recorded at the age of 14, in 1956, under the direction of her father, reverend c. l. franklin, these gospel recordings of a teenaged aretha franklin are not just a sign of the brilliance to come, they are a force unto themselves. at this time aretha was performing in her father’s church, new bethel, in detroit, and traveling with her father’s »gospel caravan« tours, performing with the likes of sam cooke & the soul stirrers. like so many of the soul and r&b stars of the 50s and 60s, aretha started out in the church and it was there that she made some of her most powerful and transcendental music.