In 1962, aged 22, I was the most junior of the juniors in the Philips Records A&R department and my bosses were having their weekly record selection meeting in the studio room next door. I heard this stunning female voice coming through the wall.
The voice was singing TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS and it held me spellbound. Unable to contain my excitement I knocked on the door, interrupted the meeting and asked who the artist was. I was told it was a new soul/jazz singer from the USA and they didn't feel the LP would sell in New Zealand: so, did I want to have the sample LP? Did I what!
The LP became one of my treasures until I sold my vinyl collection in the 90's and I was never able to replace it on CD. It is wonderful to be re-united with the album after all these years. Aretha was only 20 at the time and it would be another 5 years or so before she made her breakthrough to the charts and fame.
