MUSIC REVIEWS: Pop, country/roots, jazz and classical releases

The Philadelphia Inquirer

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ARETHA FRANKLIN "Oh Me, Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly 1972"

(Rhino Handmade 3 ½ stars)

ARETHA FRANKLIN "Jewels in the Crown" (Arista 2 ½ stars)

The higher-profile of these two new releases by the Queen of Soul is "Jewels in the Crown," a collection of 20 duets stretching back over 20 years pairing Aretha Franklin with the good and great, from Frank Sinatra and Luther Vandross to Fantasia and John Legend. `Retha completists will probably want to grab it, but it's far from essential. Except for the 1985 hit with Annie Lennox, "Sisters Are Doin' for Themselves," the set suffers from various ills: dated production styles, poor material ("It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be," with Whitney Houston, which is a far better song title than a song) or great material, like "Chain of Fools" and "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman," with Mariah Carey and Bonnie Raitt, respectively, that exists in far more impressive versions elsewhere.

"Aretha Live in Philly" is something else entirely. It captures the Queen at the top of her powers, performing in Philadelphia in 1972 at the convention of the National Association of Television & Radio Announcers, an association of broadcasters. Backed by a funky, road-tested backing band, she rips (sometimes a bit too quickly) through an hour-long set of her own hits ("Respect," "Don't Play That Song") and covers (the Drifters' "Spanish Harlem" and Bacharach and David's "This Girl's in Love With You." Her voice is luscious, juicy and staggeringly powerful, her improvisational energy indomitable, and she does a monumentally soulful "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

"Oh Me, Oh My" is issued on reissue giant Rhino's Hand Made imprint, which means only 7,500 copies have been manufactured, so get 'em while they last. www.rhinohandmade.com.

- Dan DeLuca

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THE TROLLEYVOX "Your Secret Safe/Luzerne" (Transit of Venus 3 stars)

"Your Secret Safe/Luzerne," a two-disc set that offers distinct full-lengths as a two-for-one physical package but available as separate downloads, quickly follows last year's politically minded "The Karaoke Meltdowns." Led by songwriter and guitarist Andrew Chalfen (ex-Wishniaks) and singer Beth Filla, the Philadelphia band has worked the borders between power pop and psych-rock, and "Your Secret Safe" continues that tradition, with skillful echoes of Big Star, the Byrds and the Who (in a smashing cover of "Our Love Was"). Chalfen's guitars chime and crunch, but Filla never quite soars, even though songs such as "I Call On You" or "Jean Jacket" beg for it.

Luzerne's acoustic meditations - think Nico, Bert Jansch, Cat Power - suit Filla's melancholy, conversational vocals better. Chalfen's impressive finger-picking owes something to John Fahey, and instrumentals such as "Midvale" and "Mermaid Loop" are highlights. As opposed to "Your Secret Safe's" bright electricity, "Luzerne" is a late-night, earthbound affair, beautifully dark, seductively stark.

- Steve Klinge

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JORDIN SPARKS "Jordin Sparks" (19 Recordings/Jive 2 ½ stars)

There are some notable firsts associated with the winning debut of this year's "American Idol." Sparks, who is nearly 20, is the first victor to join the producer's label rather than Sony/BMG with a championship disc not exec-produced by Clive Davis.

Maybe Clive's scared to get into a Kelly Clarkson catfight with Sparks. Maybe the one-time Christian balladeer with the powerful lungs and the relaxed R&B melodic style had her own ideas. Everything from the tender trap of "See My Side," with its subtle vocal harmony flourishes, to the tremors of "God Loves Ugly" shows Sparks' mark. Her debut's most potent display - she was 17 when she recorded this - is the teen-pop-hop of "No Air," a breathlessly silly thing she did with Michael Jackson clone Chris Brown. Then there are dear electro-pop tracks like "Shy Boy" (produced by the same team that did most of Britney Spears' "Blackout") that manage to show the soulful sweet side of Euro-dance that Britney can't ever entertain again. It's a charming effort. Sparkly, even.