Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace

During my last high school year I had the opportunity to attend a 7 day long workshop organized by the Juilliard School.

One of the most revealing moments for me was when Carl Allen, who at the time was the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies at Julliard, played Amazing Grace, a very special live recording of Aretha Franklin.

In this record Aretha honors her Gospel roots by playing her favorite Gospel songs live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, with Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir.

This record means a lot to me and in the last decade I always go back to it to find myself and connect with the “Spirit”.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the documentary about this concert became almost a daily watch for me and my roommate Daniele Germani, with whom we would listen with religious silence and focus.

MORE INFO:

Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings

Disc 1
(Thursday Night Show - 1/13/72)

1. Organ Introduction (On Our Way) - Performed by Kenneth Lupper

2. Opening Remarks - Performed by Rev. James Cleveland

3. On Our Way - Performed by Southern California Community Choir

4. Aretha's Introduction - Performed by Rev. James Cleveland

5. Wholy Holy

6. You'll Never Walk Alone

7. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

8. Precious Memories - Featuring Rev. James Cleveland

9. How I Got Over

10. Precious Lord (Take My Hand)/You've Got a Friend

11. Climbing Higher Mountains

12. Amazing Grace

13. My Sweet Lord (Instrumental)

14. Give Yourself to Jesus

Disc 2
(Friday Night Show - 1/14/72)

1. Organ Introduction (On Our Way)/Opening Remarks
   Performed by Ken Lupper and Rev. James Cleveland

2. On Our Way - Performed by Southern California Community Choir

3. Aretha's Introduction - Performed by Rev. James Cleveland

4. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

5. Wholy Holy

6. Climbing Higher Mountains

7. God Will Take Care of You

8. Old Landmark

9. Mary Don't You Weep

10. Never Grow Old

11. Remarks by Rev. C.L. Franklin - Featuring Rev. James Cleveland

12. Precious Memories - Featuring Rev. James Cleveland

13. My Sweet Lord (Instrumental)

Personnel

• Aretha Franklin – piano (D5, D7, celesta on B6), lead vocals

• Rev. James Cleveland – piano (A1-B5, B7, C1-C4, D6-D7), lead vocals (C1)

• Cornell Dupree – guitar

• Rev. C.L. Franklin - vocals (C3)

• Kenneth "Ken" Lupper – organ, additional keyboards

• Pancho Morales – congas, additional percussion

• Bernard Purdie – drums

• Chuck Rainey – bass

• Southern California Community Choir – background vocals