Aretha Franklin was only 14 years old !!! when this absolutely terrific album of gospel music was recorded live,at her father's church,the Reverend C.L.Franklin.There was never such an amazing voice in the gospel field,and the live recording gives to this gigantic music a special,dramatic,intense feeling that could never be reached at a studio session.This extraordinay voice,which surely will make you cry,was the voice of a young girl who was on her way to glory.This may be one of the most important albums ever recorded in the history of great black music,wether it is jazz,blues,or gospel;I'll allways treasure this record as one of the highest masterpiece of singing.Aretha is bewildering,and maybe NOBODY ever sang with such emotion and perfection.This music is so intensive,so emotionnal,so rich,so unique that it will make you shiver and cry.You can't imagine what's in this CD,even if you listened to a lot of gospel.That's simply terrific.\r\"there's a fountain filled with blood\" is sung almost a cappella by Aretha,with only piano and organ background,and exhortations by the members of the church.Her absolutely perfect voice marvels here.\"Precious Lord\" is a masterpiece,a very great moment in the history of singing;there is an unbelievable dramatic intensity here,that was rarely equalled.This music is so intense that I can't find my words to describe it.\"You grow closer\" is another great tune,somptuously sung by Aretha.And so are the other tunes.\rYou,jazz,blues or gospel lover,you have to own this exceptionnal record.If you don't like the music Aretha FRanklin did later,just listen to \"Never grow old\" and you'll have to admitt that you're listening to some of the most essential minutes of the music you like.This is,forgive me if I'm repeating this,an extremely important record.Don't miss it.