vinyl podcast

On this show, I play “Alone” performed by Carolyn Franklin from her first solo album, Baby Dynamite, released on RCA in 1969. By the time Carolyn began her solo career, she had already spent years in the trenches, leading the backing vocals for her sister Aretha, and writing and arranging for Aretha and their other singing sister, Erma. I’m a fan of some of Aretha Franklin’s work, but I like Carolyn’s debut album better that just about anything I’ve heard from her more famous sister.

I had a difficult time choosing a track to feature off of this album, because there are a handful of standouts, including “I Don’t Want to Lose You,” “What Now My Love” and others. I decided to choose the song that was most representative of the features of this album that really stand out to me. Carolyn Franklin’s voice is agile and virtuosic, but in the inevitable comparison to her sister, I find Carolyn’s voice to be a little more earnest, a little more raw, and a little less polished. The same holds true for Baby Dynamite as a whole. The backing band is phenomenal, and the tracks are well-orchestrated, but the sound is not overly polished or produced, and there’s a sense of urgency in the horns and guitar that really drives each track.

So, on “Alone” you’ll hear some heartfelt and plaintive vocals from Carolyn, well-placed backing vocals, an awesome horn section, and most importantly for this track, a raw lead and rhythm guitar.

1218vinylpodcast-CarolynFranklin.mp3

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