A Brand New Me is a compilation album by American recording artist Aretha Franklin. It was released on November 10, 2017, by Rhino Records and Atlantic Records. The album features archival vocal performances that Franklin recorded for Atlantic Records accompanied by new orchestral arrangements by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and newly recorded backing vocals, in addition to the original (archived) background vocal and instrumental accompaniments.Aretha Franklin, et. Al. “A Brand New Me” (Digital Download). Atlantic / GC / Rhino. 10 November 2017. https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/a-brand-new-me-mr0004779654Aretha Franklin and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. “A Brand New Me” (Album Notes). Atlantic / Rhino. 2017. Producer Nick Patrick said of the album: "There is a reason that Aretha Franklin is called the 'Queen of Soul.' There is nothing more exciting than that incredible voice taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride through her amazing repertoire of songs. To have the opportunity to work with that voice on this project has been the greatest honor and to hear a symphony orchestra wrapped around those performances is breathtaking." Franklin died in August 2018, nine months after the album's release.
Track listing All Tracks produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, with background vocal production assisted by Greg Field.
Personnel Credits adapted from AllmusicAretha Franklin with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. “A Brand New Me”. Allmusic. 10 November 2017. https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-brand-new-me-mw0003082051 and the album's liner notes
Aretha Franklin – lead vocals* (All tracks), piano* (1–5, 8–14) Patti Austin – background vocals (All Tracks) Nigel Barr – trombone Barry Beckett – organ (played by)* Kenneth Bichel – synthesizer* Graeme Blevins – tenor saxophone Margaret Branch – background vocals* (2, 4) Willie Bridges – saxophone* Brenda Bryant – background vocals* (2) Andy Caine – background vocals Timothy "Tim" Cansfield – guitar (All Tracks) Ben Castle – alto saxophone Charles Chalmers – tenor saxophone* Gene Chrisman – drums* Ann S. Clark – background vocals* Peter Cobbin – recording engineer Tommy Cogbill – guitar* (1, 3), bass guitar* Richard Cottle – brass arrangement Sammy Creason – drums* (2) Danny Cummings – percussion (1, 4, 9, 14) Jim Dickinson – additional keyboards* (2) Cornell Dupree – bass guitar* Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone* Howard "Buzz" Feiten – guitar (2) Lynn Fiddmont – background vocals (All Tracks) Greg Field – background vocals, recording engineer Erma Franklin – background vocals* Charlie Freeman – guitar* (2) Eric Gale – bass guitar* Simon Gardiner – trumpet Ellie Greenwich – background vocals* Mirriam Grey – background vocals Graham Harvey – piano Donny Hathaway – piano*, organ* Roger Hawkins – drums* (1, 3, 9, 10, 13, 14), saxophone*, background vocals* Eddie Hinton – guitar* Nigel Hitchcock – alto saxophone Matt Holland – trumpet David Hood – bass guitar* Al Jackson Jr. – drums* Wayne Jackson – trumpet* Jerry Jemmott – bass guitar* (1, 3) Jimmy Johnson – bass guitar*, acoustic guitar* (1, 9, 13, 14) Almeda Lattimore – background vocals* (2) Ledisi – background vocals (All Tracks) Adam Linsley – trumpet Andrew Love – tenor saxophone* Ray Lucas – drums* Arif Mardin – brass arrangements* Tommy McClure – bass guitar* (2) Hugh McCracken – bass guitar*, electric guitar* Clare McInerney – baritone saxophone Pete Murray – organ, acoustic piano (1, 4, 6–14), electric piano Floyd Newman – bass saxophone* Dewey "Spooner" Oldham – organ* (1, 10, 14) Nick Patrick – rhythm arrangements Steve Pearce – bass (played by) (All Tracks) Josh Phillips – project manager Valerie Pinkston – background vocals (All Tracks) Billy Preston – piano*, organ* Bernard Purdie – drums* Ryan Quigley – trumpet Chuck Rainey – bass guitar* Don Reedman – rhythm arrangements Nigel Reeve – mastering Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra (played by) Ralph Salmins – drums (All Tracks) Peter Schwier – recording engineer, audio mixing Giancarlo Sciama – project manager Neil Sidwell – trombone Steve Sidwell – conductor, brass arrangements, string arrangements Pat Smith – background vocals* Robin Smith – conductor, orchestral arrangements, string arrangements Joe South – guitar* Paul Spong – trumpet Ray Staff – mastering Sweet Inspirations – background vocals* (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10–13) Jamie Talbot – tenor saxophone Richard Tee – organ* Cécile Tournesac – digital editing Mike Utley – additional keyboards* (2) Chris Walden – musical arrangements, brass arrangements, orchestral arrangements, string arrangements Jerry Weaver – guitar* Kirsty Whalley – digital editing Alistar White – trombone Chris White – tenor saxophone Martin Williams – baritone saxophone Shena Winchester – background vocals Andy Wood – trombone Phil Woods – alto saxophone soloist*
Performances with an Asterisk (*) indicates sampled archive performances.
Charts +Chart performance for A Brand New Me Chart (2017–18) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 23 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 36
References