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Sparkle | 
| Artist: Aretha Franklin
Label: Rhino Flashback
Category: Music
List Price: $5.98
Buy New: $2.54
You Save: $3.44 (58%)
New (26) Used (6) from $2.54
Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 10387
Format: Soundtrack
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 71148
UPC: 081227988777
EAN: 0081227988777
ASIN: B001HADE0K
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Sparkle | | • | Something He Can Feel | | • | Hooked on Your Love | | • | Look into Your Heart | | • | I Get High | | • | Jump - Aretha Franklin, Miller, Marcus | | • | Loving You Baby | | • | Rock with Me |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Though she'd already been hailed as the Queen of Soul for her run of sultry '60s hits for Atlantic, Aretha Franklin split her time in the '70s between explorations of her gospel roots and flirtations with the pop mainstream, often with diminishing results. But, just as the music she had so long epitomized was evolving into rhythmic funk and nascent disco, Franklin teamed with fellow soul vet Curtis Mayfield to produce the soundtrack for this otherwise unremarkable film project, a collaboration that retrenched her successfully in the dramatic, gospel-rooted musical framework of a decade earlier. Thanks in no small part to Mayfield's focused, stripped-to-the-essentials production, Franklin frees herself to turn in remarkably consistent performances throughout, from the effervescent title track and romantic anthem "Something He Can Feel" to the soaring vocal showcase "I Get High" and infectious R&B groove of "Loving You Baby." --Jerry McCulley
Product Description
Great collection at a great price.
Album Description
Japanese pressing packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Vivid. 2006.
Album Details
Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Aretha and Curtis August 22, 2002
MICHAEL ACUNA (Southern California United States)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
By the time, the later 1970's, that this album was released, Aretha Franklin's artistic reputation was at a lowpoint. But in conjunction with Curtis Mayfield, who wrote the songs and produced this LP, Aretha proved once again that there is no one singing then or now that can sell a song as well as she.
In fact, is there anyone singing now who sounds like Aretha? Who has such a powerful and glorious voice? Maybe...just maybe Whitney comes closest.
Listen to how Aretha scats and improvises in and out of the melodies here...it's true artistry. And she does it all with such ease, such conviction.
"Sparkle" was a Supremes-like Cinderella success story set in the 1950's and it was very effective, I think in reproducing an era and a rags-to-riches story. But the songs. Wow. I remember upon viewing the tape...thinking that these songs were first rate and so evocative of the 1950's yet so modern. Well, it's 25 years later and I have to say the same thing...these songs are still so fresh and modern and Aretha sings the hell out of them.
Curtis Mayfield was considered a genius among those in the know. And he proves it once again here. First by writing and arranging these songs and secondly for having Aretha sing them in this beautifully produced, gloriously sung CD.
 Aretha's Sparkle is a Glimmer Compared to Original Cast October 23, 2004
WickedQueen (MN)
11 out of 25 found this review helpful
Ms. Franklin may be the Queen of Soul, but this album is not one of her reigning moments. I love this movie & soundtrack like everybody else who grew up in that time and I still wonder why oh WHY did they not release an original cast version of these songs which were far superior to this over-produced studio junk. Granted, Irene Cara went on to prove herself in the pop genre, BUT what a GROSS travesty that the lovely and multi-talented Lonette McKee was denied the opportunity to showcase her powerhouse vocals!! Where Lonette's vocals are sultry and sexually driven and emotionally vulnerable all at once, Aretha's screechy gospel-izing absolutely nullifies any passion or intimacy underlying the story behind the lyrics. When Lonette sang "Giving Him Something He Can FeeL", there is no doubt in the listeners mind as to what her man is going to be getting. Aretha, on the other hand, just sounds like she's screaming on heaven's door step. Which is fine if you are going to a gospel ho-down, but not so fine if you are trying to seduce your man. To say I was disappointed when this soundtrack came out would be an extreme understatement. To truly appreciate this music, buy or rent the movie and record the songs from there. I gave this cd one star because, though Aretha may be the Queen of Soul, the producers should have known better than to give her material out of her realm.
Now I understand there will be those of you who do not like my review and will say so, but MATURITY would dictate you NOT attack me personally for my views, nor make unmitigated assumptions as to the the types of music I like or do not like, right Geminigirl?
Giving you something YOU can feel October 1, 2000
The Fancy One (Westchester County, NY)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
Every time I listen to this soundtrack from the '70s musical drama SPARKLE, I get chills. Aretha had some lackluster singles by the mid '70s, but this is THE album that put her back on top where the one and only Queen of Soul deserved to be. Her voice has never sounded better...and the stellar production of the late great Curtis Mayfield is nothing short of amazing. Every track is superb. The background vocalists only add to the intensity of the productions on this CD. Although I love the songs "Sparkle", "Hooked On Your Love", "Jump", "I Get High", "Look Into Your Heart" and "Loving You Baby", my favorite is "Something He Can Feel", sung so passionately by Aretha, STILL hits you like a ton of bricks, as it did over 24 years ago. EnVogue made a nice remake of this song, but nowhere near as powerful as Aretha's version. You cannot go wrong with Aretha and Curtis paired together. One of the best movie soundtracks ever!
Great Cd but what happened to the Movie Versions? February 3, 2006
Dancin Boy (New York City)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This Cd Cover brings back so many 70's memories. I was too young to feel the Impact of Aretha Franklin. On the other hand Irene Cara coming off of the Electric Company and Aaron Loves Angela made a large impact on me. She was black ( I thought then) and she was a teenage actress with a promising career. I wasn't able to see Sparkle in the theater when it was released due to the ratings but i was very excited to hear the soundtrack. When my mom bought it home without me asking for it i should have known something was wrong. The whole score was recorded with Aretha singing the songs. I did see the Movie and all the other background parts didn't change. These were great soul funk songs pre-disco. Jump was a New York Club hit at the time and was played by Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage. If the album had come out now there would have been 1 cd called the score of the movie and there would have been Aretha Franklin sings The Songs Of Sparkle. Aretha did an awesome job or re interpreting these songs from the movie but she also made each song her own. The Lonette Mckee and Irene Cara versions were just as beautifully sung and due to the story line as well as the directing each songs reminds you of a point in the movie when the song was sung. I do agree Precious Lord was a powerful moment in the movie and it gives me chills when i see it.
This is 70's soul as it was not Neo not Disco. Curtis Mayfield at his peak right after Superfly doing his soul thing and Aretha still trying to keep up with the times at this point with an incredible vocal.
To satisfy my need for " The Original" i hooked up my VCR to my CD Burner through a mixer and made a nice Mono mix for myself and a few of my friends who are also fans of the movie. Amazingly this movie plays most of the songs all the way through without dialogue or cutting.
I wonder what it would take to put out the alternate takes. This movie was set to be remade but nothing has happened. To hear both Arethas and actual Movie versions would be a treat for the ears. Aretha sings but so does Lonette and Irene!
 WHAT HAPPEN TO THE SPARKLE July 6, 2006
Dwight Delarge
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I am not 100% sure, but at the time of the release of Sparkle, and upon its success, many whom has seen the movie screamed for
the Original Soundtrack. However it was rumored more than once
that Lonette McGee was signed to a small independent record company at the time, and they would not allow any recordings
to be released without them (record company) obtaining some monatary gains. Curtis Mayfield said no, and Wha-la, Aretha Franklin was chosen to sing on the album. Yes I know she is
the Queen of Soul, but I always thought Original Soundtrack means the Original Songs, people whom sung them, and music exactly as it sounds in the motion picture. Anything else is
an re-enactment. I like and R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha, but give
me Lonette on this one.
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