Amazing Grace Summary

Amazing Grace Summary

Amazing Grace, the third live music album of Aretha Franklin, was released by the Atlantic Records in 1972. Twenty years later, the RIAA certified it double platinum and this album went on the to become the best–selling live gospel music album of all time. With Rev. James Cleveland as the leader of the choir and a highly accomplished rhythm section band, Amazing Grace is widely acknowledged to have revitalized the gospel genre. Beyond the immediate musical impact, the social impact could be felt then and for future generations as Franklin, by going back to her more traditional roots, emphasized change, respect, and most importantly African American pride.



Hence it came as no surprise when the 33 ⅓ series of books, a series evaluating the most influential albums of all time, announced an installment on Amazing Grace. Few would have been more suited to write this book than Aaron Cohen, a man with expertise in jazz, r&b, and gospel, all three of whose influences can be seen on Amazing Grace. Cohen's passion and knowledge for gospel, and particularly for this album can be seen in this book as he tracks down nearly everyone alive involved in the making of the album. He maintains a specific style throughout the book. Cohen provides numerous interviews, historical records, and various songs throughout the text, and based off of these accounts, he offers his own musical and sociological analyses, often providing a fresh perspective on Aretha's background and into the makings of Amazing Grace.



Cohen makes his style clear right from the first chapter. He offers a fascinating take on Aretha's transition from gospel to pop, and back to gospel. The popular media narrative was that Aretha began singing gospel in her childhood under the influence of her father, a famous preacher. She then transferred to pop and jazz, and after struggling and achieving little success, switched to r&b under the guidance of a street–smart producer (Jerry Wexler), before becoming the queen of soul. But Cohen's perspective was that Aretha Franklin began in the church and never left (6). She always accompanied her father on the gospel circuit. Alexander Hamilton, one of the leaders of the choir for Amazing Grace, in his interview with Cohen,

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