Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin. Recorded in April, May, and August 1972 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and released in mid-1973 by Atlantic Records, it was the first Atlantic album by Franklin to not be produced by Jerry Wexler. This album was originally planned to be a straight jazz album, as Jerry Wexler told both Mark Bego and David Ritz in their respective accounts of Franklin's life. However, as the sessions evolved, Franklin and Jones began embracing and incorporating pop, soul, and funk. More than 20 songs were recorded for the album. 8 previously unreleased recordings were issued on 2007's Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul. 2021's ARETHA compilation included an additional 2 unreleased recordings from the sessions, an alternate take of "Somewhere" and the work tape of "Angel". The album was reissued on compact disc through Rhino Records in 1994. The song "Master of Eyes (The Deepness Of Your Eyes)" was included as a bonus track on the 1994 reissue, being the only song from the sessions issued but excluded from the initial release in 1973.

Reception

Commercially, Hey Now Hey was not an overwhelming success. It was Franklin's first Atlantic album to miss the Top 25 of the main Billboard chart, peaking at number 30, and reaching number 2 on the R&B albums listing. The album's first offering, "Master of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)," was a miss, peaking at number 33 on the pop charts and number 8 on the R&B charts and was subsequently not included on the album. However, "Angel", written by Franklin's younger sister Carolyn Franklin, proved to be a redeeming entry, restoring Franklin to the No. 1 spot on the R&B chart and top 20 on the pop chart. The album divided critics at the time. Rolling Stone praised Aretha's singing and certain moments but criticized Jones' productions and called the Aretha-written compositions as underdeveloped, anemic, and not measuring up to the standards she'd set for herself previously. Jazz Digest criticized the album's cover, but said that "Ms. Franklin is cooking her tail off here!" and complimented her as "the only emergent singer of the '60s with anything to say ." Ebony called the album "a very mixed bag," but noted that "Angel" "presents Aretha at her best ."

Track listing

Side One Side Two CD reissue bonus track

Personnel

Technical personnel