Aretha largely avoided disco music until the 11th hour on La Diva. However she embody elements of the genre on 1974’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” from With Everything I Feel In Me.
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is another Burt Bacharach and Hal David cover in Aretha’s songbook, though it doesn’t match the tenacity of her superior “I Say A Little Prayer”. Though Dionne Warwick again got to this before Aretha (in December of 1965), Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass originated the tune in March of 1965. Alpert’s original embodies a bossa nova pop sound, and is largely instrumental. Dionne’s version leans more into pop and adds some words. Naturally, Aretha turns the thing completely upside down.
The rush of strings which open the song charge it up, only to yield into a guitar and bass focused laid-back groove over which Aretha delivers a blissful “la la la la la”, followed by some freestyled spoken words. The background singers surround her in ambiance.
Stream “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” below. The song is unavailable for streaming or purchase. With Everything I Feel In Me has never been officially reissued.
365 Days of Aretha Franklin 