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A Brand New Me
Compilation album by Aretha Franklin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Released	November 10, 2017 (2017-11-10)
Studio	Abbey Road Studio 1, London, England RAK Studios, London, England Shine Studios, Salisbury, England G Studio Digital, Los Angeles, United States
Label	Rhino Atlantic
Producer	Nick Patrick Don Reedman
Aretha Franklin chronology
Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics (2014) A Brand New Me (2017) The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970 (2018)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Irish Times
PopMatters

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. 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 Allmusic 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

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Aretha Franklin – A Brand New Me". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
2. Kane, Siobhan (10 November 2017). "Aretha Franklin: A Brand New Me – getting the respect she deserves". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
3. Miller, Chad (23 January 2018). "Aretha Franklin Meets the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on 'A Brand New Me'". popmatters.com. PopMatters. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
4. ^ "Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Available November 10 From Rhino". Rhino Entertainment. 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
5. ^ 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-mr0004779654
6. ^ Aretha Franklin and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. “A Brand New Me” (Album Notes). Atlantic / Rhino. 2017.
7. Aretha Franklin with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. “A Brand New Me”. Allmusic. 10 November 2017. https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-brand-new-me-mw0003082051
8. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
9. "Ultratop.be – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
10. "Ultratop.be – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
12. "Lescharts.com – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me". Hung Medien.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
14. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
15. "Portuguesecharts.com – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me". Hung Medien.
16. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
17. "Spanishcharts.com – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me". Hung Medien.
18. "Swisscharts.com – Aretha Franklin with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – A Brand New Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
19. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
20. "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Top Classical Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

• Aretha Franklin albums
• 2017 compilation albums
• Atlantic Records albums
• Albums recorded at RAK Studios
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra albums
• Albums produced by Nick Patrick (record producer)