Lady Soul

They don't make em like they used to folks. Standouts: Chain of Fools, Natural Woman, Since You've Been Gone, Come Back Baby

This was an amazing album. Not only was it peak Aretha, but the band played the hell out of these songs and the production was stellar. That bass was just amazing throughout, and had me bopping the whole way to work. I can't even list the standouts as they all were. When I looked at the overall rating and saw 4.05 I was confused. I honestly can't understand anyone with a heartbeat not giving this a 5 star rating. Someone literally wrote "It's not pure banger after banger." What the hell do they think a banger is if not these amazing songs?? The good news is, those people aren't me and I LOVED this album.

10/10 album

Marvelous. What else is there to say?

1. Ain't No Way 2. Good to Me As I Am to You 3. Natural Woman Hon. Mention: Sweet Sweet Baby

Excellent album, I am a big fan of Aretha Franklin. I love the shorter runtime of this record, 10 songs with no filler. Each song is memorable and Aretha's performances on each is astounding. My only complaint would be that just when I feel a song reaches a satisfying climax and is riding that high it abruptly fades out and moves on. If the worst I can say about the album is that each song left me wanting more, then we are in good hands.

5/5 Aretha Franklin is one the greatest (if not the greatest) singers in all of western recorded music. Her voice has so much emotion, feel, and power in this album which is accompanied by some great danceable bass lines and a great horn section. Chain of Fools and You make me feel like a natural woman are amazing songs and I see why they are hits. Ain’t know way was another song I really enjoyed I have never heard before.

Dayum! 5 stars for Chain of Fools alone.

Classic. This lady sings with everything she has and it shows

Favorite Track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

What an amazing voice. It’s hard to find any faults on this record. Great performances throughout, great instrumentation, and some genuine soul at the heart of the whole thing. It’s a very short album, but that probably helped it. Really incredible and absolutely deserves to be on this list.

If you don't feel something stirring deep inside of you while you listen to "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", you're stronger (weaker?) than I'll ever be. Goddamn, it's all so good. It goes up and down, it swings and shines and croons. Aretha is perfect, captivating, mind-altering, but her band doesn't lag behind at any point either. The bass really stuck with me this time, the tone is so precise and punchy. An album anyone can enjoy and everyone should hear.

What do you say? It’s Aretha being Aretha.

Great stuff

gem alert!

The amount of power in this album is incredible. My god, that voice! It’s a dance party with my broken heart. It’s having a drink with my tears. It’s laughing with someone who’s no longer here. This album is like having a great week in the 30 minutes it takes to listen to it. Amazing.

Absolutamente divino. A cada canção, uma força na voz, a capacidade de transmitir emoções em cada frase cantada, é algo que poucas fizeram na vida, e a Aretha com certeza é a principal delas. Disco sensacional, sem track ruim.

Very strong. A few bangers short of a belter.

She’s the queen of soul for a reason

Just phenomenal from start to finish

Love it!

So damn really good. The voice ofc, but the groove too. Why do I find this as the perfect powerlifting music

Anything by Aretha would instantly get a five star review. That woman is just the best!

I listened to this about 5 times in a row while walking around the busy shops, and never once felt stressed in any way. Aretha soothed my soul.

Loved this!

I mean the album title says it all. She breathes, oozes and sweats soul, no one does it like Aretha.

Legendary. Any questions?

*stank face* yes. oh my god. lol great breakup album. love the horns and the groove and soul and her voice UGH incredible storyteller. emotion, feeling, wailing, slow, vibe, meaningful, smooth, exciting, invigorating, inspiring. the backing vocalists (cissy houston on ain't no way!? high notes!). people get ready. the piano ah everything, everything.

Absolutely loved this! Wouldn't give many albums 5* but this is one i will - "Ain't no way" is a classic tune

Wow. I'd heard a lot off this album but never it in full. So many stunners, and even the overplayed(and personally always a bit of a miss cos gender etc) Natural Woman really brought to life by its place with the rest. Perfect.

Perfection

Es una preciosidad. De lo mas bonito que he escuchado en mi vida

Aretha Franklin isn’t a writer or a producer, but she might be the best singer of her time.

I love Aretha, but I have not listened to this album entirely. From this album, I have heard "You Make Me Feel," and I think it is a BAAAANGER. I'm almost finishing the album, and I completely understand why it is a classic. Literally, NO SKIPS. My favourite discoveries were: "Good to me as I am to you" and "Chain of Fools." "good to me as I am to you" gives me New Orleans vibes or smoking a cigarette while it smokes, and you are in a deep state of self-comiseration.

Amazing album. The unsung heroes here are bass player Tommy Cogbill and drummer Roger Hawkins. Just layin down an absolute master class in groovy soul rhythm section. Erica Clapton also makes an appearance on Good to Me as I Am to You. Plus Aretha is the GOAT.

This album lives up to the historical hype that it is, and is timeless. Her style and conviction in singing is demands that we pay attention. and return again and again.

you make me feel like a natural woman. best to ever do it.

Sensational

She IS the Queen of Soul.

Literally what is there to hate fr

Aretha Franklin has perhaps the sexiest voice in all of music. Now put that voice over a tight 40 of the grooviest, punchiest tracks and you get this

In doing this project I've discovered how important the first song is to an album, and with an opener like Chain of Fools I was instantly won over. Aretha's voice is at peak performance, so so strong and energized. She's doing vocal gymnastics its so crazy. I think I like the swingier songs better than the ballads. People Get Ready and Niki Hoeky were some new favorites of mine.

I'm in tears. I've had to listen to so much shit to get diamonds like this. This is the right and proper use of music. This is what music is for. I was five days old when this was released, which means we were both gestating together. This is not merely perfect - perfect means that something has no faults. This is glowing with gifts and jewels and emotions and groove and fat baggy bass and drive and meaning and urgency. It's called Lady Soul.

My first time fully experiencing the legend Aretha. Her voice is honey with a hefty dose of cinnamon. 10/10. Interestingly, this album depicts turbulence in love. This ain't lovey dovey at all.

I don't want to hear the opinions of anyone who rates this below a 3.

Chain of Fools People Get Ready You Make Me Feel Groovin’ Ain’t No Way

Another artist I'm glad this list got me to finally give a proper listen to. Franklin has an absolutely legendary voice and I'm a real big fan of the faster tempo tracks here. A definite gem of late 60s soul music. 9/10.

9.5/10 Such a classic Soul album. There isn't a single song here that I didn't find to great. Aretha's voice is incredible as usual but the production here surprised a few times too.

The goat.

This album came up in rotation on a Monday morning. For me, Monday mornings are the worst. Back to work, all the problems that occurred over the weekend are waiting for me, and I probably didn't sleep well. But let me just say that starting your day with this album can make even the worst days better. I'd give this six stars if I could. There's a reason they call her the Queen of Soul. Amazing.

Daaaaaaaamn she the queen for real

This is why i listen to these albums. Discovered an absolute gem of an album.

Man this record made me miss this wonderful woman. She had an amazing voice and this enthusiasm that just oozes out of your speakers. The backing vocals and instrumentals are also just stellar, making this a worthy addition to the 1001. A joy to listen to. 9/10

While I was never the biggest Aretha fan this album is phenomenal. She is a classic voice and this collection of songs is just one after another of bangers.

SOUL

Piece of art

From Respect, The Life of Aretha Frankling by David Ritz: “I don’t care what they say about Aretha,” said Billy Preston. “She can be hiding out in her house in Detroit for years. She can go decades without taking a plane or flying off to Europe. She can cancel half her gigs and infuriate every producer and promoter in the country. She can sing all kinds of jive-ass songs that are beneath her. She can go into her diva act and turn off the world. But on any given night, when that lady sits down at the piano and gets her body and soul all over some righteous song, she’ll scare the shit out of you. And you’ll know—you’ll swear—that she’s still the best fuckin’ singer this fucked-up country has ever produced.”

The Queen.

Obviously

It'd be criminal to rate this any lower. Aretha's voice is just godly, the instrumentals hit so hard every time, and there's not a single bad track. She was indeed the First Lady of Soul. Favourite track: Ain't No Way Least favourite track: People Get Ready

Stunning album from a master. Aretha comes into her own after more than ten albums with this entree into Atlantic Records. She's got a sterling backup with the white boys from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (who pissed her husband off royally). Chain of Fools cements her status as Rocknroll Royalty, but (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Carole King and Gerry Goffin also soars. The entire album simply lifts one to the heavens. A voice cuts from angels' wings!

Ever since I got this in a CD two pack back in high school (with I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You), this was my Aretha Franklin album of choice. This is such a solid selection of songs with so much grit and funk, alongside the handful of ballads. It perfectly encapsulates the range and power of Aretha as a performer.

Really great. Loved the performances, loved the energy. Aretha's voice and charisma are top-tier.

Wow. Absolut wundervoll. Nicht die Genre Richtung in der ich normalerweise höre, aber als Soul Album ist es wirklich perfekt. Banger nach Banger, ist jede Minute wert.

an absolute corker - great selection of originals and covers, fantastic lead and backup vocal work, and tight performances by the band.

Lady Soul es una experiencia de escucha muy agradable que transmite una profunda sensación de paz y fluidez. Estamos ante una genialidad donde la autoridad superior de Aretha Franklin se impone desde la primera nota; su voz posee una fuerza y calidez que eleva el soul a un nivel espiritual. Descubrir que ella misma ejecuta el piano en el álbum revela una todavía mayor maestría, logrando una mezcla maestra donde la instrumentación y la voz parecen ser un solo elemento. Este disco es artesanal y humano, ideal para una reflexión solitaria al final del día. Las canciones presentan una riqueza sonora que ha envejecido bien, por su claridad y honestidad. Es un álbum conmovedor, crudo y real que captura la esencia de una artista en la cima de su poder, dictando cátedra sobre lo que significa tener "alma".

It’s Aretha Franklin. She’s incredible.

Simply amazing voice range and everything

The album was very up beat, A natural women was my favorite.

Some singers have versatility because they adapt. Aretha has versatility because everything becomes Aretha. Ballads, grooves, pain, pride, heartbreak, release — it all comes through the same central quality: total conviction.

A classic

The best to ever do it. Aretha's vocals caused me to transcend to another plane. I am completely moved. I want to live inside this album. I felt it with every inch of my soul. Which makes sense, seeing as Aretha is lady soul.

Never had an album been so aptly named for an artist, Lady Soul. Aretha Franklin is amazing, powerful and moving and this album is worth the first 30 minutes, and every subsequent repeat listen. Put it on and let it move you, inside and out.

Amazing.

Hit after hit and truly the best voice

La mejor en lo suyo! Un placer redescubrir un muy buen disco. Un género atemporal y una cantante brillante hacen una combinación perfecta. Muy, muy bueno!

‘Good to Me as I Am to You’ is god damn gold. It’s like someone is crying into your ears. And those blues just keep on coming….

I mean damn.

Stunning and a perfect 5 stars automatically. Aretha puts herself in her music, and it's immediately better for it

29 minutes of superlative soul (the CD's added tracks don't really add much).

It was amazing!

Finally an album I can really listen to. Solid Gold

Great album with all time classics. One of the best to ever do it. Don’t know what more you can ask for.

Amazing voice, great backing singers, superb songs. I'm talking my way into a 5 star I think.

No notes

I don’t know how anyone can hear this woman sing ‘Natural Woman’ and not immediately go ‘yeah that’s what singing is’

Its fantastic

All time grea

Aretha Franklin. Could click 5 in my sleep for this.

Piel de gallina Soy agnóstica pero 100% creyente de larga vida a la música gospel

This album is scientifically perfect. All pieces are in the right place. Aretha’s voice comes from another place, deep within everyone’s soul. So deep, most don’t know it’s there, but Aretha does.

I literally cannot give Aretha Franklin anything other than a 5. How the fuck does she sing like that? How? What a freaking superstar. I feel like maybe I like this a little less than the other on this list, but it does not matter. Fucking Queen.

What a fantastic voice

Never heard this before. Instantly see why it’s a classic.

Top quality soul. Really enjoyed this, filled with classics. Definitely an all timer!

Banging

Buen disco, me hizo conocer un estilo de música que no tenía en mente y sobre todo, con una tremenda voz y artista. 5/5

Legend. 5/5

Easy 5

It's Aretha there is only one viable score

best of the best albums 10/10

Flawless

Outstanding album - the album tracks as well as the big hits are great songs, beautiful arrangements and obviously those vocals are incredible. 5 stars

Aretha is one of the best, and this is one of her best albums, the beginning of an incredible run. It's an easy five-star review for me.

Oh man this is a slam dunk 5. Iconic voice, classic soul arrangements in the Stax sound, a few timeless tracks, just stunning across the board. Looking up the credits on this one and some legendary players show up (including Clapton on Good to Me as I Am to You). Sweet Sweet Baby is one I didn't know as well but has just a great groove. This is awesome from front to back.

Respect!

Clásico. Muy buenas canciones pero en realidad no es un album. Aretha perfecta.

Increíble como siempre, saque canciones demasiado cool que me hicieron sentir cosas.

Simply gorgeous!

Aretha mi fai venire la lacrimuccia a pensare alle case a 150$. Mi fai sentire spensierato aretha. Che cosa ha preparato di buono signorina Franklin? Signorina Franklin lo devo ammettere, questo album è squisito !

Una grande scoperta per me!

A stone cold undeniable classic album with perhaps the most beautiful song ever written on it?

body&soul: healed soul: singing it doesn‘t get better than this /

wow

What a great voice.

Obviously this is pretty flawless

I love the way Aretha just sings the shit out of any song put in front of her. Yet it never feels overblown like Mariah Carey or some crap like that. Truly she was the Queen of Soul. Not really a bad track on here. The last couple veer towards softer, ballady style, which I didn't love, but the rest is so damn good this can only get 5 stars.

She's a vocal tour de force and her performance here is legendary as usual. Backed by capable studio session artists like Bobbie Womack, Joe South, Clapton, Tommy Cogbill and Spooner Oldham, she confidently belts out fantastic funk, soul, and gospel insta-classics. Its only downfall is that it goes by much too fast at a very short runtime of just 29 minutes. Her version of A Natural Woman here is about as close to a perfect song as it gets - a great arrangement with great strings, horns, and backing vocals, that highlight and bolster Franklin's already amazing voice. I don't think enough can be said about her voice - it always sounds naturally and almost effortlessly soulful, automatically elevating any song to sublime.

Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Aretha doesn’t sing, she declares. Every track feels like it already knows it’s timeless. Warm, effortless, and somehow heavier than half the “deep” albums you listen to. Favorite Track: “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” It’s basically emotional gravity. The kind of song that makes you pause mid-run and reconsider your entire existence for a second.

Let's face facts. Aretha Franklin does NOT have one of the great female soul voices. She does NOT have one of the great female voices in 20th Century popular music. She has one of the greatest female voices of the 20th Century in any genre. She sells even slight material like Niki Hoeky so you think it's a great song and then, when working with a really great song like (You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman it's transcendent. And the way she takes People Get Ready to church is amazing. Immediate 5 stars. And worth more if it was possible.

This album is perfect.

Love it. Own it.

One of the best vocal albums of all time.

What a joyful, groovy & soulful album this is. From the first track to the very end it is an absolutely superb listen, packed with well written & brilliantly performed tracks. Franklin’s voice is unsurprisingly amazing, and the tight instrumental grooves give it the perfect platform to absolutely shine. There’s not a single moment I didn’t enjoy on this record, and I can absolutely see why it’s a classic of it’s time.

Non stop class

Classy lady

Pure class

Wraps its arms around you and gives you a massive cuddle. Don't want to be anywhere else when this is playing. 5* all the way. And then some.

Love it!

a perfect album

A classic with amazing energy!

4.5. Love this era of hers.

The greatest female soul by a country mile

#303/1001. The queen of Soul, the queen of RnB, the queen of Gospel, the queen of Blues. She makes every song a classic and her interpretations are the ones other interpretations are compared to. what else to say?

My twelfth album and first by a female lead! Also an incredible work that is easily my favorite by far. When i think about connecting with music, this is exactly what i want to feel. Chain of fools feels exactly like relationships of my past. All of these songs were so full of emotion to get me through a little bit of friendship turmoil recently.

A master class of mojo! Aretha is firing on all cylinders and moves effortlessly through soulful and vocally hypnotic performances that still leave you reeling. Such amazing presence, too. Wow. I'm speechless.

Absolutely beautiful!

Queen of Soul

Pure bliss, I was belting A Natural Woman in the shower while listening to this. It just felt right, even as a man

One of the greats. This is a killer funk soul album. It is just great song after great song. Will definitely be adding this one to the collection.

I'll say this. "Good to me as I am to you" is the best song, and the whole album is a collection of bursting emotions from all over the spectrum with great Aretha's singing. Loved it so much.

Aretha Franklin is such a powerful force that she makes any song her own, whether it was written for her or even if it’s already somebody else’s calling card. Who else would hear The Impressions sing “People Get Ready” and think they could improve it? Also I want to cry every time I hear her sing “A Natural Woman.” You don’t need gimmicks when you’ve got talent.

There are certain artists that can't be overshadowed. Aretha Franklin is a genre definer. There are many emulators and many many successors, but only one Lady Soul... What makes Aretha Franklin a great artist is that everything she releases sounds like a masterpiece. Credit must go to the producer (Jerry Wexler) and of course the studio musicians (one being Eric Clapton, a small easter egg) Every track stands out, but what really got me was the cover of Groovin'. Don't ask me why because I can't answer. I will admit the mix is a bit rough a parts but whatever man that's just what I'm feeling today

i haven’t heard this album before. i do know aretha franklin though. hard not to. this isn’t aretha’s fault at all, but i really hate when old albums are stereo mixed like this. i put it on a speaker and it’s way better. this album is incredible. i’m definitely going to revisit this.

It's Aretha, the Queen of Soul, this is a great album, and yes I have it.

She's the best

Beating up anyone who gives this less than a five

What a voice. What an opening track. Great drums, guitar and other musicianship throughout. And a string of fantastic hits.

Would have definitely loved this 2 years ago during my Janis Joplin, The Doors, Bowie and Bob Dylan era I really appreciate this album and totally get why it is so awarded Good start of this challenge i think

A classic for a reason. She really is the lady of soul. Her voice paired with rich sound landscapes make dancing involuntary!

The Queen of Soul earned her crown on this one (as though she hadn't already). She's at the top of her game with a great array of songs and a great backing band/arranger, and there's no stopping her.

Hot damn...Aretha's got the pipes (as we all already knew). This album was just *chef's kiss*. No complaints. Five stars through and through.

Aretha can do no wrong and this album is full of bops. A couple of forgettable tracks in there, but I guess that's why they weren't singles.

wow

THE DIVAMOTHER of all time....natural raw beautiful energy.

Anyone voting less than 5 stars should be criminally prosecuted

8.75 fantastic album! Best songs Chain of fools Natural women Come back baby

Very nice to listen to and great production. Would come back to this one fo sho

Helemaal een vibe

astonishing

Her voice. The lyrics still stand up today. Loved it.

Even the songs I didn’t know were great. She’s a force of nature.

Incomparable

Love the bass

Still a gorgeously soulful singer even almost 60 years later. An uplifting album of humanity and relationships. Chain of Fools will go down as a forever classic

no one like aretha

6.

Iconische dingen

Ik werd langzaamaan gek van alle rock-adjacent albums, dus dit maakt me zo blij!!!!!!!! Aretha Franklin my beloved, een van m’n favoriete zangers. Heeel erg mee opgegroeid ook! Ze is zo goed!!!!!! Zeker haar timing is iets wat mensen zo niet kunnen evenaren, het is zo vrij ahhh!!! Grooving, you make me feel, chain of fools, since you’ve been gone en ain’t no way zijn wel mn favorieten!!! Haar blue notes zijn bizar, ben zo’n fan!!! Ain’t no way geschreven door haar zus, hoge noot is cissy Houston aka moeder van Whitney Houston!! Zo zo zo goed gezongen!!!! Aretha Franklin in het Concertgebouw is ook heel erg de moeite waard om te luisteren

His voice is very pretty

Surprisingly great. Really enjoyed listening to this on a Sunday morning. Would definitely listen again. Wow - loved this!

Lot of 4 and 5 star ratings here, not going to get any argument from me on that. Yes all music is subjective, if you don’t like it that’s fine. But Like saying I don’t like chips, might not be your thing but still got to say they are still damn good in my book. If you hear this and think 1 star got to think you are only gonna like things in your own genre(s). Whether into soul or not this is just good sounding music to me, with great songs and (understatement here) good singing. Easy 5 Star.

Gotta hand it to her - every song here grooves and moves in a way that no one else is quite capable of.

We really don't get singers like this anymore. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, I think there are a lot of really good singers around these days, but she was really just on another level. Every vocal take on this album is mind-blowing in its on way, the whole thing staggeringly impressive. I don't think I enjoyed the whole thing as much as the other one I've heard from her, but it's very close. Favorites: Chain of Fools, Niki Hoeky, Good to Me As I Am to You

Just incredible voice, could happily listen to this album many times again!

Great album. Several songs that are hard to not already know (Chain of Fools, You Make Me Feel, Groovin) but the rest were great as well. Hard not to love this! (5)

Echt een van de beste soul albums ooit. Dit album heeft alleen maar giga banger na banger

Wat een ontzettend heerlijk album, die van mij nog wel twee keer zo lang mag zijn. You make me feel is een van de beste nummers allertijden.

Bloedmooi dit. Met als hoogtepunt natuurlijk You make me feel, wat een wereldplaat. Legendarische artiest met een zeldzaam goede stem en zeldzaam goed gevoel voor songwriting.

DAMN MY EARS ARE BLESSED Today´s bird: Elegant trogon

Great voice, great album!

All hail the queen. Can't believe I've never listened to this. This surely is a GOATed album - Aretha at her best

Just a beautiful album by an artist who figured out her sound. Starting with Chain of Fools. Such a great song to begin with. A great soul album with that shows Aretha’s vocal ability. The other hit was You Make Feel Like a Natural Woman. So there are songs sung by people that are their songs. This is Aretha ‘s song. Very few can do it justice

amazing album

Queen. Goddess. One of the greatest albums of all time, as well as in soul/R&B. My Queen killed it with this one. I smiled like crazy when I saw this album pop up for today. Wish every day had an album of this caliber.

FIVE THOUSAND STARS!!!

She's the GOAT. What else can I say?

This record is absurdly good. Not just because the hits land like all-time classics, but because the deep cuts refuse to play backup. Aretha moves through gospel, soul, and pop with total command, sounding both joyous and unshakably assured. There’s power here, but it’s never forced. There’s confidence, but it’s earned, not projected. What really stands out is how she balances energy and control. She can bring the house down while sounding like she’s barely trying. On songs like People Get Ready, she doesn’t overwrite the material; she elevates it, turning reverence into resolve. The band grooves hard, the arrangements breathe, and every note feels intentional. This isn’t just a great soul album. It’s a masterclass in presence. You hear it and immediately understand why the bar for singers moved permanently upward afterward. Five stars, no debate.

Aretha is queen for a reason.

I want to get into that Lady’s hole… I mean Lady Soul!!

She's just got that voice you wanna keep listening to, you know? My only critique is that the songs could be longer, because I want to keep living in her voice.

AbSOULute opera

Sweet Aretha, fantastic album!

Absolutely one of the best albums. Vibing all night old school dancing with your loves.

<3 loef

aretha banger 100

She is indeed worthy of all the praise.....so good.

Vocal gold.

Classic! Favorite track: Chain of Fools other picks: a natural woman, ain't no way

9.3/10

Queen

Legend!

Didn't realize how many of her songs that I know are all on one album. Not a single miss.

What can you say about the greatest female singer who ever lived? Soul oozes from every pore in her body. There will never be another like her. Long live Aretha.

Beautiful!

this was incredible. i mean its aretha how could it not be.

no skip album! very pleasantly surprised. lowkey did not want to listen, but i am very very glad i gave it a chance

Definitely a 10/10. I’ve of course heard most of the songs before (it’s Aretha), but they are so soulful, they sound new everytime. The album had a repeat of some songs selection but I didn’t feel the need to skip any of them. Perfect.

Fabulous

Maybe the most beautiful album in the world. She is the blueprint

Aretha, the woman that you are. There’s a reason she’s the Queen of Soul 👑🎙️

Topp låter, topp musikere og topp artist. Man kan ikke gå feil med Aretha.

Soul i toppklasse! Arets Franklin synger jo som ingen andre.

One can be critic and one can simply enjoy the music.

Finally, some good fucking food! Aretha Franklin is so good, I mean she’s called the Queen of Soul for a reason holy shit. I liked the whole album but money won’t change you and (you make me feel like) a natural woman were both standouts.

Stunning. Her voice is clear, emotional, and classic. Equal parts swaying and groovy. Favorite songs: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and Chain of Fools.

This week is full of soul and i love it!

Sunday morning staple now

The queen

The first time I'm listening to Aretha. Oh my god, amazing. Beautiful album. Listened to it twice. Will prolly listen to it more. Goated

This is really good. Obviously the music is there to showcase Aretha's vocals, but her vocals are absolutely amazing so it's a perfect choice. Aretha Franklin 100% deserves to be on this list, and while this is the only album from her I've listened to, it's definitely good.

That key change in ‘People Get Ready.’ Rest of the songs rule too. Aretha’s vocals carry this album.

Classic soul. Terrific stereo mix. Insane cast of supporting characters. No weak songs.

It’s crazy how foundational this sound was

cannot get enough of this!

God, what an album. I mean, Aretha has pipes that would make seemingly anything shine, but this old bluesy soul production is similarly so timeless. It's fun, absurdly funky dance music (in the best way possible) supremely elevated by one of the greatest vocalists of my lifetime. It starts out so hot with Chain of Fools and really doesn't let up. Even slower tracks like People Get Ready manage to take you to church, they hit heavy with bold brass sections and saucy guitar play. I also find myself absolutely enthralled by bass play in almost every track. Really just a no-skips album of beautifully executed soul from it's golden age, paired with an all-time vocal talent. I think Niki Hoeky is my sneaky favorite track, but the floor on this album is just so damn high.

Lady Soul is Aretha Franklin at her most untouchable. Every single track on this album hits, from the unstoppable one-two punch of "Chain of Fools" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" to deep cuts that deserve just as much love. The grooves are tight, the horns are punching, and Aretha's voice sits right in that sweet spot where power meets pure feeling. My personal favorite is "Money Won't Change You" — that song is an absolute banger. The rhythm section locks in and the energy never lets up. It's the kind of track that makes you wonder why it isn't talked about more, because it goes just as hard as anything else she's done. What makes Lady Soul special is that there's no filler. Front to back, it's all heat.

Loved it.

She’s the queen. That is all.

With her preternatural voice and presence, Aretha singing baby shark for 45 minutes would still be a three star. But with songs as strong as these…

Ah, redemption! Love me some Aretha!

Bringing down the house

What a voice, fantastic arrangements

Great. What an ending.

Wow I'm so glad that this introduced me to Aretha because this entire album was so full of feeling and musical and vocal expertise; just floored me. Not particularly music I would look for on my own, but it really hit me deep. I will be listening to Good to Me as I Am to You on repeat- I think that's my favourite song off this album, along with Chain of Fools. Ain't no Way was also very beautiful. 9/10

She straight up freaked it

4.5

4.5

Definitely loved *Never Loved A Man Better* but this was near perfect! (9.8) ★★★★½

Loved it Would probs give 4.5

She is lady soul. This is a great album with a few amazing tracks but every track is worth listening to.

So good. Love hearing her voice from the younger years.

An absolute powerhouse at her peak. Ain't No Way is the ultimate proving ground for serious singers. You don't attempt it if you can't sing it. Cissy Houston's soaring background vocals provide the perfect complement.

For some reason, I've never listened to Aretha Franklin all that much? This one's been my default favorite anyway, because "Chain of Fools" is my favorite song of hers, but actually it's all great. I really love how the backing singers sound here, which sounds like a slight on Franklin herself, but it's not! It's just that everyone's in top form here! I really need to stop neglecting her other albums, don't I?

Craig: good, liked it. Dot: just fine Courtney: great album, every song hits

Easy 5 stars, classic. Perfect voice and so much feeling. Sometimes great singers leave me feeling a bit cold, not Aretha. Love it Favs - People Get Ready, Good to me as I am to You!!!, kind of all of them.

A genuinely good album with no bad songs! Fav Songs: Natural Woman, Since You’ve been gone

In Lady Soul we trust, what a powerhouse of a woman.

I love Aretha for some of her songs, and this album is a classic featuring great gems. It's not something I would have picked on my own but it was a pleasant listen.

She’s the queen

Glorious, iconic. A regular album that plays like a best-of. It’s a classic for a reason and I’ll listen to Aretha any day. Obviously she’s one of the strongest vocalists in history, and doesn’t disappoint here - but the instrumentals on this album were also really great!

Wow

What a voice!! This album is hit after hit, and has aged so well. Great record all in all, my first easy 5 stars

The Queen of Soul! Such a wide-reaching voice that touches so many emotions (4.5)

Things feel great when the queen is singing... She's makes me remember that things are gonna be ok

Uno de los mejores álbumes de la historia. La música, los hits y una de las mejores voces de la historia de la música. La perfección

romantic and comforting like baking at your mom's house after a bad break up trying to pieces of your heart together. I felt I was living a roller coster on the stages of grief

Listen on the way to school/work with Ella <3

Almost too short, but I’d much rather have an album leaving me wanting more than overstaying. Almost all bangers here.

The GOAT

Legendary.

So good! I am embarrassed to admit that, even though i know all of her hits, this was the first Aretha Franklin album I listened to.

Beautiful album. Heard it before but this was a good revisit.

8.6

Holy shit this had a good chunk of her hits and alt takes. This might be one of my favorite albums. She’s the strongest singer ever and the music is phenomenal. One song sounds like early Clapton.

Love this classic album!

beautiful album

Awesome! Loved it all!

Goodness! What a strong 5 star record. "You make me feel" "chain melody" Aretha is a pioneer and a goat... Not much else to say and I don't need to wax poetic.

Just exceptional. So groovy, hips were shaking

jesus christ. this is music. zero skips.

que legaaaaw 🩷 incrível

This album is great, so lively and classy. This album has no skips, and goes really quick, but being great all the time. So, even if it's not perfect for me, as I prefer other kinds of music, I can't deny how much I've enjoyed listening to it and how great it is.

A classic from one of the greatest voices ever.

Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin (1968) - listened 1/1/26 - happy new year!!! * Kait - perfect for dancing in the kitchen!! I don’t know how you can’t move and groove to this! Aretha Franklin is a goddess and makes you feel like one too. Favorite tracks: “chain of fools” (of course) and “natural woman”. Powerful • Feminine • Timeless grooves. 9.5/10 * Al- Strong and groovy all the way through. Aretha’s voice is so good and the production/music behind compliments it well. I especially like the guitar on Chains. Perfect way to start the new year. 8.9/10

Great album. Loved all of it. Added several songs to my soul playlists. Straight 5/5.

Um álbum de soul e blues fabuloso. Que força! QoA Adonis New.

This is Aretha in her prime, in the early years of a ten year run of great records. This is one of the best, but I think I Have Never Loved… edges this one out. Chain of Fools and Natural Woman are the hits and everything else is on par with those. One of the greatest ever vocalists in any/every genre.

This is an amazing album. While it doesn't do much to push into unexplored or experimental territories, it is a distillation of the absolute best of a certain vein of music that was still actively evolving during the sixties. A perfect instrumental backdrop to one of the best vocal performers (and performances) of all time. Incredible.

Loved. Def adding this to my vinyl collection

Super soulful, not one bad song. Love Aretha

Gooood

no weak songs, this was a crazy experience, her voice is insane. I think this gotta be a 5 stars album, genuinely couldn't find bad things to say, I really enjoyed both the more catchy silly songs and the darker ones. a queen.

It’s Aretha. Incredible work.

A one-two of the King and Queen of Soul, if anything, Aretha tops yesterday's (excellent) Otis Redding offering. The definitive version of "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman."

Amazing singing performance!

Always a go to! Class

saved 1 song from the album she really is a powerful singer

can’t go wrong with Aretha

Aretha could sing the dictionary and it would be a 5.

Pure soul. Period.

I don't know if I can think of anything other than amazing to describe this album.

Divine. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an entire Aretha Franklin album all the way through. I’ve been cheating myself.

Beautiful

Bangs, no skips

One of the best voices that there ever was!

Pop music isn't religion. But this is canonical. In Judaism, there is a Passover song called "Dayenu," meaning it would been enough if God just parted the waters to save the Hebrews from the Pharaoh. If Aretha had only recorded "Chain of Fools," dayenu, it would have been enough. "If she had only cut "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, dayenu...

Always a perfect diva

4/5 of the A-side (all but Niki Hoeky) are masterpieces. B-side “merely” great, but Since You’ve Been Gone, Groovin’ and Ain’t No Way are all fantastic

All my other 5s so far were albums I knew I loved and would be getting a 5 the second they popped up. This is different because I really don’t have much experience with classic soul. But by the end of my third listen all I could think was - this truly cannot be improved upon. That’s a 5 in my book. Great stuff.