Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Rhino Atlantic) (180g Vinyl LP)

Aretha Franklin’s first album of genius bursts with the unstoppable freedom of an artist finally allowed to be herself, which is only one of the dozens of reasons its opening cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” is such a milestone. Franklin had recorded some somewhat supper-clubby albums for Columbia in the early Sixties, releases that restrained the preacher’s daughter’s vocal scope and power. But Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler brought her onto the label with the goal of letting Aretha be Aretha. “I took her to church,” he said, “sat her down at the piano, and let her be herself.” The result – recorded at iconic Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama – was a new kind of soul power, pulling from gospel, R&B and rock & roll. This was the album that made her a legend, inaugurating a run of LPs for Franklin on Atlantic that’s up there with any other series of records by any solo artist ever.

A1. Respect
A2. Drown In My Tears
A3. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You)
A4. Soul Serenade
A5. Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream
A6. Baby, Baby, Baby
B1. Dr. Feelgood
B2. Good Times
B3. Do Right Woman – Do Right Man
B4. Save Me
B5. A Change Is Gonna Come