I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

7/10 Best songs: Respect, Save Me This is a hard album to rate. By album standards I find it a bit middling; it's the typical 60s album, where it's more a collection of singles rather than a cohesive artistic statement. Only a couple of the songs are catchy or something I'd listen to again. That being said... It's Aretha Franklin. Thus, there is nothing truly wrong with this album.

very nice soul! her voice is incredible. 4/5

First one Reminded me of the 50’s Strong black woman!

Great southern soul. Not quite a masterpiece, but very good. 4/5

I had a good time. Yes, Respect is *the* song in the record, but the rest can easily keep up.

She's amazing

3.5 if possible

Pipes

Bangers after bangers, so skips Drown in My Own Tears, underrated

I really liked it lwk I thought that I would be a sad album but it was nice

The GOAT.

Aretha has some of the best vocals. Each song on the album showcases that, not one skip.

this is what I live for

Wonderful album

Really solid album. Interesting after researching how the covers simply don’t feel like covers. Some solid grooves

I don't listen to her a lot, as gospel/soul is not my typical genre. But it's Aretha, it's really good vocals, performance, etc. I appreciate this album for it's authenticity, especially after hearing about her story in the Aretha Franklin movie (ikik all biopics are just artist puff pieces, regardless). 4 Stars, maybe 5? I'd have to re-visit and revise.

She was hitting that yes she was Highlights: "Respect", "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is Serious Business)", "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"

Beautiful

I've never really gravitated towards Aretha. I tend to prefer the Motown and Stax aesthetics over Atlantic. But it was really great to have a concentrated dose of the Queen here. Let's call this a 4.49.

4/5. To get the incredibly obvious out of the way, Aretha Franklin is an all-time great vocalist and she shows her full power on this record whether that be on poppier cuts like “Respect” or the slower ballads like “A Change is gonna come.” The instrumentation keeps it simple but is well done, I especially love the few times on here where some horns come in. But it’s mostly there to be the bedrock for Aretha’s voice. One of those albums where you can immediately tell “oh so this is where a ton of singer/songwriters got their whole thing from.”

Good

Classic and always a phenomenal voice

Aretha is so great, and this album has so many great tracks. What a voice. Highlights: "Respect", "Drown in My Own Tears" and "A Change is Gonna Come"

High 3 low 4 for me as it fits nicely for a carefree evening.

Mega Album. Besonders... ne eigentlich quasi jedes Lied ein Banger in seiner eigenen Art und Weise :D

재즈? 같은 느낌이었는데 엘범이 전체적으로 다 좋았다. 분위기나 느낌이 좋았다. It had a sort of jazz-like vibe, and the album was great from start to finish. I really liked the atmosphere and the overall feel of it.

solid 4.0.

2026.07.09-10.

The album starts with Respect, which is a perfect song. It never quite gets back to that same high but it's really solid all throughout.

starts strong and ends strong, but everything in between is just pretty good.

Franklin's best album with her signature song. Its quite good for a 60s soul album and has a good mix of covers and originals. Don't know if its really one of the best albums ever but I'm sure its influential in its own ways.

Pretty good, classic songs and once again a great voice

Aretha was a generational talent. Also liked the backing vocals.

RESPECT

Soulful, intense and honest. Great record, although I wouldn’t really come back to it, I recognize its artistic and historical value.

This is fun, bold, empowering and such a good listen.

Respect is a groovy ass song

Deep & Southern Soul Favorite Songs: Respect, Drown In My Own Tears, Baby, Baby, Baby, Save Me Least Favorite Song: Good Times The major positive that I can give this album is with her soulful voice. Even with some of the songs that I wasn’t a fond of either by style or by lyricism, she does have the talent to sing her heart and guts out. However, there are certain tracks that I felt like they’re just slogging for me, and even though the runtime for this album is 33 minutes, it felt like at certain times, I was feeling a bit bored. 7/10.

I have nothing helpful to say about this except that her voice is unmatched and I liked it.

Solid.

It's insane that this is her 10th album, though it makes sense that this was her first where she wasn't attempting jazz standards. What a weird fit that must've been, because this is clearly what she was made to sing. As such, it's great.

Gran voz, muy buen disco en su época.

8.5/10 Favorite Songs: Drown in My Own Tears, Dr. Feelgood

Muy bello, me sorprende que aun siendo artista este tan servicial al hombre, obvio por la época, debe haber sido muy difícil para ella cantar sobre estas cosas, seguro estando en un ambiente donde se rodeaba de hombres que la juzgaban, no se bien de su historia. voy a investigar mas sobre ella, me gusto, 7,5

great listen

So good. The soul and conviction in her voice is unmatched. I think I like other Aretha albums a bit more though.

Really liked this, thought it was great. Glad I was exposed to a full Franklin record because I would have never listened to one otherwise.

Ah, Aretha. The fact that this album has her covers of Respect and A Change is Gonna Come means this is getting at least 4 stars guaranteed. The rest of the songs except for the title track aren't quite as memorable but man does she deliver. It's Aretha.

What a voice! This was a treat.

Norm, but old

Very slow and jazzy. Not my cup of tea but iconic nonetheless. I’m familiar with Aretha Franklin but I’ve never listened to her full album. I recognize “respect”, but I don’t know the others. “Good times” is probably the only other one that I really like.

Arethra makes me think of my girlfriend who I am in love with

There really is no better choice for the Queen of soul than Aretha Franklin. Her music and aesthetic is some of the smoothest ever made, with her voice and the styles and arrangements of all the instruments being such a perfect match. This album is just so easy to listen to in just about any environment, as its versatility is used so well throughout. Everything from her beautiful voice and soulful instrumental is amazing, and honestly just ends up leaving me wanting more with it only being about 30 minutes long.

Beautiful soulful album with some classic rock chords

Pretty good little album, definetly has that classic 50's/60's feel to it. Respect is iconic for a reason, and she has an impressive singing voice. Not quite my style but it's still enjoyable, 7/10

Starts off strongly with "Respect", and Aretha has clearly found her formula; romantic songs, background harmonies in the chorus, and lines delivered with a lot of soul. Indeed, there is not much to critique Aretha the performer on. My issue is instead how much this formula is stuck to; it reminds me a lot of Lady Soul, and a lot of these songs are similar in sound and theme. Nevertheless, a good album.

I enjoyed this much more than I expected. There's no doubting her voice or the quality of the songwriting but I thought it was going to be one of those that I appreciated more than loved.

Ms Aretha Franklin!!!! Powerhouse vocals right off the top. This is a very sexy and empowered album Ended kinda abruptly. I was surprised Overall, great album

is hier nog iets over te zeggen wat niet al gezegd is. heerlijk !!!!!!

It's not my favorite genre of music but for the people that do love it It's an amazing album. I did enjoy it!

#2. This is a vibe. I have heard Respect many times before, but I somehow always forget how good it is. Really enjoyed it.

Great vocalist and great songs

Excellent album. Perfect for a heart break. I particularly enjoyed Save me.

Her voice: literally ethereal

Look, this isn’t my favourite kind of soul sound, but it’s absolute quality throughout. How can you not love Aretha’s vocals? She’s known as “The Queen of Soul” for a reason. It’s a bit soft for me in places, but it’s undeniably strong as an album.

Amazing vocals. Songs and production bit repeatable but overall very high quality.

Słuchałam Arethy na spacerze i był piękny słoneczny wieczór, jej muzyka podkręciła doznania sensoryczne, nie no wszystko wyglądało jak z filmu a nie miałam żadnego filtru na oczach 8.7/10

Great soulful singing.

Never listened to her music before but honestly, she delivered! Her vocal range and talent is enough for me to rate this album high however the songs being repetitive and pretty much written over the same BPM makes it boring after a while but considering the fact that this album was written in the 70's and these types of songs were mostly popular in that era just shows the music culture changing over the years. So that's probably why this album didn't stuck with me but its definitely worth a listen. Solid 4/5

Aretha Franklin is a very good singer, the instrumental is good, the energy and soul this has is incredible.

Nice. It is just nice.

First Listen; 4; Really incredible vocal performance. Hard to talk about much else besides that. The backing music, aside from Respect, feels pretty subdued but still good. Favorite Track: Respect

très bon 4+/5

R E S P E C T, as it goes. It's a good album, if not fully my style of music. But I enjoyed it nevertheless, and clearly well deserving of the list. Maybe a 4?

Dope

The perfect redemption after rating 'Lady Soul' a bit too low! This album is an absolute soul classic. I saved 8 tracks for my personal playlist, including 'Respect' and 'A Change Is Gonna Come'. The vibes are immaculate. A very strong 4/5.

Once a Queen, always a queen... Love you Aretha

Easy listening. Great production. Very evocative, cold rainy weekends, in front of the fireplace with a large glass of red wine.

The song Respect increases the rating

Aretha has so much talent but is limited by technology of the time, her vocals stand out a lot over the musical aspect but still blends well across the album. Respect is iconic, but will say it does not stand out against the rest of the album

She is the greatest of all time tbh, this is probably a 5 but after first listen I was feeling her other record in the list a bit more

accidentally listened on shuffle but it was still awesome. She's the queen.

Respect - I’ve listened to this one before.. very groovy, and i love Aretha’s vocals, definitely a very happy song that reminds me of self love! Also very nice brass instrumentation. Bridge is SO GOOD!!!! Really love this song. Drown In My Own Tears - Slower and more emotional. I like the steady drumbeat. Her vocals are so so amazing, such a true talent and gift to this world.. RIP. Reminds me a bit of a ballad, but has more of a groove to it. I really like the backing vocals. I Never Loved a Man - Title song!! I’m always interested to see the song that the whole album is named for. This one also had a pretty steady drumbeat. This song is very jazzy. Franklin’s vocal range is incredible. Part of the song does sound a bit like she is screaming in my ear, adds to the vibe but is kind of a lot (it could be my car speakers).. I wish I could master vocal runs as Aretha did. Soul Serenade - This song reminds me a bit of the songs from the school dance on the Grease soundtrack, I think it’s the beat. Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream - I love the backing vocals and the drums Baby, Baby, Baby - Piano is kind of nice, definitely a quieter song. Thoughtful harmonies. Dr. Feelgood - The songs are all starting to sound pretty similar, but are all still of very high quality. Miss Aretha was quite the genius. Good Times - This song has a more peppy feel. Funny double entendre fueled lyrics.. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man - Another slow song. I think that I prefer her faster, happier songs. They remind me of gospel church songs. Save Me - This song has really cool bass and other instrumentals, reminds me a bit of if Violent Femmes and Sandy Gaye did a song together. A Change Is Gonna Come - Slower ending to a great album!!

Aretha Franklin is now rightfully considered, and will forever remain, the queen of soul music, but to achieve this status, she had to release eight mediocre albums and go into massive debt to break into radio play with her ninth album. With ninth! I probably would have given up and gone to work in a factory by the third. "Yes, there were people in our time..." The album truly deserves every praise; everything comes together in just the right proportions: several well-known hits by other artists, a few new ones, an excellent backing band, and, of course, Aretha's powerful voice. Yes, it's a bit monotonous, but the album is short and doesn't get boring. If soul music isn't your thing, like me, give this album a listen — it's truly impressive. Well, if you like soul music, then it’s unclear why you’re still reading this, because this is your go-to record!

Voice

I feel similarly about this album to the way I do about Al Green's Let's Stay Together. I love the vocalist, the tunes and playing are solid. The main thing that's lacking is range. The majority of the songs are about relationships, which is typical of pop music, I know. Franklin's album also lacks original songs: it's a lot of covers. But does she ever put her soul into the songs.

Great singer and soulful music. Aretha Franklin is obviously an icon of music. The only thing keeping this being a 5 for me really is that most of the songs are covers, though that was common at the time.

What a fantastic soul album, this is clearly where she took the throne and became the queen. This is much more than the album where Respect is on. It sounds like a blueprint that was followed by the biggest soul artist in the coming decades. I can hear a lof of Al Green and Minnie Ripperton in the sound of this album. I wish it was slightly longer, I guess that the psychodelic soul sound gets developed a little later and it would gone a long way here.

goated

A very good album, and it packs so much into just 32 minutes. Favourite track: A Change is Gonna Come

Lot of soul and emotion. Great feel. Not every song is a hit for me, but clearly all have been written and performed with passion. 8/10

BOM

Only song that I appreciate spelling in.

Mega Vocals und Performance!

I could listen to Aretha sing all day

Soul for days.

494/1089 - Good voice and piano playing. Very vamp-reliant music.

Good

Beautiful sounding album. I didn't mind the backing vocals like some people seemed to. Not all the songs are absolute bangers.

Aretha Franklin remains an absolute institution in music for a reason. Her music keeps feeling like a warm blanket, a safe space. Even if this isn't the music I'll normally put up, I cannot deny that it is actually great music, and I love listening to it from time to time.

Gotta love aretha

Maybe not an everyday listen

Great smooth jazz classics

Amazingly strong and iconic voice. Its big instrumentation pulls it all together. Dr. Feelgood sure was steamy.

👍i remember my oarents*

Gotta love Aretha. In my opinion one of, if not the best vocalist to do it. Tempted to give it a 5, but a couple too many filler-ish songs to hit that. Some crazy bangers on this album though.

A great soul album that I really enjoyed listening to. Respect and Good Times were probably the standout tracks to me, with some of the other songs maybe blending a little bit together. But no matter, put on a 60's soul playlist with Aretha, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, etc. and that will make for a good car ride or hanging out around the house with friends.

listened to again bonafide classic

THE VOICE. So good. Didn't realize how much rock n' roll was built into this album but it was a pleasant surprise. You can tell why she's called one of the original divas. Highlights: Respect (ofc), Don't Let Me Lose This Dream

Incredible talent and an incredible vocalist. This a 4.5 for me only because it's not something I would listen to if not for this challenge but I have to acknowledge what a banger of an album it is objectively.

It's massive. Changed my regular tune up

Aretha is fantastic and this is a great album, not perfect -- more like a 4.5 for me.

vocals. amazing. classic.

Knew Respect. Don’t really know any other music from this genre and era.

What an very enjoyable couple days with vintage Aretha followed by the Stooges! Thanks to this list, my appreciation for Aretha Franklin just continues to grow. Oh how I wish music retuned to the days you can actually feel the music in your heart and soul. She has one of the most beautiful and soothing voices I have heard. Put this on during a stressful day and you can't help but smile. Absolutely loved this album and all the music that followed on my Spotify. 4

4 Queen stays queen. I can’t say that this moved me quite like Lady Soul did, but hell, few albums probably could. Something about the songwriting/production here felt just a touch more “pop” in comparison, which I didn’t necessarily find to be a bad thing, but it provided for a slightly different Aretha experience, one I still thoroughly enjoyed but didn’t take to quite as strongly. That said, it resulted in the most important song of not just her career, but arguably in all of music; one I’m aware that she didn’t write or even record first (shoutout to Otis), but one she made entirely hers nonetheless. It feels unnecessary to clarify which I’m referring to here, however, it deserves a name drop: Baby, Baby, Baby. Jokes. It’s Respect. Obviously. The song will turn 60 years old next year, and honestly, has there been a better pop tune since? Rolling Stone once even named it the single best song of all-time, and while I wouldn’t go as far as to rank it as such on a personal list, it’s hard to deny that title from an objective point of view. Like, honestly, is there anyone out there that’s not a fan? Everytime I heard it here, I couldn’t help but feel that it could go on so, so much longer than its 2.5 minute runtime. I mean, come on, we’ve all heard the song, what else is there to say? It’s a masterclass in the art of soul just as much as it is a fun, danceable tune. As the opening track on the album, it’s obviously a very tough act to follow, and while I’d be lying if I said that high is reached again, everything else here is certainly worth a listen. Some tracks are a bit more engaging than others, but one thing is for sure, Aretha was certainly never phoning it in at any given moment. Favorites of mine included the title track, Drown in My Own Tears, Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, Dr. Feelgood (didn’t know Motley Crue nabbed the phrase from her), and cover of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come. I always find it incredibly powerful when Aretha performs her take on a contemporary social justice anthem, though once again, I can’t say this struck me quite the same way People Get Ready did on Lady Soul - still a great song, though. Aretha is always a great time, and this album is certainly deserving of all the praise, but all in all, Lady Soul is definitely the superior release in my eyes. Still, I can’t say Aretha ever missed here nor on any other work of hers I’ve heard. Album score is a 4, but artist score is definitely a 5 from me.

What a set of pipes. Really lovely soul vibes with great playing playing throughout. I expected this to be "Respect and other songs" but every track slapped. Might have to pick this up on vinyl

What a voice, not heard much from her before but how can I argue against this? Great stuff, real voice, real soul. I can’t give it five, it’s just not really my style. 4/5.

Aretha Franklin is gewoon beter dan iedereen. De stem de piano, iedereen verbleekt bij haar. Het is ook wel de tijd maar als album kan het wel beter. Zitten best wat covers op en productioneel komt net wat te kort.

Er is niet veel slechts wat je over dit album kan zeggen. Dit is het doorbraakalbum van Aretha Franklin en je hoort eigenlijk direct waarom zij zo’n iconische zangeres is geworden. De stem is er helemaal, alleen vind ik de songs op latere albums persoonlijk nog net wat sterker. Albums als Aretha Now, met onder andere I Say a Little Prayer, en Lady Soul, met (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, hitten mij gewoon harder. Daar valt alles voor mijn gevoel nog beter samen. Verder heb ik eigenlijk alleen maar lof voor Aretha als artiest. Haar impact op muziek is gigantisch en daardoor is het ook lastig om zo’n album alleen op persoonlijke smaak te beoordelen. Het album gaat waarschijnlijk geen vaste plek krijgen in mijn luisterrotatie, maar ik ben me er wel bewust van hoe belangrijk dit is geweest. Ik twijfelde tussen een 3,5 en een 4, maar ik rond hem toch af naar 4 sterren.

Just the Queen of Soul taking care of business.

Kule sanger

Her tenth album. Soul. The opening track is one of the all time famous songs and a real attention grabber right from the get go. The vocals throughout are incredible. The backing singers and the musicians get overpowered by this force of nature.

Es un mood, para cocinar, de fondo y flashear peli

i mean its aretha

oh i listened to this hours ago and didn’t take any notes. it was nice, i liked it. second aretha album. yayyy

Great voice, great groove, everything…

i was semi familiar with Mrs. Franklin before, but i don't think i've ever sat down and listened to an album of hers properly. now that i have it's not a surprise to me that she's called the "Queen of Soul." crazy good voice! hitting myself for not doing this sooner to be honest. 8.5/10 FAVOURITE SONGS: RESPECT, DON'T LET ME LOSE THIS DREAM, DR. FEELGOOD (LOVE IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS,) GOOD TIMES, A CHANGE IS GONNA COME LEAST FAVOURITE SONGS: I'M GONNA BE HONEST I DON'T REALLY HAVE ONE I THINK THEY ALL SOUND PRETTY NICE

Jamais écouté avant Rien que pour "Respect", et la performance vocale époustouflante d'Aretha Franklin, et album mérite sa place dans l'histoire. Son principal défaut ? Après avoir atteint de tels sommets en ouverture, le reste de la tracklist a bien du mal à s'imposer, au point de finir par sembler un peu secondaire... Top : Respect Flop : Baby, Baby, Baby

Just an unreal voice. It’s like she couldn’t miss a note if she tried. Her ability to flex her voice as a trained muscle blows me away. She can be in a speaking voice delivery and the jump an octave with serious conviction, all instantaneously. I really liked the bossa nova & soul crossover on “Dont Let Me Lose This Dream”. I’m not sure the material on the Shaft soundtrack did that genre fusion as well as Aretha did here. I went through this whole album in such awe of her voice that it was hard to critically think about much else. I don’t know if there’s been a project on this list in recent memory where the vocal talent has single-handed my carried it to greatness. The song material isn’t bad, there’s enough variation in composition, but it’s all about Aretha Franklins performance. 4/5

That was a great listen. Would I choose to listen to this whole album again? Nope. Would I mind if someone put it on? Not in the slightest. 4/5

Das orginal Album hat leider einen Sound der Aretha nicht gerecht wird

Good stuff

I could listen to this any time. Franklin’s voice along with beautiful instrumentals provided for a soothing listening experience.

Almost gave it a 5 but there 2 or 3 songs that felt a lil undercooked musically. But other than that this is a total stunner, so badass

Some generational stuff on here

really quality stuff. her voice is beautiful, makes me feel empowered. one star off tho bc i cannot ever see myself coming back to it unfortunately but i respect it immensely.

exquisito soul

Det er jo bare et album fyldt med bangerz. Og ja, vi får lov til at lytte til lidt dejlig orgel! Aretha - det bliver 4 velfortjente stjerner

*76 Ikke min go to fortolker i denne genre, men hun leverer alt det, hun skal. En fortjent 4’er herfra.

Respect - 5 Drown in my own tears - 3 I never loved a man (the way i love you) - 4 Soul serenade - 4 Don't let me lose this dream - 3 Baby, baby, baby - 3 Dr. feelgood (love is a serious business) - 3 Good times - 3 Do right woman, do right man - 4 Save me - 4 A change is gonna come - 5

decent one not my cup of tea but i love it

This is indeed the birth of cool

A beautiful album with some occasionally truthful lyrics that really struck a chord in my heart.

This and a walk in the city on a sunny day.

It was good

I am on a very good run at the moment. Another great album. What else can I say about Aretha’s voice that hasn’t already been said. It is like butter. So smooth and powerful and a joy to listen too. Favourites here were Respect and Dr. Feelgood

r.e.s.p.e.c.t

Absolute legend with a world class voice, just not my bag. However, an absolute talent that will never be replicated

Her voice is just so good like damn Faves: Respect obviously A Change is Gonna Come

Starts with a bona fuse classic but very quickly loses steam. No questioning her voice but each song sounds like the one before and I found myself bored very very quickly. 3.5⭐️

🫅

Favourite Songs: Respect Good Times Save Me

I try to listen to these albums a couple of times. And it just so happens that I have listened to this album three times today. And for some reason, the biggest hit on this album "Respect" is featured twice. So I have listened to it six times today, and it still sounds good. That is some seriously good songwriting and talent! Aretha Franklin is, in my opinion one of the very best female vocalists of all time. And while soul/gospel is not my absolute favorite style of music, I have a lot of time for it and do enjoy it a lot. This album has three key sounds: background organ, foreground piano and queen of it all Aretha's vocals. A classic that I will listen to again. (4.000)

hermoso. balanceado. una voz inigualable

Dikke slay

Just absolutely iconic. Franklin's voice is absolutely stunning as the centerpiece of this album. Each song has so much soul and heart. "Respect" being her legacy is so earned.

This record made me understand how soul is the "secular" form of gospel music. The songs are slower than "Lady Soul" which lets Aretha's emotive signing shine through.

Some great grooves here and some beautiful songs with vocals that are hard to beat. A little low on variety or innovation. Favorite songs: Respect, Save Me, and A Change is Gonna Come

First time on a Aretha album and must say really impressed, really soulful and passionate, obviously what an an amazing voice and the album held my attention throughout and it has a decent replayability about it. 4.6/5.

Ask and you shall receive. Give Aretha an assignment and she shall deliver. A classic for very good reasons. Concise album where each song is a standalone. I hadn’t realised how many of the songs I didn’t know have been used in recent house music. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man will remain in my head for the rest of the day

Aretha Franklin electrifies everything and plays with tender melodies like she's holding a baby.

Brilliant when it's brilliant, but with slack moments

She is just such a diva Went back and listened to the title track twice A change is gonna come gave me full body chills

Classic, for all the right reasons.

I hadn’t really listened to any Aretha in years, this was an excellent reminder of why she is the Queen of Soul

Solid lounging music, nice serenades with a bit of subtle oomph behind them

UN POCO DE JAZZ CON RPEDOMINANCIA DE BLUES CLASICO QUE NUNCA FALLA, SI A ESO LE SUMAS LA VOZ DE FRANKLIN TENES UN TREMNDO DISCO

Respect

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Great soulful album. Really enjoyed. 8.5/10 Not a 10/10 because while the album is timeless, the music is of its time and I cannot always find myself in the mood to listen to this.

pre listening: now you know imma lose myself in the beauty of this. 1: Well-known and wonderful song.

Such a powerful voice. I like the blend of the guitar and the jazz sounds in some songs. The ones that stood out to me the most were Save Me, Drown In My Own Tears, and the single with the same title as the ablum. Every song was a banger, and they did really make me wanna dance. Also, I may be hallucinating but I think Simply Red sounds a bit like this.

9/10

Amazing vocals and really good brass and piano playing. Easy listening and enjoyable to do so.

Solid album. Standout songs: Soul Serenade Dr Feelgood A Change is Gonna Come

I find the production more outdated than Lady Soul, but I can’t deny the vocals again.

not bad at all, i love the rnb sounds that is in the album. i love the references to otis redding too as i read the description and i can tell that its inspired. Really good pacing and feel of the instrumental. Aretha sang her heart out and i love it, 8/10

Beautiful soul music, felt like a warm hug and just what I needed today Her voice is incredibly rich and toned

Takes me to a jazz club in the 60-70s. 7/10

“Drown in my own tears” iconic to follow Respect. D r a m a Imagining the first time people heard respect when this came out jfc Rude but sometimes I feel I’m being yelled at in an unpleasant way. Other times I want to be yelled at. Not an example of that: a change is gonna come. v iconic Overall, not exactly my vibe but felt very important to listen to start to finish. Wild that she had so many unsuccessful albums prior to this release, 10 years into her career.

Although old, it still feels refreshing. 1967 I thought it is going to be old for me but still very much enjoyable.

Didn’t love this as much as the A-side of Lady Soul but A Change is Gonna Come is perfection basically

4

The voice is of course the voice but the songs have a great groove. Love it

Queen stuff genuinely

Good album generally.

Beauty

Yeah it rocked. Voice is pretty unreal.

another classic that stands the test of time. Love this

What a Voice, What a feeling

She’s a legend for a reason

Some good songs, but overall not my type.

shits so short but so powerful, what a voice, great fucking orchestration also, this musics peak, 4 a bit lower than Beggars and Stevie

Classic. Great background tunage.

Queen of soul i toppform! Jädra pipa hon hade... Bästa Respect (såklart), A Change is Gonna Come samt Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Great vocal performance

é top visse mas não meu estilo tanto chefe

Sock it to me sock-it-to-me sockittome sockittome. The album opens with what has gone on to become one of the most recognisable songs of all time. And it’s not even Aretha’s song, it’s a cover of an Otis Redding song. But she did something really clever with it: she switched the protagonist of the song, and in turn the entire meaning of the song. Originally about a man arriving home from work, looking for respect from his partner. In Aretha’s version, with the gender reversal of a woman demanding respect from her man, it became a feminist anthem. She didn’t hold back either. She went as far as to spell it out to us, before demanding we sock it to her. “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” is made up of blues-soaked gospel soul melodies, with Aretha’s incredible voice leading things. Every single song is instantly enjoyable. It takes no effort to appreciate these songs from the very first moment you hear them. But it’s the last three songs of the album that really stand out. “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” is a slow-burning call-and-response piece that’s absolutely gorgeous in every way. “Save Me” kicks the tempo back up, with a guitar track that feels like it came straight from the band “Them”. A proper 60s groove, but with Aretha’s voice soaring all over it. The album ends with “A Change Is Gonna Come”, which strips everything right back. It’s pretty much just a piano and an organ for the most part, letting the vocals carry the album right to its end. I didn’t know much of Aretha’s stuff outside of the more famous songs, so it was a surprise to me that it took ten albums for her to break through. It sounds like Columbia weren’t letting her do things her way. Which is hard to believe, as the image I always have of Aretha is of someone sitting at their piano, in a pair of slippers, not taking any nonsense from anyone. Well, as this album shows, Aretha definitely deserves our respect.

Consider it 4.5/5

Rip queen

Probably one I’d give 3.5* to if I could, but I’ll lean generously today. Franklin is obviously one of the great voices, and songs like Respect set the standard for R&B going forward. A lot of the middle album isn’t quite as impactful, and a lot of it being covers detracts slightly too (though it was the style at the time).

Gets off to an incredible start with ‘Respect’, which has to be a 5-star track and strong contender for the title of ‘best cover ever recorded’. Nothing else on the album quite matches up to that song, but Aretha Franklin was such a spectacular singer that she was able to make almost any material sound utterly compelling. The title track and ‘Dr Feelgood’ are among the best of the rest. While it’s not all great (the Sam Cooke covers certainly don’t improve on the originals), it is all at the very least good. On that basis it gets 4 stars.

Good songs. Great versions. It’s Aretha at her best.

Amazing vocals (obv), favourites are 'Respect' and 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man'.

Heard it on loop, didn’t even notice, it’s fine I liked it

The Queen

Gorgeous. And moreso than I thought it would be. Not at all background music.

Beautiful vocals and a nice, soothing vibe. It was a great way to start the day.

Miss Aretha Franklin is an all time legend. One of the greatest singers of all time in my personal opinion. This album features Respect, her most well known song. However, the rest of the album felt kind of lacking. I love Aretha, I really do; but I feel that this album as a whole falls short of a 5.

Solid album from Memphis soul queen. 3.79

Such a heartfelt album, loved listening to it from start to finish

love her

Beautiful gowns

Great album, awesome voice! Song I like: Respect, drown in my own tears, I never loved a man,

Perfect listening for a self care everything shower

It is undeniably great, just not my jam

This is Aretha's break out album.......and it's her 10th album. She did 9 jazz albums prior to this but couldn't break out. This is also the Respect album, which certainly helped. Outside of Respect though, this is another jazz, R&B album. It is incredibly soulful and of course, her voice is incredible. It's hard for me to think of if there's anyone else that was doing it like Aretha back then, I just don't know enough about Jazz to put them together on a timeline. One thing that always bothers me is that when this album first came out, it wasn't well received by some music critics.......and then 40 years later, they tried to go back and change their initial review and give her credit.........AFTER she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you're wrong, just admit it, and your tastes shouldn't change because now someone is successful. That said, this album isn't for me, BUT I can recognize that she's got a great voice and if this style of Jazz and R&B is for you, you're probably loving it. I listened to it 3 times though and it's not something i'd casually listen to, but I have to recognize it for what it is.

Good

Its high energy but it does have a careful and delicate side as well.  For example, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" is a careful and emotional track.  There are others like "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" but that song is an example where it has it all and happy to let the vocals rip at odd times for effect. I think ultimately what elevates this though as an album is letting the blues set the tone behind the scenes.  It's not too funky or overly pop and frames the near amazing vocals in a neat package.  I just zipped through this album so many times and it didn't ware me down.   It only has a mild dose of gospel preach about it too which helps its balance and keeps me wanting more.  I may revisit as 4 seems harsh but it's where I feel I right now.

Light to decent 6 on this one. Great album, lovely listen overall. Amazing in a rainy day and mood, expresses the feeling of falling in and out of love. Aretha and the soul music on this album is perfect, didnt clicked for me as the genre yet. not too many individual hits. We all know the song "Respect", a great hit, also "I never loved the man the way I love you" .I absolutely appreciate the lyricism at "A change is gonna come"- I was born by the river...

Favorites: dont let me lose this dream, baby, baby, baby and save me 8.5

very enjoyable! incredibly strong start & i enjoyed the departures from form on songs like good times which was more rock n roll and dont let me lose this dream which had the bossa nova vibe instrumental. i do think the music does get a bit nondescript at times & i'd like a bit more variety / standouts but the album being cohesive makes it a nice easy listen-through. begging her to leave that man though (apparently she did shortly after recording the album thank god)

Yep, peak Aretha.

One of the greatest voices of all time and opens on one of the biggest bangers of all time. Almost too good of an opening and tailed off for me a little after this but obviously, one of the greats.

I've never been a huge Aretha fan, she's always been a little too much on the gospel side for my taste. However, this album blew me away. It was the first full album of hers that I ever listened to, and it did not disappoint. It blends soul, R&B, and yes even gospel, in a way that just works and sounds amazing. I love the old school sounds of instrument driven soul music, and this is a great example.

I like it! I listened to it while I was working on a project and it help me a LOT to concentrate

This is another album where it’s hard to seperate the listening experience from the fact that she’s obviously one of the greatest singers of all time. There were points where i think the album wasn’t as much as what i expected but then how do you follow respect?

Shocked to learn that the origin of respect is her TENTH album?! And so much emotional depth and maturity in her sound by 25?! I loved Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Aretha Franklin is an institution, and it was wonderful to listen to a full album the first track RESPECT. Dynamite voice over soulful music.

Aretha is like a goddess of music, I don't know what else to say. I like some of the songs more individually than as an entire album experience hence the 4

I know this has the best Aretha song on it, but it isn't the best Aretha album. For me that'd still be Young Gifted & Black. It's a solid 4th place though.

Classic songs we all know almost word for word

Finished listening, love the soul and otis redding vibe but just not really my vibe

solid

Queen shit

When an album opens with "Respect" and I would assume the best known version of that, it's going to be hard to ignore, and why would you want to? Aretha Frnaklin does have a fabulous voice and the whole album makes for a fine listen. It may not be the sort of thing I would naturally listen to but it is full of charisma. Title track is also a great tune.

Fabulous album. Queen of soul for a reason and no bad songs.

the first Aretha Franklin album I listened to for this was Lady Soul, an LP containing several of her most iconic songs. I Never Loved a Man... might not have as many standouts in that regard, but it's notable for two pretty big reasons. first of all, it was Franklin's commercial breakthrough, her arrival on Atlantic after many, many unsuccessful albums with Columbia, who tried to market her more as a jazz performer with soul and R&B in the background. they must've been kicking themselves when they saw her reach #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with a soul-centric approach! secondly, this album begins with her rendition of Otis Redding's "Respect". I mentioned this somewhat when I reviewed Otis Blue, but you and I both know that this is Aretha's song now, in much the same way that "Hurt" belongs to Johnny Cash or "All Along the Watchtower" belongs to Hendrix. the additions in Franklin's cover, especially the backing vocals and that "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" breakdown, have become so iconic that Redding's version now feels a little incomplete in comparison! (Franklin also covers Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", a version that's not quite as transformative, but which is still very strong.) given that this is soul music, Franklin's voice is the star of the show across the entire runtime. her performance on "Drown in My Own Tears" genuinely brought some tears to my eyes! but I also have to give props to the session players and backing singers across this tracklist, as well as Franklin herself for her touch as a pianist, which defines so much of this album's sound. she's also credited as a songwriter on four songs here, my favorite being the B-side opener "Dr. Feelgood" (thankfully, no relation to any hair metal shenanigans). you can tell there was a real effort here to showcase many different aspects of her musicianship, and they all come through clear as day. strong 8/10.

a perfect album? yep, at least as close as one can possibly get to one. "respect" gets all the, uh, respect, and rightfully so. the standout track here is the title track. "do right", "save me", "a change is gonna come" provides one of the best 1-2-3 punches in pop music

Ikke helt min ting men er jo superbra

Iconic. What a voice. 4 stars. Fave track - Respect

R-E-S-P-E-C-T <3

Finally, some good fucking food. There are tracks I've never listened to off of this album, so I'll try focusing more on those. For the ones that I know, it'll be more sparse since I already think very highly of them. 1. Respect - I don't really feel the need to go on about this one, it's pretty much perfect. She blew Otis out of the water. One new thing I'm noticing is that the organ sounds like a Vox Continental (The Doors sound) instead of a B3 which is totally what I'd expect and use if I played it. It works though, not intrusive and blends right into the mix. Bold ass key change with the sax solo always gets me. Okay that's enough 2. Drown in My Own Tears - okay, new one. I love a good old school church tune with a triple meter. Just classic trio too, very old school. No organ or guitar. Ohp nevermind there go the horns. I know Ray's version of this, I wonder how popular it was to cover. Big ups to the bgvs on all these btw, they keep right up with Aretha and add to the texture beautifully. And that classic "okay how are we ending this" church ending. 3. I Never Loved a Man - I've heard this one but never learned it. Wurly was more common than Rhodes in the 60s and it works really well for more bitey churchy stuff. I think I would have preferred the B3 sound on this one, but the Vox is okay too. Holy shit I'm learning from the wiki that this is her 10th album. 4. Soul Serenade - that opening with Aretha and the Wurly made me feel immediately. I wish the whole song was like that, but it's RHYTHM and blues so that's fine. Y'know, the last album had a lot of simple 1-4 riffing but it was so textureless. Obv in r&b and blues and funk and jazz and gospel, it's a lot cooler and more fun to listen to. I know it's normal and goes without saying but boy the church on this album is nuts. I wonder a lot about how much church and r&b influenced each other in the 60s. I think some churchy cats won't accept that it went both ways. 5. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream - when did Getz/Gilberto come out? Wiki says 64. So Bossa craze was here by 67. Obv Bossa existed before Getz/Gilberto, but it wasn't US popular like after that album came out. The take on it here is very nice, triadic gospel harmonies moving in tandem. And the song is really well written, never gets stale on a movement repeated. I also like the interpolation of straight ahead r&b in the minor sections with the bass playing the b7 line. Aside from Respect, this may be my favorite on the album so far. Very sweet and Aretha's voice of course is a huge contributor. Band is also killing. Boy these songs are short! I barely have time to think while they're going. Maybe I should listen once and then write the second time around. 6. Baby, Baby, Baby - heeeey there's that B3 sound. It had to be here for this trip meter church joint. Okay if there's a note I'm gonna take from this album it's to properly arrange my bgvs to be tight and harmonized on the pent scale like church dictates. They're so so simple and rudimentary on this album and this track but godDAMN they are perfect. It sounds like they start with a melody line and then assume that line as the tenor and build the also or the alto and sop line around it. I do that sometimes but I often get gummed up on which line is actually singing the "melody" and which lines are harmonizing around it. It's pretty solid here, the tenor has the melody and everyone else is singing on top. Helps that their ranges are high to begin with. Makes that tenor line clean and not muddy. Great memorable ending lick. 7. Dr. Feelgood - It's so funny that so many of these are the triple meter church/blues joint but I'm not tired of the same soundscape like I was for Joshua Tree. I think it helps that the songs are no more than 3 minutes mostly, the band is more killing, and Aretha is a better singer than Bono. I don't know about lyricist, but her range is more used and the melodies are stronger so the simple lyrics stick with me more. I mean this track is v similar to track 2, but I don't mind that. They're a world away on the album (good track placement, as opposed to what I thought was poor track placement on Joshua Tree) and they both sound great. Plus, neither is a 5 min long track. 5mins isn't long for a track, but it is when you're not enjoying it. 8. Good Times - woah, phrases of 6! I'm sure it's not arbitrary but actually it sort of feels like it. The groove on this one is tight but I actually feel that weirdness with the measure phrasing messes it up a bit. 9. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man - again bgvs killing. Love the progression of the chorus, very powerful. Here's a take: I don't think we talk enough about the bridge between "classic" soul and "classic" country. It's not this way anymore because of, but both forms of music are very heavily steeped in gospel and blues, America's original music forms naturally invented and pioneered by black people. Soul and country (as we knew it) came directly out of the aforementioned and only really differ in the instrumentation/personnel but their connection was a lot stronger than it is today, again because of. Also, looks like Muscle Shoals did this one and Respect. 10. Save Me - digging the bassline for this one a lot. Syncopated just right. I'm comfortable with that 1/b7 6 move, it shows up a lot but I can't remember where right now. 11. A Change Is Gonna Come - very sweet intro, mentioning Sam Cooke directly. Damn Aretha can sing. Her specific phrasing on "but I'm afraid to die" is going to stick with me for the rest of the day. The month? My life. I had no inkling that this track would be anything less than a blockbuster to cap it off and I was right. They changed the prog a little bit but it works for the arrangement. I swear there are vibes in this track but I don't see them listed in the personnel. Something aside from the piano and the organ are giving very very warm chord sounds in the back. It could be the B3 on a less bitey set of bars. I guess I could have done without the shout chorus at the end, but also I guess I'm dumb for thinking it wouldn't be there? It's an Aretha album from the 60s. It has more right to be there than I do. All said, I knew I'd be in for a good time here. I think I was expecting more funk-soul than church-soul given the prominence of the first track, but I'm not upset that it wasn't the case. For such a small band, the arrangments were lush and full. Again, Aretha's singing has a lot to do with filling that out. And her backups, as well. The only track I had really any sort of qualm with was Good Times because of the weird phrasing, but it's not a deal breaker. Weird phrasing is common in old school church too, so it fits. I'm reading that the piano was tuned a little sharp on this record? Didn't notice it once. Makes complete sense and fits the 60s church feel just right, even if unintentional. Sounds just like the keys for James Cleveland or Mahalia. I'm glad I got this one for my second day. I know that this list, much like a lot of these "Top (big number) Albums to Hear (verb statement)" centers a lot of white Anglosphere artists as the world's biggest and best while ignoring their influences completely. And since we're talking BAM here, those influences are almost always black or brown. Often outside of the Anglo completely. I bet Paul Simon's Graceland is on this list, but I bet none of Ladysmith or Fela Kuti's offerings are here. I know there'll be plenty of representation overall, but it just kinda stinks that U2 has 4 and Aretha *might* have 2. I'd listen to only this for the rest of my life if it meant I don't have to do Joshua Tree again.

Aretha Franklin is the best voice in music history. Talented and powerful as no one else. Every other element is only here to support her vocals give her the place to shine and, to me, it works wonders.

Yay birthday album! Aretha Franklin somehow looked 33 years into the future and said let's make bangers for Mara. Respect is the song of all times,definition of music. It sets the tone for this album. I'm not gonna go into every song because I have a headache, so standouts only. The titular "I never loved a man the way I love you" should be played at my wedding (only if I happen to marry Daniel Ricciardo, as he is the only MAN I could feel all that for.) Oh, "Don't let me lose this dream" you were written for me and me only.

Someone should make her the Queen of Soul

Heerlijk om in de avond van te genieten, of in de ochtend bij het ontbijt. Goed van kunnen genieten. Doet mij denken aan de US tijden geleden. PS: and then along came zeus!!!

At first listen, it's a good, but maybe not quite great album of material. But occasionally, a little soulful flare of horns or organ will pique my interest. I'm more inclined to like the title track than say the obvious choice of "Respect." I'm finding it difficult to rank this one, but im thinking 3.5/5.

Lovely stuff

Skønne Aretha <33 opdagede flere sange her som er blevet samplet i alt muligt andet, hun har virkelig haft kæmpe indflydelse og er sgu bare en legende. Meget powerful

Powerful. 8/10

Just want to wrap myself in her music and forget the world. Respect is timeless.

It would be a disservice to give the queen anything less than a 4. Great listen.

Yay birthday album! Aretha Franklin somehow looked 33 years into the future and said let's make banners for Mara. Respect is the song of all times,definition of music. It sets the tone for this album. I'm not gonna go into every song because I have a headache, so standouts only. The titular "I never loved a man the way I love you" should be played at my wedding (only if I happen to marry Daniel Ricciardo, as he is the only MAN I could feel all that for.) Oh, "Don't let me lose this dream" you were written for me and me only.

4/5 just for Respect.

(written while high) i vloe artha frakin Mannnnn..... she really know how to write a melody man..and shes passionate too..like an 8/10

1: 8/10 2. 8/10 3.8/10 4.7.5/10 Однотипно поки що, був би я дідом за 60 слухав би, але всеодно хороша музика 5.8/10 6.7/10 7.7/10 Непогано, але Однотипно, вже не хочеться слухати

I love this album. It was great to revisit it.

очень неплохой джазовый альбик

Love this jazz!

Aretha is the only one that can speak to my soul sometimes. Best paired with a romantic morning

The best soul album I’ve listened to which is not a super high bar but I still did enjoy it very much

7/10 Cool sound. I not a quite fan of soul music but it sound interesting. Feelings like I'm in jazz club in 80s in USA, after party I drive my Lincoln or caddilac to home.

I’ll listen to it. Just not today

Respect. What else do I have to say? Her voice is amazing. ‘Save Me’ rocks. Ending on ‘A Change is Gonna Come’. Hard to beat that.

Stunning

Loved

Brimming with passion and soul. I found myself hanging on her every word, eagerly paying attention and feeling the energy in her music. Personally, I found the backing vocals to be fun and entertaining, I saw a few reviews that said otherwise. I 100% would listen to this again!

What You Want, Baby I Got It 1001 Albums Generator 217 (1/30/2025) She's the queen of soul for a reason. Starting with her signature song, a cover of Otis Redding's Respect, I Never Loved A Man etc., actually manages to follow it up. Don't get me wrong, Respect is like probably one of the 100 best songs ever, so it is absolutely the best song here, but there is also so much to love here. Baby, Baby, Baby is an original, and it shows that Aretha was just as talented a songwriter as she was a singer. I love that, although this isn't a gospel album, you can absolutely hear the gospel influence throughout it. I'm glad I can say I've heard an Aretha Franklin album now, and it's definitely worth the hype. 4/5. Favs: Respect I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Loved You) Baby, Baby, Baby Least Fav: Soul Serenade

An absolute classic. The power and command she has over her voice is astounding!

Feels like I’m in my own private speakeasy / jazz club. Love it!

Raw and soulful.

Mostly mellow, some powerful vocals, including the iconic RESPECT.

Loved this!

Some really good stuff on here, Aretha’s voice does some stuff I didn’t expect in this one. Also realized I had never listened to one of her albums all the way through before

Oh yes. Very good. Just what you’d expect with a couple of classics thrown in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love! 8/10

Never thought that I would be listening to this genre. But, as it turns out, i like it. A big respect for her. The song Respect is LIBERATING! love moving to it

Mu weno mu weno mu weno, disfrutable así tranquilamente como bailable pero de fondo.

Very flirty for an album from the 60’s. Lots of modern samples.

Awesome to hear classics she has undeniable talent. Not for my playlist though zero saved

Classy lady

The Queen of Soul announces herself

As expected, fantastic vocals. Songs felt a little samey across the album, but loved it either way. Respect being the highlight, though I also liked Save Me a bit (hadn't heard it before and it was a bit different)

Listening to this album just feels right. The music is good but Aretha’s voice is obviously the star. She’s smooth and warm on some songs and sharp and commanding on others. Her range is incredible and she comes across as emotional but controlled. I would listen to her sing just about anything.

There is a reason Aretha was dubbed “The Queen of Soul”. When it comes to the best singers of all time, Aretha is without a doubt in the conversation. Her power, control, range, and power are just ridiculous (…did I mention her power??). This album can easily be listened to purposefully or as the background sound to whatever low-key activity you are doing. This album shares a couple of her greats and the rest of the songs are enjoyable. Aretha is a timeless artist due to her talents and I would anticipate listening to her music for decades to come.

Every song is distinctly different, yet they each hold emotional impact. I adore her voice.

A compilation of songs more than a cohesive album. Still some absolute bangers. If you love this type of music, easy 5. A great voice with decent backings.

Listening to Aretha sing is a beautiful, joyful, and glorious experience. I can't believe she made 10 albums before this one that weren't successful. Someone clearly did not know how to guide her into using her voice at Columbia. Not all the tracks were my style so this one gets a 4 but hot damn, Aretha. Girl, you can sing!

Powerful voice and messages

Very good listen!

Королева

Good one

60s soul from an absolute legend. Her breakthrough and considered one of the greatest albums. Respect.

What? I'm supposed to be upset that Respect is on this album twice? Get real.

Great album. Went out and bought some Aretha Franklin on vinyl after

It was nice. I guess.

There’s a clear reason why she’s called the queen of soul. Just her voice alone carries the absolute passion that these songs tackle topically. Her wants and needs are clearly delivered vocally with freedom but still with accuracy. The production only adds to that with riffing instruments during these moments only emphasizing the pure heart and soul in every song. Now sometimes this freedom and structureless of the songs come at a downside, as they become slightly forgettable, but luckily the band keeps up the groove. Favorite song: Drown In My Own Tears

Thoroughly enjoyed this one, my only real exposure to Aretha Franklin before was "Respect" and "The Blues Brothers". "Respect", "Drown in My Own Tears", "Good Times" & "Do Right Woman" were all fantastic tracks. Really like the singing and the band compliment everything so well. My only critique really is that theres not a whole lot of diversity, but that could be just me not not being used to this genre.