Sparkle

About

All anyone needs to know about Aretha Franklin’s soundtrack to <i>Sparkle</i> is written on the bottom of the poster for this 1976 rags-to-riches story: “Featuring the sensational music of Curtis Mayfield.” Mayfield, who had achieved success in the 1960s as part of the Chicago soul group The Impression, had established himself as not just a great songwriter and performer, but also a first-rate film composer with his work on the 1972 blaxploitation crime drama <i>Superfly</i>. <i>Sparkle</i> is a musical drama set in Harlem during the early 1960, one that tells the story of three sisters who form a singing group and pursue stardom. It was loosely based on the story of The Supreme, and featured a cast of largely unknown newcomers (Irene Cara, still years away from <i>Fame</i>, played Sparkle, the lead singer). The cast sang Mayfield’s songs on the big screen, but Mayfield wanted a more experienced singer on the official soundtrack—which is how Franklin came aboard. .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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