor of United States President Barack Obama in 2009. Though the Queen may be silenced in voice, her influence will continue to speak through the pulsing genre of dance and pop she proudly built.

After talks of Halle Berry as the leading actress for the highly anticipated bio-pic and swirling whispers of Fantasia or possibly Jennifer Hudson, multiple GRAMMY^® Award-winner Aretha Franklin sees Audra McDonald as a strong contender to play the Queen of Soul in an upcoming film. During a recent visit to New York City, Franklin attended Broadway’s Porgy and Bess. It was Franklin’s first time seeing McDonald’s on the Great White Way. She was very impressed with her performance and expressed an interest in her for the role.

Audra McDonald is an award-winning television and stage actor who has won four Tony^® awards and two Emmy awards. McDonald has starred in ABC’s Private Practice, and in Broadway musicals such as A Raisin in the Sun, Ragtime, Carousel and Master Class.  A classical trained singer, she has performed in concerts with the New York Philharmonic and many others.

Franklin is continuing discussions with Hollywood executives and hopes to wrap up negotiations on the film in the coming months.  She is not currently in negotiations with McDonald for the starring role in a bio-pic about Franklin.  Last month, Franklin celebrated her 70^th birthday at a dinner party in New York. She recently received TV Land’s Music Icon Award.

Per press release:

(New York, NY – March 27, 2012) — Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, celebrated her 70^th birthday in royal style on Saturday, March 24, in New York City. About 80 friends and colleagues gathered at The Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan for the celebration, which included a four course meal and outstanding entertainment.

The guest list spanned the worlds of entertainment, publishing, media, business, and academia, and included: music mogul Clive Davis, Diane  Sawyer, Rev. Al Sharpton, opera mega star Kathleen Battle, author and professor of sociology Michael Eric Dyson, BET President and CEO Debra Lee, ESSENCE Communications President Michelle Ebanks, entertainment attorney L. Londell McMillan, Tony Award-winning choreographer George Faison, Harlem musical theater great Vy Higginsen, music great Nona Hendryx, and numerous others.

The guests dined on selections from a menu that  included: smoked salmon and caviar, chilled snow crab claws, lobster bisque, French onion soup, lobster ravioli, jumbo lump crab cakes, crabmeat stuffed fillet of sole, sautéed Dover sole, filet mignon, grilled vegetable napoleon, pear almond cake, lemon cake, triple chocolate mousse, and New York cheese cake.

The evening’s entertainment included a phenomenal jazz performance by the Kris Bowers Trio, featuring Jose James. The group is led by 22-year-old Kris Bowers, the winner of the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Then there were two superb dance numbers directed by George Faison, which were performed to songs that embodied the theme of the celebration – “The Summer of 42” and “Somewhere Lost in Time.”

After an evening of celebrating, Franklin spent her actual birthday, March 25, relaxing. The ageless music icon has a busy year ahead of her, including a special performance at the ESSENCE Music Festival on July 8^th in New Orleans.

DJ Polished Solid is back with Pt. 2 of her great mix where the theme is Black. It features a lot of blaxploitation radio spots and music from the 70s. Right On. Make sure to checkout DJ Polished each and every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm on her show No Turn Unstoned right here.

Checkout the playlist after the jump. (more…)