Lady Soul

4.5. Love this era of hers.

Same great voice but more interesting songs than in I never loved a man...

Some of the best examples of Aretha Franklin, soul, R&B songs are on this album. Queen of soul

I mean icon, staple, legend. First album back after abit of a break on here and it’s dynamite. It’s not something I would ever think of just listening to, but I guess that’s the premise of this. Her songs have been like staple in a lot of family events and listening has brought back so many memories, that’s what music is about. The music behind her voice is incredible on some of these songs. But her voice, wow. Outstanding album.

Absolute classic, instantly recognise that old Motown sound, could it be James Jamerson on the bass with that thumping line driving the track? Really a mood lifter is this album!

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.

Yea its pretty good I like it. Dont really have much to say abt it apart from that. 6.6/10

Played this record for my 19 year old girlfriend. She had no idea who it was and thought I was crazy for liking it. I dunno, we don’t really have anything in common and there’s not much for us to talk about. Maybe I’m just getting old.

im vibing with it. again its not a genre i listen to usually but in this case thats my bad. ive been missing out. chain of fools and groovin stand out the most to me but almost the entire album had me bobbing my head. even the couple of more gospel-leaning tracks, which are so far outside what i would usually listen to, are good enough that i can still fuck w/ it. only real complaint is how short the tracks are and how often they just fade out, but i get the impression that was just how folks were making music back then so i cant really hold that against this album in particular. i should listen to more rnb....

sorry yall

Aretha Franklin is such a tremendous talent, no musical mindscape is complete without songs like “Chain of Fools.” I noticed that she sang and played piano on most / many songs, but she also was the writer for some of the deep cuts on side two. Other songwriting credits include James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, and Carole King. “Chain of Fools” never gets old, other songs are quite good but can’t take you as high. This feels like a very good, old school collection of A and B sides moreso than a unified musical statement. Still, it is well deserving and Aretha must have her due on 1001.

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.

Aretha could sing Hot Cross Buns and I'd give it at least 4 stars. Everything she sings turns to gold, and the inclusion of a couple of her bigger hits makes this album stand out enough to warrant a high rating. Just an extreme talent that captures your attention.

Hvorfor ender alle sangene med fadeout? Ut over det var det veldig trivelig musikk.

Absolutely beautiful!

This one was great - favorite was chain of fools. I did feel like a lot of it sounded the same

Queen of Soul

Can't give Aretha Franklin anything less than a four, it's sacrilegious. The woman has a voice of gold, that Queen Midas-touch to anything she touches. fav tracks: Chain of Fools, Ain't No Way

well thats a new genre for me, beautiful and so is the lyrics, had a great time listening to it and deff will be my favorite

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.

Aretha is amazing, and this album is probably her best imo.

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.

The hits are great, the rest was average imo. 3.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, this is what I was hoping to find in this album generator!!!

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.

Great album. Aretha has one of those all time voices. So powerful. It draws you in right away. Good songs on the album. Notables include Chain of Fools, People Get Ready, You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Wiman, Since You’ve Been Gone, Good to Me As I am To You, Groovin, Ain’t No Way.

She's the best

Beating up anyone who gives this less than a five

Aretha is right up in the top tier, so it's hard to be overly critical, but the album didn't fully connect woth me despite some individually excellent tracks

Fun. Funky. Upbeat. Nice.

“I Love it”- Kira

Enjoy this type of music for sure. Didn't jam out to it as hard as I thought I would've, but enjoyed having it on for sure. Overall good and was fun.

Die Soul-Stimme der 60er. Viele bekannte Songs 4/5

too much for the day

I got Ella and Aretha back to back? Super lucky! What a great 2 days of music. Amazing album from the Queen of Soul.

Few things in life will give you the stank face quicker than Aretha singing. Especially when she hits those notes that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. This album is easily in the top 25 of this whole project. If you were to tell me Aretha Franklin is the greatest singer of all time I wouldn't argue with you. Damn near a religious experience.

I was very enthralled by this album. Her voice is powerful yet clear. Since You've Been Gone and Ain't No Way were my favorites, but all songs on the album are solid in their own right. Definitely would listen to again. 9.0/10

Aretha Franklin, the woman you were, simply extraordinary

legendary, though i liked it less than i remembered, 4.5

Je comprends mieux Janis Joplin et Ariana Grande Très groovy!

Simplesmente espetacular!

Phenomenal album. Best of the best. Aretha's voice will be known as one of the greats for generations to come. Her version of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is transcendental. "Chain of Fools" was my favorite this time around.

7/10

sorry darling ur boring xo

maybe I wasn't really in the mood for some urethra franklin but I didn't really enjoy this as much as I thought I would

I love women

Hallelujah

Another great 60’s effort from the Queen of Soul. I like the instrumental element just as much, if not more, than Aretha’s vocals. And I love her voice. This album combines her typical elements of soul, gospel, jazz, and R&B in a way that just works. Great album, I’ll be coming back to this one.

ARETHAAAAAAA!?!?????? [as a compliment]

The melody is quite funky and lively. the lyrics to the songs are quite lovely. The rhythm is fast and slow in songs, love it.

Aw man. This just warms up the heart of any human being. Beautiful voice and arrangements and tight band and brass section. This puts a smile on my face.

A Natural Woman // Ain’t No Way // 3.5/5

It's Aretha, nothing less than a 5 is acceptable.

I am listening on the Oxford Tube, resolved to try again (again) at discovering things and settling myself in the lineage of music. Yesterday, it occurred to me for the first time that I did teach myself the guitar when I was a teenager, persistently, dedicatedly, and that that is proof of something. I just want to access the world of human cultural feeling, something I’ve felt somehow on the periphery of my whole life. I’m doing this by actively listening now, the way others have done. We just listen to what the world has to say - we just have to stay open. I’m enjoying this record, it’s evocative of the cosiness of late 60s media. I think of jiving in a diner and reading poetry to my date. I’m not sure whether I’m a woman in this scenario, not sure I can be. The world of the record was a different one, it seemed. I mean of course it was. All the songs were written by session people and producers, troops assembled, hitmakers. Natural Woman is undoubtably the best, written by Carole King and also credited to her producer husband. The arrangements are fairly classic but there are standout moments, particularly on drums. I’d like to listen to this on vinyl. Spooner Oldham is credited in the personnel, as is Cl***on. I want to think about the power of a loud voice and I want to watch footage of her singing. I love the guitar tone on Chain, there’s an extra hit of it in the bonus unedited version. Drum groove is also great and all of this can’t really be described. I think about trains and stuff as well, and how it would’ve felt to listen to this in England. Good old England, cesspit of sarcasm. I’m looking forward to more of everything and I even want to dance.

Absolute queen! Such a great album.

- Strong, soulful voice with great range and control + funky grooves... What's not to love? - Some nice instrumentation that never gets too in your face - it lets her voice be the star, but there are tons of different sounds that are interesting in their own right - fun basslines, keys, brass, etc throughout. - My only real complaint is, like most 60's music, I wish the subject matter was more varied - it's not *all* love songs, but pretty close. For such a great civil rights activist, I was hoping for more of that in here. - The sound quality could be more crisp because it feels a little like it's behind a wall of hot air or something.

Aretha Franklin is enriched by a great backing band, who do more than just accompany her. Never been a fan of 'Chain of Fools' (don't ask why), but there were some decent numbers on here. Easy 4 stars.

This album is like a man sitting on the bus riding home from work. A slightly older woman gets on and he offers his seat to her. She is appreciative, but she turns it down. She’s still healthy enough to stand and wants to make the most of that while she can. Eventually the passenger next to the man gets off the bus so the lady sits next to him. The two make friendly conversation about the weather, then each others lives. The woman is friendly, but also she does put up some barriers. She is strong enough to know that she doesn’t need to get to know this guy too well.

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

I mean it’s Aretha Franklin folks. That voice is beautiful. Whilst I know Aretha for a lot more of her slower and more soulful cuts (Respect, Change Is Gonna Come), I found real delight in a lot of the more upbeat songs on this album. Some really excellent work. And obviously, the more soulful songs are just as masterful, especially the final song. Incredible.

The best to ever do it

Sweet and energetic from start to finish. Would listen again.

3-4

Excelente.

8/10 Best songs: Chain of Fools, People Get Ready Not much to say - Aretha is a great singer, these are sort of pre-Motown/jazzy/blues-y songs, and it's just a very chill, cohesive album. Good stuff.

141/1001 First listen. This was enjoyable. It had its moments. I probably won’t play this again though. 4/10

A classic. Short and sweet, powerful and so well mixed

Aretha goatlin Fave track: Chain of Fools

That voice. 4/5

I love this album, an amazing voice. A pleasure to listen to now and any time after this 4/5

Chain of fools- 8/10 Money won’t change you- 8/10 People get ready- 8/10 Niki hoeky- 6/10 You make me feel like a natural woman- 9/10 Sweet sweet baby- 8/10 Good to me as I am to you- 9/10 Come back baby- 8/10 Groovin- 7/10 Ain’t no way- 10/10 Overall 81/100

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!

Beautiful, timeless, ‘60s soul music sung by one of the best to ever do it.

A stone cold classic with great soul bangers that if you haven't heard you just haven't been around long enough. I was happy to listen to it, and enjoyed the tracks that I hadn't heard before.

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.

I liked this a lot more than the previous Aretha Franklin album I got a while back. Some great tunes done really well.

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 sing GOOD. Niki Hoeky and Ain't No Way were great and new to me. Not long enough to cook dinner to is a small minus though. Needed more 7 min jams

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.

Didn't realize how many of her hits were on one album. Enjoyable listen. Could be better for its time but the styles blended together to me so most songs sounded similar.

wow

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

Anyone voting less than 5 stars should be criminally prosecuted

Great

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

Aretha Franklin on yksi niistä monista legendaarisista artisteista, joiden tuotantoon en ole juurikaan tutustunut. Tämä kyseinen levy, Lady Soul olikin oikein hyvä. Arethan voimakas ääni kantaa läpi biisilistan, joka koostuu sielukkaasta gospelista ja bluesista.

A fine album from the Queen. It starts off with one of her biggest songs and the rest are some decent covers. Songwritter credit on a single track.

Good!

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

Amazing vocals. Can't go wrong with some quality vintage soul and Aretha is one of the goats of it.

Helemaal een vibe

Handful of classics, didn't know Groovin' was originally Aretha's. Super powerful voice and actual variety of music styles between gospel, slow emotional, jumpy old timey game show pop and light rock. Very cool to spot those differences.

Entiendo el encanto, no es para mi. Tremenda voz, buen mensaje

Onhan tää hyvä. Levyjä tulossa artistilta varmasti vielä useampi. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kova mimmi laulamaan! Olisi huippua jos levy olisi saatu talteen paremmalla laadulla mutta tuohon aikaan ei sitä voi toki olettaa.

astonishing

Powerful and vibrant.

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

Wonderful

pero totalmente genial, encima lo escuche volviendo de desaprobar un final y caminando x la calle mirando las hojas de los arboles me empoderó bastante

Soulful and beautiful. Love her, not my usual jam but enjoyable

Always a vibe

Discazo

no one like aretha

such a sweet voice

Chain of fools is pretty timeless I think, for me carries the rest as this genre just isn’t for me, but what a tune. Lyrically and musically great.

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

Saying Aretha Franklin is a great vocalist feels like kicking in a door so open it's just an empty frame. The queen of soul easily lives up to her title. What struck me on this album specifically is its theme of womanhood. Obviously, as an album from the '60s, there are some dated conceptions of a woman's role and place that find their way in. Yet, I can't help but be interested by how Franklin chooses to negotiate these positions. The best example of this, is the track Ain't No Way. In it, Franklin struggles with a failing relationship due to the emotional unavailability of her partner. Because of this, she feels like she can't take her rightful place in supporting him. The gender dynamics here are interesting, because traditional masculinity (including that of a lot of Christian churches) rewards this emotional detachment of men. In that sense, though not directly pushing back in her own position, Franklin does challenge traditional relationship dynamics.

heerlijk !! het verbaasde me dat (you make me feel like) a natural woman zo diep in het album stond, ik verwachtte dat wel een lead single was

nice pop album, relaxing and fun

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.

Yup that's Aretha Franklin!

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

Aretha sings. And sings. And sings. I’ll be honest: soul is a genre I have a great deal of trouble with. And this album, Lady Soul, is pretty much soul with a capital S. It revolves around singing, and Aretha Franklin could certainly sing. I have no expertise whatsoever in this field, but I suspect that this sort of record helped lay the foundations for the R&B that would start polluting radio stations from the late eighties onwards. The important difference is: this is much better. The singing is a continuous demonstration of vocal technique, but on most tracks Franklin somehow manages to keep it just on the right side of the line—which I mean positively. The obvious exception will come later. Modern R&B singers seem to feel that every other word needs to be stretched across two and a half octaves; here the technique is generally used in service of the song. Still, the vibrato is often too heavy, and Franklin is mixed loud. Occasionally a single word seems to leap out of the speakers, cross the room and escape through the window. It was 1967, after all. No digital safety net. The bigger problem for me is the music—or rather, the lack of it. This is a completely different approach to making music from the one I enjoy. The album consists entirely of songs written by professional songwriters or covers, including material by Carole King, Curtis Mayfield and James Brown. Not a single song was written by anyone who actually plays on the album. The musicians are there to perform the material; the singer is the star. And that singer is very much the star. There is precious little else going on. The obvious exception is opener 'Chain of Fools', which is consequently also my favourite track. There is actually some guitar, and the drummer occasionally dares to syncopate. When you read that Eric Clapton and Bobby Womack are among the guitarists on the album, you can't help wondering whether they could perhaps have been allowed out of their cages a little more often. The rest is mostly Franklin, her backing singers and some rather dutiful horn arrangements. Take the two most familiar songs. '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' is the original recording, but I much prefer Carole King's later version on Tapestry. King's is more restrained and consequently more affecting; Franklin's is simply too bombastic for my taste. And then there is 'Groovin''. Good grief. The laid-back West Coast pop of the Young Rascals' original—despite the fact that they were actually from New Jersey—is replaced here by more limp horns and vocal bombast. It is rather like aiming a football at a rugby goal: technically the object is somewhere in the general vicinity, but you've fundamentally misunderstood what you're trying to do. The absolute low point is 'People Get Ready' by Curtis Mayfield. I now discover that the song became an anthem of sorts for the civil rights movement, which is obviously rather wonderful. But that isn't remotely how it comes across here. Instead, we enter full gospel territory, with Franklin pulling out every possible vocal trick. The windows shatter, are repaired, and immediately shatter again. The average word seems to cover an octave and a half. It is exhausting. So yes, this probably doesn't sound like a 7/10 review. But I think a 7 is deserved. I can hear the quality, and I'm judging the album against the conventions and ambitions of its genre rather than pretending that my own musical preferences are some sort of universal law. Franklin was clearly operating at the very top of late-sixties soul and R&B, and Lady Soul is ample evidence of that. I just wish someone had turned the volume down a little.

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!

I knew Aretha was good, didnt realize how much i would enjoy it

Favorite Tracks: Niki Hoeky | A Natural Woman

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)

everyone remember to say "thank you aretha franklin"!

fun!!! absolute classic thank you aretha... more like a 4.5 for me

Ja, het is goed, maar het pakt me nergens echt helaas

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.

I enjoyed this. Great listen. Favorite Songs: People Get Ready & Ain't No Way.

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

Love this amazing soul album,

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

Straight up 60's soul

The Aretha Franklin with some well-known songs such as A Natural Woman and lesser known songs. Overall really solid.

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.

It almost goes without saying but what an incredible voice! A couple of classics on this album and, with a polite 30 mins run time, it absolutely breezed by. I can’t say I’d actively seek out this sort of music to listen to but her music is so engrained in popular culture that I needn’t worry.

Souly

3.5

8/10 truly beautiful

bangers

Yup. Legendary. 4/5

what a fantastic voice 4/5

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.

She's just so bloody good. 4.5.

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!

First time trying soul, and it's actually pretty good. I don't enjoy those moments when the singer just blows it, though, it mostly hurts my ears... But great album overall.

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

a great voice and enjoyed the album. not sure how much i would listen to this again in the future though

this sound like jazz and is not my type of music.

I wasn’t expecting to get a ton out of Lady Soul (seeing as I found Aretha Franklin’s other Book Album to be just decent), but this one really surprised me! The songs are memorable, the performances are top notch and I love how rich & lively the instrumentals are. I already listened through the full thing twice today, along with the bonus tracks from the CD reissue! I seriously considered giving it five stars, but I feel like I’d have to move a lot of my strong fours up a tier if I did that. Ultimately, it’s one of those albums that is basically perfect on all counts, but has a couple of songs that don’t speak to me as much as the others and doesn’t strike me as a purely unique body of work in the same way that my previous fives did. Highlights: Chain of Fools, People Get Ready, Niki Hoeky, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone, Good to Me as I Am to You, Come Back Baby

This is so good. Aretha is the GOAT and this kind of soul music just really hits for me.

Niet mijn ding

<3 loef

aretha banger 100

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

Vocal gold.

Very soulful. Good vibes. Faves: Chain of Fools, Money Won't Change You, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Thought I might like this more than I did, the recording sounds live almost but suffers in quality a bit for it. Aretha has a good voice but don't think it was shown off on this. Enjoyed it enough but was a shade worse than the other Aretha album.

Really charming. Chain of Fools, and You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman are, of course, the standouts, and the rest of the album was nicely chilled. Doesn't go far enough into a 4 for me, but a very pleasant 3.

Absolutely not my thing, but absolutely very good! When I think of Aretha Franklin, I think of that scene she did in blues brothers, which incidentally is a great film. I appreciate she's great, but it's unlikely I'm ever choosing to listen to her, just not for me, but that's ok. 3.5, mostly because it's great but not my thing

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

9.3/10

some great vibes

Queen

This is a good album. The vocals are great throughout, and there isn't a bad song on the album. I do think the lyrics leave something to be desired at times, they're very generic. And while I don't see myself returning to this album that often in the future, it was a very enjoyable listen. Three stars. (Favorite track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.)

So, so boring. You guys eat this stuff up huh Rating: 2.0

Legend!

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

Very appealing and excellently sung. However, the production sounds somewhat dated today, and the content of the songs is not only very monothematic and not something I can identify with, but also rather awkward from a modern emancipatory point of view. The title Lady Soul is fitting. 3.5/5

Stocked with hits, but stands alone as an easy-to-listen-to album. Really enjoyed this one.

Está bien 3.8

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!

Need to listen again, pretty good

I vibe, but still not my usual favorite type of music.

love the name of the album, it matches the music well :) very soulful

A classic for a reason. Though the amount of songs that have been used for advertisements at this point, as made it harder to appreciate each song, as well as the overall album.

Love it!

Its soothing. But the weather here was too warm to let me fully enjoy it. Its a wonderful album to listen when its cold and you miss the summer

5/10

Top bangers: 1.Chain of fools 2.Natural Woman 3.Come Back Baby

It's records like this that make 3/4 of the others on this list look like hot garbage. This actually is a record that everyone should listen to before they die! Such easy, joyful listening with all of the nuance and soul of a gold star record. I can't imagine there is anyone out there who wouldn't be grateful to listen to Aretha. Or at least want to dance a little bit ;) -Ruby Aretha’s records are worth listening to for the rhythm section. I find this sort of vocal soul styling to be very dated sounding. —Noah

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

Shed a tear listening to this fr

This album was powerful. What a queen

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

Beautiful energic voice,complemeneted by backing vocals and superb brass ensemble. I liked a lot of songs in this album, especially "Come back baby" and "Since you...". 3.75/5

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

fire

This was a very good album lots of songs that were pretty big hits!

Lady Soul is an absolute banger, the kind of album that grabs you by the shoulders and makes it physically impossible to sit still. At just around 30 minutes, it feels almost unfairly short, especially when it works so well as a workday companion that turns your office chair into a dance floor. By the time it ends, you’re left thinking, That was it? Already? Aretha Franklin’s voice is the undeniable centerpiece here, and it’s nothing short of incredible. She sounds powerful, confident, and completely at home, effortlessly switching between grit and elegance. Every note feels intentional, every phrase drenched in soul. Even decades later, her presence is magnetic. That said, while the album is very enjoyable, it’s also quite homogeneous. The songs share a similar vibe and palette, but thankfully it never becomes tiring. Each track manages to carve out its own little pocket of personality, small shifts in mood, groove, or attitude that keep things engaging even if the overall sound remains consistent. The age of the record does show. It’s well recorded for its time, but you can still hear the years in the production, which slightly dulls the impact compared to more modern recordings. More importantly, despite how much fun it is, Lady Soul doesn’t quite feel like an album that transmits something deeper or lasting. It’s a great time, a joyous listen, but not one that leaves a strong emotional or conceptual mark once it’s over. For all that, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself while it’s playing. Just don’t expect it to linger long after the final note. 7.5/10

banger

Great vocals, easy listening

Please don't tell my friends and family, but I think I only find this a very good album rather than a perfect one.

Reliably quality. You can always depend on Aretha. Chain of Fools and You Make Me Feel are particular standouts on a strong album.

I would vibe to this in a cafe or bar in the 60s.

Tolle Stimme, nette Songs, 3 1/2, ich runde auf.

Aretha is obviously a total powerhouse. My issue is that because her voice is set to "blast" about 90% of the time, I find it fatiguing. I could listen to any one of these songs and say, hey, that's a good/great song, but it's hard for me to tolerate in an album-length format. Too much of a good thing, unfortunately.

listened to some. liked what i heard

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 👑🎙️

Flott skive, imponerende stemme. Liker det best når instrumentseksjonen får lov til å gå like hardt som Franklin.

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.

ну голос сильный из всего альбома только ain't no way +- зашло

papier peint qui pue un peu

l'amour c'est bien, mais on veut entendre autre chose que le meme theme

What a voice

so iconic

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.

Not as bad as I feared. Lots of recognizable singles on this record. It's not something I would choose but I didn't hate it.

Listens: 1 Standout Tracks: N/A I barely got in a full listen, unfortunately. There's nothing wrong with this music. Very pleasant. Great voice. Great backing instrumentation. No complaints

Aretha the Queen Franklin. Don't think there's many who can touch her vocal's. This entire track list is full of vibey songs. As to be expected from a legend.

不错

This week is full of soul and i love it!

Sunday morning staple now

not my typa msuci im not this old but she was a good singer aint no way my fav song

Chain of Fools Money Won't Change You Niki Hoeky (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Ain't No Way

The queen

Decent 3,5

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

so soulful and warm! don’t have much experience with listening to aretha so this is a great full intro

Wish I could hear this with fresh ears, so much of Aretha’s catalog has been so ubiquitous - radio in the 80s, film soundtrack shorthand for all manner of things, a certain mod night I went to in the 00s, etc.

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.

I love you Aretha

4/5 Overall a solid record

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

Love the voice and energy. Love some of the songs but not all. Great music to put on when you’re doing a task that involves physical energy

Good album. Iconic sound of soul in the late 60's!

"A Natural Woman" I knew I knew her stuff. Had this on while cooking and eating dinner. Excellent.

Track 1: Listening while sitting bathtub, nice echoey acoustics from IPhone speaker while in bathroom. Feels like i'm in netflix teen show. Track 2:

It’s crazy how foundational this sound was

Very very nice songs, better than most things here. Aretha has a beautiful voice, she truly is Lady Soul

Great voice but nothing really catches me

3/5 not a bad listen but not for me. nothing memorable. best: -

Fantastic first time listen

It’s good

Beautiful every track beautiful what a voice

cannot get enough of this!

Wow. Spectacular album! Quintessential soul. I give it a 4.5!

the queen, though not something I usually listen to

Another soul and R&B classic with many memorable tracks, several of which have been interpolated and covered many times since. Franklin's performances are as nuanced, powerful and memorable as her frankly astonishingly consistent remaining body of work. The backing band (including purported additions by Cissy Houston/The Sweet Inspirations and Eric Clapton) are up to task for the standard R&B canon of the time. An incredibly easy and enjoyable listen, although a lot of these classic baby making music albums fail to excite me the way works pushing the boundary of the artform a little more do. A solid 4 carried by Franklin's iconic pipes. Favorite Tracks: "Chain of Fools", "... A Natural Woman", "Since You've Been Gone", "Groovin'" Least Favorite Tracks: All of them have their place in the album

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.

Nice start.

Loved it.

She’s the queen. That is all.

So smooth

Aretha had a beautiful voice. I‘ve actually been getting more into Soul/Blues. She‘s a legend and I have to throw respect on her name. I will say, I wish the instrumentals shined through a bit more.

There is a reason why she is so revered, it is because she talented & can Sii-ii--innn--nngg!! Sing!! Since I recently had Carole King's album with her rendition of Natural Woman, Aretha's version is light years better. I did not care for Franklin's version of Groovin'. Slowed it down too much for my liking. Chain of Fools is The One on here for me. Popped in my head, when I saw it on the track listing. ITS still there. Natural Woman will too. 4

I always am hesitant to listen to old R&B/Soul, which is odd because I always end up loving them. This is a lovely record that has some great soulful slow tunes, and some more funky lively stuff.

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…

Nicht mein Genre, aber krasse Banger

don't call her Queen of Soul for nothing

Great singer, classic songs, but its time has passed.

Ah, redemption! Love me some Aretha!

3.5

Bringing down the house

Good sangin

Gave it a 82/100, 2 playlisted tracks, I didn’t expect to like this nearly as much as I did especially since I usually don’t like the pure vocalist records but this was cool. Doesn’t sound dated at all.

very good

Was nice

What a voice, fantastic arrangements

Her voice here sounds so fresh and youthful, I grew up only knowing her as an old lady and this helped me see her as she was

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

Some classic songs, and the rest is also good soul, but not as good as the other Aretha Franklin album in this book. 4 stars

I like this better than the other Aretha album in the book. I think you get some bona fide classics like "Chain of Fools" and "Natural Woman", plus some really great deep cuts like "Ain't No Way" and "People Get Ready". Not really a dud on this album. I'm tempted to go 5 stars, but I'm going to go with a high 4.5 for now.

Hey Nineteen, that’s Retha Franklin. Oh, she knows already. She remembers the Queen of Soul because it was only 10 days ago we had I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You. It’s soul. She sings soul. Album is called Lady Soul. S’all very good soul but not much to write home about. You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman) the main standout. Gimme another Doors album please.

Incredible vocals such a powerful voice not the type of thing I listen to often but I enjoyed it

Loved it Would probs give 4.5