Aretha Franklin & King Curtis - Live At Fillmore West: Don't Fight The Feeling
Label: Rhino Handmade - RHM2 7890
Format: 4 × CD, Compilation, Remastered, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: 2005
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Soul


Tracks 1-1 to 1-19, 2-1 to 2-4 were recorded on March 5, 1971.
Tracks 2-5 to 2-15, 3-1 to 3-8 were recorded on March 6, 1971.
Tracks 3-9 to 3-14, 4-1 to 4-13 were recorded on March 7, 1971.



Tracklist:

1-1 –King Curtis Intro
1-2 –Memphis Horns, The Knock On Wood
1-3 –King Curtis Whole Lotta Love
1-4 –King Curtis Them Changes
1-5 –King Curtis A Whiter Shade Of Pale
1-6 –Billy Preston My Sweet Lord
1-7 –King Curtis Ode To Billie Joe
1-8 –King Curtis Mr. Bojangles
1-9 –King Curtis Soul Serenade
1-10 –King Curtis Memphis Soul Stew
1-11 –King Curtis Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
1-12 –Aretha Franklin Respect
1-13 –Aretha Franklin Call Me
1-14 –Aretha Franklin Mixed-Up Girl
1-15 –Aretha Franklin Love The One You're With
1-16 –Aretha Franklin Bridge Over Troubled Water
1-17 –Aretha Franklin Eleanor Rigby
1-18 –Aretha Franklin Make It With You
1-19 –Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song
2-1 –Aretha Franklin You're All I Need To Get By
2-2 –Aretha Franklin Dr. Feelgood
2-3 –Aretha Franklin Spirit In The Dark
2-4 –Aretha Franklin Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
2-5 –Memphis Horns, The Knock On Wood
2-6 –King Curtis Them Changes
2-7 –King Curtis Whole Lotta Love
2-8 –King Curtis A Whiter Shade Of Pale
2-9 –King Curtis I Stand Accused
2-10 –King Curtis Soul Serenade
2-11 –King Curtis Memphis Soul Stew
2-12 –Aretha Franklin Respect
2-13 –Aretha Franklin Call Me
2-14 –Aretha Franklin Love The One You're With
2-15 –Aretha Franklin Bridge Over Troubled Water
3-1 –Aretha Franklin Share Your Love With Me
3-2 –Aretha Franklin Eleanor Rigby
3-3 –Aretha Franklin Make It With You
3-4 –Aretha Franklin You're All I Need To Get By
3-5 –Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song
3-6 –Aretha Franklin Dr. Feelgood
3-7 –Aretha Franklin Spirit In The Dark
3-8 –Aretha Franklin Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
3-9 –Memphis Horns, The Knock On Wood
3-10 –King Curtis Them Changes
3-11 –King Curtis A Whiter Shade Of Pale
3-12 –King Curtis Ode To Billie Joe
3-13 –King Curtis Soul Serenade
3-14 –King Curtis Memphis Soul Stew
4-1 –Aretha Franklin Respect
4-2 –Aretha Franklin Call Me
4-3 –Aretha Franklin Love The One You're With
4-4 –Aretha Franklin Bridge Over Troubled Water
4-5 –Aretha Franklin Share Your Love With Me
4-6 –Aretha Franklin Eleanor Rigby
4-7 –Aretha Franklin Make It With You
4-8 –Aretha Franklin Don't Play That Song
4-9 –Aretha Franklin You're All I Need To Get By
4-10 –Aretha Franklin Dr. Feelgood
4-11 –Aretha Franklin Spirit In The Dark
4-12 –Aretha Franklin With Ray Charles Spirit In The Dark (Reprise)
4-13 –Aretha Franklin Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)


The Memphis Horns introduced the shows each night and then brought Curtis and his band out for an opening set. And from night one, as compiled and heard on his Live at Fillmore West album, these sets were smoking, in the pocket, and greasy, with highlights like "Whole Lotta Love," "Them Changes," "Whiter Shade of Pale," and a burning cover of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." When Franklin does walk onto the stage, she struts and goes into high gear with "Respect." Her performance on that opening night includes amazing renditions of "Spirit in the Dark" (with Ray Charles guesting), "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Love the One You're With" (also with Charles), and "Dr. Feelgood." The original album is augmented with tunes that didn't make the cut, including the oft-bootlegged "Call Me." In listening to these shows, what is striking is realizing that the majority of the Live at Fillmore West LP was taken from the last night of performances. The previous two evenings here then are startling in contrast, often in intensity and sometimes in sheer grit. The opening night's read of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is superior to either of the others, though sonically it's a bit thinner. Another gem is the version of Bobby Bland's "Share Your Love With Me." That was left off the original album. In all there are 42 unreleased performances In addition to wonderful between-song banter and inside jokes, the true flow of the shows, the enthusiasm of the audiences, and raw, in-your-face performances put this set in a league of its own. There are also a few decent photographs and an authoritative yet friendly liner essay by British critic David Nathan. This is a limited edition and most likely won't be on the Rhino Handmade shelves long. Aural history can be dry at times and of interest to those who have a penchant for such things. Aretha Franklin and King Curtis' Don't Fight the Feeling is as saucy as it gets. Thom Jurek, allmusic.com