I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Hits

What an amazing voice and a fantastic album! Lots of well known songs!

Good Times

++*: Respect, Don't Let Me Lose This Dream, Good Times ++: Drown in My Own Tears, I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You), Soul Serenade, Baby, Baby, Baby, Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business), Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, Save Me, A Change Is Gonna Come 10/10

Jesus, I mean it’s absolutely wall to wall with indelible classics. But it’s always her powerful, super musical piano playing that jumps out at me.

literally a girl boss before that was even a thing. they called her the “queen of soul”, and for good reason. a deep, rich voice with feminist ideals (ahead of her time, in that regard).

She’s so good.

Kinda groovy, powerful vocals. But the music does not speak to me. Perhaps it's the age or genre but the musicality is not that interesting for me.

Incredible voice.

The queen 👑

Einfach angenehme Hintergrundmusik. Wahnsinniges Gesangstalent. Würde ich jetzt nicht jeden Tag hören aber trotzdem top. 'Baby, baby, baby' und 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man' fand ich am besten.

Expired shite

It’s a classic. It’s not my thing but it’s great as it is

Incredible voice. Not for me

Good Vocal, Old souls, enjoyable, 7/10

Aretha can wail. Very enjoyable and uplfting music.

Franklin really belts it out on this one. Really good songs, however I found the covers she does on here better than the original songs by Franklin.

Classic soul right here. Aretha's voice is smooth as butter on these songs. Sultry where she needs to be and powerful when you want her to be. The slower tracks are my least favorite as usual but even those were good. This album will make its way into my cooking playlist.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Great song to kick off the album. An all time great soul song. THis came out the same year Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell were singing Ain't No Mountain High Enough....Motown is overrated. There's a reason they call Aretha the Queen of Soul. Drown in My Own Tears is another great song. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) is the best Aretha song and arguably the greatest soul song of all time. I love this song. Everything is perfect about this song, the organ, the horns, her voice. The Muscle Shoals sound at its peak. Motown is R&B, this is Soul. This album is amazing. There isn't a single miss on this whole album. Save Me has the same bass line as Gloria and I love it. A Change Is Gonna Come is better when Sam Cooke does it, but the cover is ok. This album is super highly regarded and it's still not high enough.

vier bis fünf

Perfect embodiment of the Muscle Shoals RnB sound, harnessed in support of an incredible vocal performance - not just an amazing voice, but impassioned singing capturing a big emotional range. Deep gospel roots, uptempo funk on the bass, mellow jazzy piano to cool down the heat from the horns - it sounds amazing: rich, warm, lush. The whole album is a joyful comfort.

Classic. Aretha is a star in every sense. Commanding vocals and timeless arrangements

I don't even know. I'm on my first listen through and I've just had it on in the background while working and thinking. I haven't heard a note that I didn't like, much less a song. Not sure if there are enough stars available to rate this one accurately. Yeah, 5/5. This album is excellent!

Felt I’d heard the whole album after the third song. Great vocals, but repetitive.

Fantastic Aretha! Nearly perfect, could be a 5, but would need to listen to it more.

An all time classic. Her cover of the Sam Cooke song was the best way to end this album.

One of the greatest voices of all time putting on a clinic for 41 minutes. Superb listen, the ability to evoke emotion out of your audience with the mere sound of your voice is a special talent. I R E S P E C T the quality of this album, just phenomenal!

So much heart and soul in this can’t wait to go back.

Wow I thought this would likely be good, then it started off so good I thought maybe it’s a 4 but it is even better than that. This is a solid 5 for me and the best I have heard from Aretha. Fantastic.

Gorgeous voice; delightful music; feminist icon.

Beautiful meditations on relationships and self 4.5/5

classic.

RESPECT is a ridiculous song. Aretha was a phenomenon.

Man, Aretha's voice is incredible. She's a phenomenal singer, and she's capable of moving souls with her music. Respect is not only one of the most popular songs ever, but it also really is musically incredible too. It is pretty clearly the best song on the album, but the other songs are also great. Favorite Song(s): Respect, Dr. Feelgood

Top notch! The queen of soul. Love me some old Motown.

Wonderful

i love u aretha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T!

RESPECT!

She could sing the alphabet and it'd be five stars

Fun songs. Great voice.

Aretha Franklin's voice is phenomenal. She puts so much emotion into every note that it's impossible not to root for her.

A thoroughly impressive and impassioned performance from Aretha Franklin across this record. The songwriting is usually excellent, and the vocals are uniquely powerful. The album does struggle with a lack of variety at points and can end up feeling a bit one note, even if that note is enjoyable. The album could do with some changes of pace or the removal of 1 or two songs to really hold the listeners attention. Stand out tracks are the title track, Respect, Good Times, Dr Feelgood and Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream. Overall 3.5/5

6.5/10

Simplesmente incrível. Claramente irie escutar esse álbum várias e várias vezes durante o resto da minha vida .

freakin

The production on this is fantastic given how old it is. What a voice ! Shivers ! Uplifting, powerful, angry, girl power soul at its greatest. This is a no skip album. Surrounded by some of the best musicians to have ever graced the earth, one of the the greatest female vocalists ever is in good company. Best songs: Respect obviously, DrFeelgood and Good Times. Worst song : good luck finding one

Like other albums from this era, with this kind of legend, I appreciate the artistry, but it felt very repetitive. I don't see myself ever putting this album specifically on, but it was pleasurable to listen to.

I wish I could connect more emotionally to this album, specially with the slowest songs, because Aretha's voice is truly one of the greatest in music's history, showcasing a very powerful and passinate performance through the whole album.

Dang, this is great. This album is almost 60 years old but still sounds so fresh and vibrant.

Beautiful songs, incredible voice. And it’s all over much too quickly. Otherwise a perfect album.

One of my all time favorite albums from one of my all time favorite artists. An eaaaaaasy 5. I don’t own this vinyl, and it pains me. I look for it every time I go record shopping.

A lot of great material with amazing vocal performances by Aretha. Some meh songs too.

This album has the DNA of so much modern day music that it is insane. Outrageously influential and beautiful album.

Wonderful.

Aretha Franklin my queen

This was an amazing experience. Her voice is fantastic, and the instrumentals don’t disappoint. Love the bluesy style of some of the songs. Most songs I would definitely listen again. Although, I feel like her voice is a little bit overpowering on some of the songs.

3 - very clearly not my type of music but very well done

Monster voice. Good times. Would throw on at a party to get the people boogiein'

Obviously respect is a stone cold classic and i also like the title track but this just feels so old fashioned to me. and the backing vocals on most tracks are distracting, not adding much. doesn’t do much for me as an album 2/5

Great voice but songs a bit too tedious.im mainly u to rock and metal but I'm open minded and realise her voice is amazing.just not for.me unfortunately

espetacular, muscle scholes sound, swampers , repertório foda! AF nos seus melhores momentos!

• 4/5 • tour de force

The queen, there may never be a better soul album

It's that thing with older music where the lyrics and subject matter are kind of basic but the singing is so good that you have to love it anyway.

Between 3 and 4. I remember the hits and like the soulful vocals.

Sheer soulful perfection. Will never lose this dream.

Quite great

Finally some 60s music I can get on board with.

Controversial but I’ve never been a huge fan of Respect. But the rest of this album is enough to counteract my unjustified dislike. One of the greatest voices ever.

I find it hard to have anything to say about this sort of soul music; it’s just self explanatory sublime.

A beautiful voice performs one of the most recognizable songs on the planet. As for the rest of the album, it is more of the same but not quite at that level. Very soulful.

Powerful voice, and fantastic song renditions. She commands your attention and then pleases with the backing orchestral embellishments. The production quality is of course a little harsh on certain speakers, however this album shines all the same.

Really solid album. Save me is a hidden gem. Could have become a northern soul classic in another life

Aretha Franklin is sooo talented. I think I liked this album more than the last album of hers. It's definitely fun. "Respect" is a classic. Actually a 3.75 Liked Songs: "Respect" , "Drown in my Own Tears" , "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You)" , "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" , "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" , "Good Times" , "Save Me"

liked songs: Drown in My Own Tears, Baby, Baby, Baby, A Change Is Gonna Come (fantastic cover/reinterpretation) Very good. I love Aretha Franklin's voice, even if I don't come back to her music often enough. 3.75

I appreciate it but I think Im a bit to young for you

Really well executed soul, even if the quality is a bit dated

Hell yeah

A solid album from a music legend.

It was fine

absolutely beautiful. of course i'd heard "Respect" and "Do Right Woman, Do right man" before but i was surprised by how short they were and how well they sounded in the album as a whole. the global orchestration behind Franklin's voice really makes it sound even better. I discovered "Soul Serenade" and it's now a personal soul favorite. and finally that cover of Sam Cooke's "A change is gonna come" WOW 🤯 it's now my favorite version of the song. incredible record.

Really incredible album. So many things to like about it and so few things to complain about. Her 10th album, but her first commercial success: wild

She's basically the touchstone for female vocals and soul.

I feel like she would have been better served by a better engineered and mixed album. Her 10th album and first with this producer... they should have served her better. Still, good voice, good instincts.

Good stuff.

Phenomenal album

Respect // Baby, Baby, Baby //

Listenable.

She was amazing... Long live the queen

really, what is there to say that hasn't already been said a million times and more eloquently?

Aretha is a powerhouse on album opener "Respect". She's a fantastic vocal talent on the rest of the album too, but the songs themselves are lower energy and much less memorable.

Phenomenal voice. Nostalgic listen as my mum loved aretha

Beautiful vocals , beautiful instrumentation, Aretha is such a gem to the jazz scene

Such an incredible voice, clear, strong but beautiful. Backed by brilliant instrumentation which just composed so well. Great listen.

Good soul

Great vibes. Listened in stereo. Not a bad song on the album but will give it another go in mono to embrace how it was released originally.

R E S P E C T.

It doesn't knock my socks off the same way Lady Soul does, but it's still good.

Aretha has some pipes that is for sure. I enjoyed the variety of tempos, piano, percussion, and horns on this album. A solid listen.

Very well structured album and her voice is amazing

She had one of the greatest voices of all time, no doubt about it. Album was really great, lyrics were solid, very soulful, "Respect" is one of her best works (didn't know it was a cover until today). In my personal enjoyment this is probably a 4 but I think this album is worthy of a 5.

it's a good, solid album. good job of showcasing her voice. do wish it had a little bit more variety in tracks. 3.5 stars

I know Aretha Franklin mostly from a few hits and her gorgeous voice. Regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of all time she possesses both power and soul creating some beautiful moments. That being said I've never heard a full album from her so I'm excited to have a listen and see what she can deliver outside of her hits. Respect. One of the hits, and an absolutely iconic piece of music. A cover which truly elevates the song and changes its context to deliver a feminist message. Fantastically performed and popular for a reason. Amazing. 5/5 Drown in my own tears Calming, jazzy, moody. Sentimental performance. Feels true and honest. She paces her performance well across the entire track, allowing her vocals to grow organically towards the end of the song. Instrumentally does get a bit stale after a bit. Very of it's era. Great. 4/5 I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You) Vocal performance as impressive as previous tracks though the instrumental kinda lets the song down. Great chorus. The horns don't sound too great. The mix sorta drowns the vocals out by the end. Decent. 3.5/5 Soul Seranade. Starts really promising. Great delivery on the chorus. The verses are kinda uninteresting, though I guess they're not really the selling point. Doesn't overstay it's welcome, rather peters out by the end. Decent. 3.5/5 Don't Let Me Lose This Dream Feels classy. I enjoy the pacing. The bass is a highlight in the instrumental. The piano is a bit too quiet. Backing vocals do a decent job of adding to the song without taking away from the main performance. Great. 4/5 Baby, Baby, Baby A basic premise and a safe choice. The verses are well written. Backing vocals don't add much. Carried by an amazing vocal performance yet again. Decent. 3.5/5 Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business) Could come across as cheesy, though feels sincere enough to avoid it. The horns sound kinda rough. Builds on itself. Ends well. Good track. 3.5/5 Good Times A nice positive song about having a good time. Simple and sweet. Catchy, moves along nicely. Appreciate its briefness. Swingin' 4/5 Do Right Woman, Do Right Man Kind of a slow start. Novel through modern ears, progressive for its time. Well structured chorus, though the background vocals are kinda rough. Great. 4/5 Save Me Repetitive instrumental, though has a sort of funky energy to it. Especially the bass. Comic book references are fun. Fine. 3/5 A Change is Gonna Come. Powerful and anthemic first minute. The piano is really pleasant. Has a different kind of class to it, hard to describe what causes it. Really highlights her fantastic voice. Made it her own. Beautiful. 4.5/5 Pleasant listening experience. Certainly a great album. Thoroughly carried by the majestic vocals which remain amazing every step of the way. And while I understand the point of the album is to highlight Aretha Franklin's voice, I just wish there would be something else once in a while to catch your ear on. The instrumental really isn't too interesting for the most part. And while the love songs are beautifully peformed and well written, some change in subject matter would be welcome for more than a brief cameo. Still for what it is and what it's trying to be, it does a great job, and really offers a worthwhile view into the world of 60s soul music. Overall an enjoyable, would revisit.

:-)

Yeah, it's covers, but that was the time! The soul and voice really carry.

Fantastic album with incredible songs personally one of my least favorite is the actual title song of the album but the rest are great. I would say it gets a little too similar in songs after respect to Dr feelgood but then it kicks into another gear from there.

Aretha really hits it on this but not overtly impactful

The expressive voice makes all the difference. It is always a pleasure to listen to Aretha. You should be in the right mood to enjoy the songs.

7/10

Strong 8

me ha gustado bastante, y realmente se me ha hecho bastante corto. No es lo q suelo escuchar y por eso le doy 4 estrellas, siento q le falta algo, si hubiesen 4.5 se las daría

Surprisingly fantastic. This isn’t usually my type of music, but it’s a goddamned good time.

5/5. She is 25 on this album and yet sings as though she has lived 7 different lives as a black woman, married, divorced, humiliated, and disrespected but no more. She stands her ground and lets everyone know who she is and how she exists for herself and for whoever she wishes to give time to. And I'm sure she received the same flack young female artists receive today, probably even more so. Just by listening to the album, you can already tell she is well aware of this and is already just providing the energy needed to keep her sanity. Just a crazy good album, even if she is the only highlight from each song really. Best Song: Respect, A Change Is Gonna Come, Soul Serenade

A very solid Soul album. Not really much to say about this one. Mid 4.

Totally listenable, but not really my style.

Wow. What a performer! There’s a reason she’s called the Queen of Soul. These performances are packed with emotion. Every syllable has so much feeling. Great band behind her too. The songs are excellent and include some classics (“Respect” opens the album and her version of “A Change Is Gonna Come” is a stunning closing track) along with a few songs I wasn’t familiar with that are also fantastic.

"Respect" is one of the greatest songs of all time, and fits so many little emotional pockets of enjoyment for all kinds of listeners. It's a pump up track that will get you moving on the dance floor, it's a defiant set of lyrics that probably showed hundreds of thousands of young women that they shouldn't just request respect and fairness- they should demand it, and at it's surface is a vocal performance for the ages. This track alone would make any album worth being on this list. The rest of the record of course isn't as spectacularly historical or other-worldly good like "Respect" is, but it's still a very solid album. There's lots of soul enriching tunes, but ultimately makes me yearn for more of what "Respect" gave me. That uptempo wild ride of a track as an opener is really great, but the lack of that energy is obvious when you get to the song, "Good Times, and realize that it's been 7 songs since you've had any kind up uptempo high energy pace that you were given right from the start. It's a small blemish on a really fantastic release. Strong 4/5.

Yeah, this is great. She's the Queen of Soul for a reason. Respect is iconic, obviously, Good Times is fun, and her performance throughout is great.

mother………

Great, a lot of huge songs.

Great album. Numerous classic songs by a wonderful singer

She’s an icon, she’s a legend. We know this. I knew this album would be good, but I’m so thankful to have given it a listen - multiple listens. This one is going to stay in rotation for a while. I want to keep feeling her voice and the music. She sounds so young here, but so powerful and commanding. I want to learn all the lyrics and belt them out in my car. An important album and artist.

The Queen of Soul! Always a pleasure listening to Aretha. This was a groundbreaking record. Passionate, soulful and raw. Easily in the top 10 albums of the 1960s.

I listened to the original album (11 tracks), not the later release with more tracks. This album has Aretha’s biggest hit, so I must rate it higher than the average album. However, I never cared for Aretha’s church choir solo singing style, even though she’s a good singer.

Some artists are so famous that it's hard for me to assess them with a fresh eye! Like, 'Respect' is great, but it's "BBC Proms" great, not "listening while I'm driving" great. (Although "sock it to me" is a funny little phrase.) And so I enjoyed this album, but in the way I like watching an old movie once in a while, not the way I like binging a reality show always and forever. Highlights: 'Soul Serenade' (& learning that there is an instrument called the 'saxello'), 'Don't Let Me Lose This Dream' (like zippy elevator music)

41 minute and 26 seconds of yelling! The only plus is the Chubbchubbs beginning, that's why there's second star.

4.5

A good solid album with plenty of good tunes, and of course what a voice!

I mean. It's Aretha. It's pretty great.

Smooth

While I'm aware of Arethas career, I'm familiar with some of her recordings with Muscle Shoals, I've never really listened to her whole albums. I'm a fan of her soul and r'n'b tracks, not that into the blues ones and it seems I'm not the only one. I love her voice, I'm deeply into soul music and that side of her career.

Una voz genial con sentimiento, pasión.. "respect" parece no encajar en la historia que nos cuenta el disco.

Exceptional

Aretha Franklin voice and it sounds really classic and stylish, hard not to enjoy it for the one listen. All the more impressive given the recording standards of the time. It's the sort of thing I'd enjoy in the background or live but can't say it grabs me. Unlikely to be intentionally back for another listen but I'll enjoy it when I unexpectedly hear it. 3.5.

Lovely voice, smooth, and so the bursts of power are more impressive. Nice enough, wouldn't come back.

Hard not to enjoy Aretha isn't it. Great voice, well known songs, which are on this album. Probably not really for me, but enjoyed it anyway. 3.5

Chills. More emotional resonance in one note than some artists have in their entire discography. This album is a gift, and I am grateful for it!

Love a bit of Aretha

How good is this album!

Much R E S P E C T.

She is genuinely so talented. Respect is such a classic! Really enjoyed this.

Old but gold

8/10

Aretha is a force of nature

She’s got it, baby, she’s good.

Aretha Franklin sits at the head table. She is a goddess in the music world. I did not know when this album ended and the next one began (youtube auto play), and I did not care. If you just want to listen to something that is beautiful, regardless of personal mood or what is going on in your life, you don't have to listen to this particular album, but just listen to Aretha Franklin and you will be transformed. Kinda how her magic works. I felt like I had listened for five minutes and I was listening to another album after this one by the time I looked to see where I was in the playlist. I love all kinds of music. Genre has a small but often unimportant role, decade, country of origin... and I have heard all the arguments about these things being "the best" or how this or that decade was "better"... I think it is more about some music and musicians are timeless and Aretha Franklin is one of them!

Aretha Franklin's *I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You* (1967) stands as a monumental achievement in music history, blending soul, gospel, and blues into an album that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. This record not only marked Franklin's breakthrough into mainstream success but also redefined the boundaries of soul music, cementing her as the "Queen of Soul." Below is an in-depth review of the album, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. ## **Lyrics** The lyrics across the album explore themes of love, heartbreak, empowerment, and faith. Tracks like "Respect" and "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" are particularly notable for their emotional depth and cultural resonance. - **"Respect"**: Originally written by Otis Redding, Franklin transformed this song into an anthem of empowerment. By flipping the narrative, she demanded respect not only as a woman but also as an individual asserting her autonomy. The addition of the iconic "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" spelling and the "sock it to me" refrain elevated its message to one of universal appeal[1][4]. - **"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"**: This title track captures the tension between love and betrayal. Franklin's delivery oscillates between vulnerability and defiance, making it a masterclass in emotional storytelling[1][3]. - **"Dr. Feelgood (Love Is Serious Business)"**: This sultry track delves into themes of physical desire and intimacy with unapologetic candor. Franklin's lyrics are bold yet nuanced, reflecting both passion and agency[5]. - **"A Change Is Gonna Come"**: A cover of Sam Cooke's civil rights anthem, Franklin adds layers of faith and personal struggle to the song. Her reinterpretation shifts some of Cooke’s ambiguity into a declaration of hope rooted in her identity as both a Black woman and an artist[5]. The lyrics throughout the album are deeply expressive, often transcending their literal meanings through Franklin's unparalleled vocal delivery. ## **Music** Musically, *I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You* is a fusion of gospel-rooted soul with elements of blues and jazz. The album’s arrangements are simple yet powerful, allowing Franklin’s voice to take center stage. - The instrumentation features tight horn sections, groovy basslines, and gospel-inspired piano and organ work. Tracks like "Soul Serenade" showcase a jazzy elegance, while others like "Do Right Woman – Do Right Man" lean heavily into gospel traditions[2][6]. - The rhythm section (featuring Muscle Shoals musicians) creates a solid foundation for Franklin’s dynamic vocal performances. Drummers like Roger Hawkins provide a pocket that enhances the emotional intensity of each track[2]. - Franklin’s piano playing is another highlight. On tracks like "I Never Loved a Man," her piano comping adds depth to the arrangements while demonstrating her musical versatility[1]. ## **Production** The production by Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records played a crucial role in shaping the album’s sound. Unlike her earlier records at Columbia, where she was often constrained by lush orchestrations that stifled her individuality, this album allowed Franklin to shine. - Wexler’s minimalist approach ensured that Franklin’s voice remained the focal point. The rawness of the Muscle Shoals sessions added authenticity to tracks like "I Never Loved a Man"[2][6]. - The production strikes a balance between polish and grit, capturing both the intimacy and power of Franklin’s performances. ## **Themes** Thematically, *I Never Loved a Man* is rich and multifaceted: 1. **Empowerment**: Songs like "Respect" embody themes of self-respect and independence. 2. **Love and Heartbreak**: Tracks such as "I Never Loved a Man" delve into the complexities of romantic relationships. 3. **Faith and Hope**: Gospel influences permeate songs like "Do Right Woman – Do Right Man" and "A Change Is Gonna Come," reflecting themes of spiritual resilience. 4. **Sensuality**: "Dr. Feelgood" explores physical desire with unabashed honesty. These themes resonate on both personal and societal levels, making the album timelessly relevant. ## **Influence** The impact of *I Never Loved a Man* cannot be overstated: - It redefined soul music by blending gospel fervor with secular themes in ways that were both innovative and deeply moving. - The album became one of the first feminist statements in popular music—not just through its lyrics but also through Franklin’s newfound artistic autonomy[2][4]. - Tracks like "Respect" became cultural touchstones for both the Civil Rights Movement and second-wave feminism. - The album influenced countless artists across genres, from Whitney Houston to Adele, solidifying Franklin’s legacy as one of music’s greatest vocalists[6]. ## **Pros** 1. **Vocal Mastery**: Aretha Franklin's voice is unparalleled in its range, power, and emotional nuance. 2. **Cultural Significance**: Songs like "Respect" transcend music to become cultural anthems. 3. **Cohesive Sound**: Despite covering diverse themes, the album flows seamlessly from start to finish. 4. **Innovative Arrangements**: The blend of gospel, soul, blues, and jazz creates a rich musical tapestry. 5. **Timelessness**: Over five decades later, the album remains as impactful as ever. ## **Cons** 1. **Lyrical Simplicity on Some Tracks**: While Franklin elevates even straightforward lyrics with her delivery, some songs lack lyrical complexity when read independently. 2. **Production Constraints**: Though groundbreaking at the time, certain production choices may feel dated compared to modern standards. 3. **Overemphasis on Covers**: Some critics argue that relying on covers (e.g., Otis Redding's "Respect," Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come") limits originality in songwriting. ## **Conclusion** *I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You* is more than just an album; it is a landmark in music history that captures Aretha Franklin at her transformative best. With its blend of emotional depth, vocal brilliance, and cultural significance, it remains one of the greatest albums ever recorded. While minor criticisms exist—such as occasional lyrical simplicity or reliance on covers—these do little to diminish its overall impact. The album not only elevated soul music but also served as a powerful statement on love, empowerment, and resilience that continues to inspire generations.

Amazing voice. Groovy.

Albumi #141, 08.02.2024 Aretha Franklinin kymmenes albumi lienee hänen albumeistaan tunnetuin. Loistava klassikkoalbumi, joka tulisi löytyä jokaisesta levyhyllystä. Soul-levyjen aatelia.

There's soul in her voice

Es impresionante el nivel de producción musical para asentar la voz pero son descuidar la calidad de los instrumentos qué buen álbum

Awesome. Could listen on repeat all day long.

пока не расслушала, просто Арета хорошо поёт, песни не запомнились. предыдущий альбом (тоже не помню) показался интереснее

Clearly accomplished, and Respect is incredible, but comes across a bit staid to me listening in 2025.

Great Album. She is so powerful

Wow! Great album. I’ve heard most of the songs but what a great album together! Definitely worth many a listen and deserves to be on this list

👸

It’s a shame Respect is so overplayed because it’s a genuinely great song.

5/5

A powerhouse voice for a strong album.

Can't say I've heard anything outside of the Respect before. That said, Aretha Franklin's voice is stellar here. The backup instrumentals are solid. Pretty hard not to give this anything lower than a 4.

How can you not give this/her a 5 star review. When I listen I keep thinking, this must be the best female voice ever recorded. It just so goddamn good! And the music is just so catchy - it’s not something I would put on regularly though, but this record is just so damn good that I can’t give it less than 5 stars

A great and highly influential album from a great and highly influential singer.

Sooo good

Queen.

Aretha. That's it, thx

So good, a classic.

Fantastic. Historical. Crazy it was her 10th studio album.

poteva essere più corto ma iconic mi ha fatto ballare sulla sedia

I really need to listen to more soul

3.50

She’s the Queen of Soul for a reason.

This is #day167 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to some serious class music. Aretha Franklin has a voice, and the backing band is top-notch. However, I've noticed that the lyrics from this era often lean toward overly idealized, "fall-in-love-man-worshipping" themes. If that makes sense. Take the title alone, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You... the sentiment feels a bit out of step with how times have changed. It's not just a '60s thing either; similar themes show up in pop music from the '90s and early '00s. In a way, though, perhaps these themes are necessary to look back and appreciate how far things have come. This is a 3 out of 5. It's a great album, and I bet it sounds amazing on vinyl, but it's not something I'd put on consciously. Looking forward to #day168.

I was assigned Lady Soul not too long ago, and it absolutely blew me away. Now, whether that was ONLY because of Aretha's incredible vocals or if it is actually just a great album, is hard to tell because this album is very good but it's not quite AS good as Lady Soul to me. It felt a little more repetitive in sound and some of the tracks kind of lost me whereas Lady Soul kept me hooked for multiple listens. Despite opening up with arguably the best soul song of all time, this one fell just a little flat for me (again, perhaps just by comparison but that's the way it goes sometimes). Still a solid 4.

La de fliparsela con técina vocal es algo que general ente me produce mucho rechazo, pero al ser del 67 como que cambia la forma de verlo. Como que si este disco saliera ahora no me molaría, sin embargo lo evidente que es aqui un talento tan jarto me ha llamado la atención varias veces. Medio siglo peña intentando recrear diferentes aspectos que ya se encuentean en este disco de forma mucho más efectiva.

One of the greatest voices ever singing her greatest song? Easy 5 stars, give me a break. Hilarious quote from the Rolling Stone review in 1967 when this was released, saying the album was weak, due to: '...the lack of versatility on the part of the sidemen. The drums weren't hard enough, the guitar was weak, and the production lacked polish.' That quote has not aged well.

Bring me to church!

Great album. Not something I’ll probably ever put back on just cause it’s not really my style, but didn’t hate it at all.

she can do no harm in eyes thank you for this

She's good, but I don't find it interesting 2/5

- When America eventually fades away and archeologists are searching for pieces of our long-forgotten culture, we would be lucky to have this be the one thing they found. - So far, this is the best album I have encountered on this list. No debate necessary. Just phenomenal. - Surprised to find out that "Baby, Baby, Baby" is my favorite. Did not know it.

I could not believe how amazing this was. So many songs that were covered that I loved, didn't realize Aretha did them best.

I rate my albums based on many things, but mostly being its replayability. The album itself is highly replayable for those who are truly invested into soul (especially early soul) music. For me, personally, it is not my taste. Not to say it's bad. I went into this album without any knowledge of soul music, but came out with a new appreciation for it. "Respect" is one of the strongest starts to an album I've heard, following with the emotionally packed "Drown in my own tears". But, the following songs after "Drown in my own tears", without any good breaks, sound extremely same-y. If "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" were put in the early middle of the album, rather than the near end, it'd benefit the album a lot. Aretha pioneered the soul genre with this smash hit, and I'm glad to have been blessed with the opportunity to listen to it. Overall though, I think as the genre has evolved past what Aretha pioneered, there are many better choices for when you need a soul session. I do not rate solely on the importance an album had, which is why I'm giving it a 2/5. It's just not what I look for in music, and I would never replay it.

very classy and vibing album. nothing else to say

The album is like the wave about to crest. Power about to be unleashed.

Aretha is so great. Phenomenal and iconic. "Respect" is such a classic, and her version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" is gorgeous. This is Aretha at her best.

Love a bit of jazz, just wasn't completely for me.

This sounded pretty dated, but she has an amazing voice

3.5

😍😍😍

Her voice and lyrics are so powerful I cannot give anything below 4 stars. I don't think I will actively put the album on again, but would never mind listening to it.

Das erste kommerziell erfolgreiche Franklins-Album. Highlight "Respect". Sonst ok aber nichts besonders spannendes. 3/5

Rett og slett ett mesterverk

Aretha Franklin was an unquestionable talent, and that certainly comes through here on her powerful renditions of Respect and Do Right Woman, Do Right Man. Otherwise, this made for some easy if not impassioned listening. The whole thing feels effortless, but also without any significance to me. So for that I'm calling this an enjoyable enough, but forgettable 3.

4 stars. Solid album

Great voice. Perfectly fine album. No notes.

Great singing. Great backing instruments. Great length.

Obviously know Respect but not too familiar with anything else on here. Really dig some of these. She just has an insanely great voice. Good stuff.

Another album I've only heard one song from. My soul feels different now.

Loved this front to back!

Think

Loved this one

Good blues throughout, with a couple enduring bangers to open and close the album. It’s great!

Quite good album and you recognize the artist immediately which says something about the iconic sound she has. Save Me was a pleasant surprise. I was confused about the repeated tracks at the end of the album but apparently they are from a re-release in 1995 which included some stereo versions and now I wish the whole album was in stereo.

#461. An amazing, powerful voice singing pretty generic love songs. Respect is great, but the rest is kind of average. 3/5: fairly good overall Song added to playlist: Respect I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

strong! but also quite a bit of schmaltzy...

Loved it!

3.8

great soul album

This is a good album. Obvious highlights are respect and the title track. Her voice is great must most of the other songs aren't anything crazy in my opinion. I just can't get over the fact that the rolling stone said respect is the greatest song of all time. It's good but is it that good? Really? I guess I'm not quite understanding the context in which it was released.

I always love Aretha Franklin

Listenable all the way through, and demonstrates Aretha's vocal prowess, something that I imagine was a big breakthrough in soul/gospel/r&b or whatever you want to call this genre mashup at the time. Might rate it higher if there was more variety in lyrical theme and more original songs.

Respect +2

So much soul. coming from the heart, you're there with her as she sings

3.5

Late night slow

this is a great album that really showcases Aretha's vocal talents and the heart and soul she puts into her singing. It's crazy to think this is her tenth studio album but she's still really only at the beginning of her mainstream career and there are still so many amazing songs to come. Of course "Respect" is iconic, but I really loved a lot of tracks on here that I had never heard before just because I only really knew her biggest hits. I do wish I could have heard it on vinyl because I think the sound quality and mixing might come across a bit better, but I'll be on the lookout for it now in my local record stores :)

Not my favorite Aretha Franklin album, but it does include one of my favorite songs of all time, "Respect"(which was recently voted the greatest song of all time by "The Rolling Stone" magazine). She still graced Earth with the greatest singing voice of all time, and most of her songs will lift your spirits. Favorite song: "Respect"

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is the tenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin released on March 10, 1967. The best female vocalist of all time. Period. I wouldn't call this her strongest record, although there are many strong points. Namely, Respect and A Change is Gonna Come. This record is mainly dominated by ballads. The funkier tracks are definitely stronger but I like the ballads too. The rhythm section is also very strong.

First song is great, rest of the background vocals need more work. The main vocals carried the whole album

Love Aretha! Amazing powerful vocals. And the album contains energy in the songs. A fun listen.

Great singer, songs a little to old school for me.

Kick ass backing band

Lots of covers on this album, but man oh man, what a voice! I'm going to have to buy this one.

An odd album. I either really enjoyed a track or completely zoned out. Listened through twice.

The music isn’t bad, it’s just another case of it not being made for me. The obvious highlight is Respect and the record never really reaches that same high again. The only other song to really pique my interest were Save Me. 3/5

I know Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul but I never listened to an entire album. I like her singing but not many songs stand out to me - and only very few songs (not including R.E.S.P.E.C.T) she has (co-)written herself. So, she is mostly a singer rather than an artist. Kudos for the vocal power and style. Nice but not wow.

Enjoyed listening to this based just on Aretha’s talent alone. Other than a couple of standouts, the non-Aretha parts weren’t really that great. She shines so bright that it brings the overall score way up though.

4.5 so close to being a 5, such a well rounded album

8-9. Great voice, great production. Some songs stronger than others. Need to listen again.

This was fine. Not my favorite.

An incredible industry turn around for Aretha and a crucial moment for the cross over from gospel to R&B. Amazing to think she had 9 albums before she hit with this one. A one-of-one voice.

As someone who never liked "respect" this was a long 36 minutes. The talent is obvious, but the instrumentation and production really doesn't do much. Nothing here really caught my attention.

It’s Aretha, nuff said.

This was fine. Obviously "Respect" is an all-timer, and the vocals are great, but this is not in my wheelhouse. Objectively this is probably better than a 3. 3.1

It's very fine, but not something I'll go back to.

No questioning the talent or the voice. Well, the album seems to want to shift to the highest gear pretty quickly and stay there, so it gets to be a bit too much; the overblown vocals, the constant brass which occupies the same frequencies, leave something to be desired in terms of nuance and subtlety, but hey, maybe that wasn't what they were going for...

Aretha is a classic, but this particular album doesn't have any outstanding songs that remained in my mind after several listenings.

Run of the mill jazz, but easy to listen to.

I think it's a good album, but apart from R E S P E C T there are no songs that stand out. Very solid performance, but it's not extraordinary, not for me.

This is a great album by a great Artist. Not a bad song in the bunch. “Save Me” is a find…Batman, Green Hornet & Kato mentioned in the song! Perfect.

queen

one of the best voices out there

while I appreciate the incredible singing, the songs didn't do it for me fav songs:drown in my own tears, save me, a change is gonna come

Fantastic vocals and arrangements. Great vibe, easy listening.

Aretha is always good. 4 stars on this album. Good but not incredible for me.

All the R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Aretha but I found this album and its themes a bit same-y.

Sehr angenehme Musik

What a legend. Starts with the classic RESPECT, Aretha's defining track... but she is so much more than just that banger. Respect has a shadow cast over it by track 2; Drowning in my Own Tears. Wow, what a voice, what a band, what a song. I'm writing this first thing in the morning at work, sipping a warm coffee on a particularly chilly summers morning and it's envoking emotion in me. It's her voice mainly, but all the other amazing layers, the groove, the band, the background singer - it almost makes me feel sick to think I didn't know this or any of these other songs on this album. Respect is probably the only Aretha song I had actually listen to - regret. It was beautiful background music whilst I got ready for the day of work. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man was a song that caught my ear whilst listening - a song that for its time was bold and brave, and now it's more important than ever. It's the sequal to Respect - mutual respect in a relationship, do right woman for your man, do right man for your woman and both do right for your family. It's a simple but beautiful message coming from the Queen of Soul who certainly faced her fair share of hardship in life, espcially in her youth. This album reflects the pain, the lessons, the love lost, the love gained, everything that Aretha has faced in her life up to this point. She was mistreated, but remained headstrong and maintained her values of family, respect for all peoples and civil rights throughout. Her over of a change is gonna come is AMAZING. She owns it to the point of wonder, did Sam Cooke write it for her? Love this album. It shows all of Aretha's good sides. Her values and her voice are the highlight of this incredible album. She is vulnerable and mournful throughout, yet at the same time isvindicated through songs like Respect and I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - a song that battles with her sadness of the break up but is putting up a strong front, something her voice compliments like wine and cheese. Love love love love love. Soul like soul should be.

One of the best female voices to ever exist! Incredible album as well, and very important for soul music. Respect is a classic.

Yeah, this is good. What else is there to say?

4/5 veldig fin jazz!

An objectively good album, but not one for me.

Her voice is amazing. The album itself is not remarkable other than her incredible take on the Otis Redding classic Respect.

Soulful

9/10, lo unico malo es que la versión de spotify incluye 3 temas en stereo sin rotularlos, así que se repiten en la escucha.

its good! first song is a banger

Aretha oversings but also changes the world. When she’s on she’s on. And right on. It’s hard to critique this but the over singing is what leads to the endless caterwauling on reality singing shows. This is a bit unfair. When she gets it right, it’s transcendent. 8 - 3 for over singing.

Another "easy 5" and very happy to hear an album like this. We all know her big role in music hisotry and big voice, and big hits, they are everywhere . Yet, perhaps the first time for me hearing a whole album by her. Each song packs a punch and her bold, loud, catchy groove is really energetic and upbeat. Incredible. If it moved you, listen to on of her final performances when she still packed the power in her voice, (very surpsing for age 73 ish) playing and singing at a charity gala - It is on youtube as "Aretha Franklin singing "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 2016"

It is hard to say anything new about Aretha. She is at the height of her amazing powers here, finally escaped from an unfulfilling contract with Columbia to Atlantic Records. Atlantic totally knew what to do with her; step away from polished jazz-pop arrangements and unleash her soul. And she re-writes the book of what soul could be. Even the filler tracks are funky and she sings the hell out of every song. There is a reason the standout tracks from this record are absolute classics; Respect, I Never Loved a Man, Dr Feelgood, Do Right Woman. She owns everything she sings. Rolling Stone apparently thought the band tracks were "unpolished", but the rough edges are a feature not a bug. This is band with considerable power, chemistry and feel, especially when Aretha leads from the piano. Backing vocals from Aretha's sisters Carolyn and Erma are strong and tight. It's hard to imagine that anyone else could possibly hold their own with Aretha on lead. (BTW, check out Erma's 1969 solo album Soul Sister. It's also great!) An unambiguous five-million-star all-time classic album. I could listen to this every day. Damn it, I _should_ listen to this every day.

Easy listen with some already known and enjoyable hits

Now this is essential. Just sheer bliss from start to finish. Pure soul. Sure they are mostly cover versions, but the you didn’t write it argument with quality interpretation like this, is a weak argument ( and anyway looking at music nowadays with lots of hits written by committee and ghost writers). What a talent Aretha is, emotion, power and control, there is a reason she is seen as 1 of the best female vocalists ever, to think if she was starting today they would probably autotune the heart and soul out of her.

This was an awesome album all the way through, really soulful and will put this in regular rotation.

Soulful, beautiful. Hard to have a stronger opener than Respect.

Aretha is a queen and we all know it, but I wasn’t really in the mood for this album when it came up. Then I put it on, and man did it make my mood immediately better. Classic.

Aretha Franklin is often about vibes to me. The album starts with Respect, an all time banger, but the rest is kind of just vibes to me. It could be on loop for 3 hours and I don’t think I’d be able to pick out more than 2/3 songs but I’d also be enjoying myself the whole time. She’s an artist I refuse to be underwhelmed by. If a song didn’t hit me the right way, I’m wrong and I missed something, or I need to recalibrate my sensors or something. It’s like no listen again and humble yourself bc Aretha is a goat for a reason. I’ve listened before, probably will again. Love the artist more than the specific song selection of this album.

I’ve never sat down and actually listened to a whole Aretha Franklin album, but man I am blown away. Everyone knows Respect and probably some of her Christmas songs, but to sit down and just let her voice carry you is honestly something else. She is truly a generational voice. While the writing is relevant for the time, being that the lyrics are simple, it doesn’t take away how incredible Aretha sounds. My first initial reaction to finishing this album was “man, I really need this on vinyl”. Heck of a voice and what an album.

Has a timeless voice but it didn’t really budge over a three for me in this album.

Great album. She’s extremely talented and respect is universal with an awesome message. Succinct, but I still don’t feel compelled to listen to any of the songs again aside from respect. With that in mind, it was thematically consistent and enjoyable to listen to all the way through. 3 stars.

Good lord what a voice. First time diving deep into an Aretha album and I was very pleased. Respect is an all-timer and you really never get tired of hearing her sing. Not quite a five but a solid four.

Solid album all around. "Respect" is probably in the top 10 songs of all time. I have nothing really negative to say about this album. If a couple more songs were more recognizable I probably would have given a 5.

Vry gif

Too many slow ballads

Aretha is the queen.

The GOAT

Kinda feel weird dishing out two 5s for Aretha's albums in close succession mostly because "she just sounds good", but... she does really just sound so good that you're not focusing much on the songwriting, arrangement and production, though those elements certainly aren't weak here.

Album art:3

Solid album but nothing really popped out at me, it felt slower than the last album I listened to.

Not my type of music at all. But that woman can sing. So it gets a couple starts for that

try not to say mother challenge level impossible!!

What a voice, I love soul music and this album had that and more! Some funky blues hits in there too. It's not quite a 5 for me but it's creeping up there!

Solid album, great singer

Queen.

Iconic Soul music awesome artist

God blessed her with the greatest voice ever!

Not perfect, but it's the queen.

Soulful greatness

I give you greatness personified.

I’m a no good heartbreaker

What a queen

Such an amazing album. So many hits.

No argument that Aretha can sing and sing well. But with the exception of “Respect” I found these songs mostly bland. And they all kind of feel the same. It’s not awful but I was pretty bored while listening. 2.5/5

-I think I prefer Lady Soul to this, maybe just a little bit because they’re both really good… her voice is super powerful and captivating, which makes up for the sort of dated audio quality and instrumentation. still so interesting to hear -Favorites are Respect, Drown In My Own Tears, and Soul Serenade

Un disco que comienza con Respect, su versión es la canónica y definitiva, ya se ha ganado la eternidad. Solo de esta canción se pueden hacer libros enteros. El resto del disco es otra colección de gemas del calibre de la titular I never loved a man the way i love you, Do right woman do right man, Save me a lomos del Gloria de los Them que es una version/adaptación del Help me de la King Curtis Orchestra donde tocó un desconocido aun Jimi Hendrix... Soul sureño de Muscle Shoals que le sentó como un guante a la voz y carácter de una Aretha que por fin encontró su identidad en el sello Atlantic. No hay un tema que baje del notable, y hay maravillas como Soul serenade o Rock Steady. Un disco imprescindible y el paso a previo a ese descomunal disco que fue Lady Soul. Publicó ese mismo año Arrives, de enorme calidad pero que entre uno y otro quedó menos reconocido. Otras obras editadas ese mismo año 1967: Sgt. Peppers y Magical Mistery Tour, Forever Changes y Da Capo, The Velvet Underground y White light/White head, Surrealistic Pillow,The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Who Sell Out, Days of Future Passed, Disraelí Gears, Bee Gees´ First, Younger Than Yesterday, Evolution y Butterfly, Safe as milk, Something Else, Scott, Bee Gees´ First (en realidad el segundo), Wild Honey, Sunshine Superman o Happy Together... así como debuts de ese mismo año fueron los de Jimi hendrix (además de Axis: Bold as love) , The Doors, Experience, Scott Walker, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, y también aunque menores los de Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, Bowie, Electric Prunes o First Edition.

Just a little bit! Just a little bit! Even just a litle bit was a bit too much...

While this was nice enough. I didn't enjoy this as much as Lady Soul. Which I loved. Respect is, obviously, a classic, but I can't really remember another song on the album. This is a 3 borderline 4 album for me.

one of the best voices of all time hadn’t listened to this in full before, not something i’d normally listen to all the way through albums from this era often suffer from having a few “filler” songs which have no real place but that’s not too much of an issue here best song: soul serenade worst song: dr feelgood

Amazing.

Good, but slow and sad