Lady Soul

I liked the big band

Lovely Album. Outside of the classics, the song that blew me away was was "Ain't No Way". That ghostly high note is INSANE.

Queen of soul delivers an iconic performance over wonderful arrangements

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?

Me gusto mucho, una onda jazz pum para arriba. Te pone de buen humor. Terrible voz tiene aretha, alguna vez escuché chain of fools pero no tenía idea de que era de ella.

Soulful perfection! Her version of People Get Ready is fantastic.

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

i mean what a beautiful, exciting album. i love it!

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.

Nothing wrong with this, but nothing truly exciting either. You Make Me Feel is a classic for good reason, I'd say this is closer to 4 but didn't quite make it

It's fine. I'm not a big fan but this album has some classics and she's the queen of soul!

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

Same thing as usual, cover songs do not rank as highly in my books. However as usual Aretha’s voice is great

So good: the horn drop on People Get Ready, the kinetic bass on Niki Hoeky, the nervous strings on You Make Me Feel, that Aretha transcends somehow both soaring and gritty. I could do without Groovin', but otherwise perfect.

Love me some Aretha, but this one did not shine like the other one.

I enjoyed, and there are some all-time greats here; somehow this one didn’t wow me quite as much as the first Aretha album we listened to.

1-песня чем то напомнила "California dreamin" очень бодрый и приятный вайб, 2-тоже очень понравилась. почему то вайб старой кофейни из 80х. 5- песня с невероятно крутой звуковой дорожке, ощущение что конец какого то трогательного фильма. 6- очень крутой вайб, переносит в ту эпоху Думаю каждая песня на этом альбоме заслуживает внимания "я добавил те которые выше" Очень приятный альбом,c невероятной атмосферой. общая оценка по первому впечатлению 8.5/10

The Queen. 4/5

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!

Regular jazz. 3/5

A collection of classic sung by a timeless voice.

Quintessential soul album. Aretha's voice is powerful yet comforting. It is a shame she has since passed. Her legacy lives on through her music and this album is a perfect representation of her power, warmth, and love.

buen álbum, la parcera canta súper bien, los 4 o 5 temas del final son repetidos del álbum entonces es bastante más corto en verdad, pero bacano, igual no es muy estilo entonces tampoco top

Wow

Incredible voice ticks it up for me

Amazing voice, great style, fun record. Legendary artist and iconic album.

Uskomaton, en oo r&btä tai soulia niinkää kuunnellu. 1900 luvun parhaita ääniä.

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

Franklin's voice is an amazing combination of power, control and finesse on this album. The backing musicians are also in excellent form across these tracks. Probably the only weak point on this record is the sometimes weak choice of material, including an ill-advised and unnecessary cover of The Young Rascals' Groovin'".

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

7/10 Acima da média. Não é o meu estilo de música favorito, mas se estivesse tocando de fundo em um restaurante, estaria me satisfazendo mais do que músicas de restaurante normalmente me satisfazem.

Classic

4,5

so good wouldnt choose to listen to it. could put me so sleep

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

nice

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

no

Chain of Fools - 7/10: I really like the instruments/beat (whatever you call it) and her vocals. Money Won't Change You - 6/10: Same as the last one. People Get Ready - 6/10: It isn't bad, I'm just not a huge fan of slower songs. Niki Hoeky - 6/10: I like the intro. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - 6/10: I like the instruments/beat on this song, as well as her vocals. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone - 8/10: I love her vocals on this song and the little breaks (idk what to call them). Good To Me As I Am To You - 7/10: I just really like the way the song sounds. Come Back Baby - 8/10: I like the intro and just the instruments/beat in general. Groovin - 6/10: Not bad, just not my favorite. Ain't No Way - 8/10: I really like the lyrics and her vocals. Overall Score: 68/100 Overall Rating: 7/10: I've never really listened to Franklin, but I really enjoyed this album. I love her vocals and she has great range. I also love the music/instruments/beat on most of the tracks. I am surprised that I enjoyed it so much, but I did really enjoy it.

Love chain of fools and (you make me feel like) a natural women are my favorites.

Groovy, feel good, classic album. Aretha’s voice is otherworldly. Loveee the trumpets throughout

A classic soul album, with Aretha's amazing vocal performances. It's groovy, moving and in a way, soothing.

So beautiful

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!

Chain of Fools - Oh I know this one! Really good. I like this genre, so I already know I’m gonna enjoy these. Really gorgeous song, very smooth jam. Love the bass line. Money Won’t Change You - Oh I REALLY like this one. Very fun! Love the upbeat vibes of it. People Get Ready - A bit slower than I usually enjoy, but I still love this one. She just has such an incredible voice, every song is going to be beautiful. Niki Hoeky - Oh this one is fun! The instrumentals are sooo nice. This one makes me feel like dancing haha. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Of course I already know this one. Absolutely beautiful song, it’s a classic. Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Been Gone) - Oh this is another fun one! I love the piano/horn line that steps upwards, feels really nice to listen to. Been a huge fan of the horns on this whole album, but they feel especially present here. Really good song. Good To Me As I Am To You - This one’s pretty! Another one that’s a little slower than I usually like, but still very enjoyable. Absolutely gorgeous vocals in it too, although that goes for the whole album. Come Back Baby - I don’t know how to have more individual notes for these songs other than they’re all good and they’re all jams. This is another fun upbeat dancing song! Really good. Groovin’ - Ooh now this is the type of slow song I love! “Groovin’” is a very accurate description. Real smooth, real nice. Ain’t No Way - Another gorgeous slow song! The vocals really shine on this one, although again, that’s true of every song on here. Very pleasant. I like it. OVERALL: Easy 4 stars for me, would be a 4.5 if I could. My favorite album I’ve listened to from here so far. Absolutely gorgeous vocals, very nice instrumentals, especially the horns, this is a classic for a reason. Favorites were Chain of Fools, Money Won’t Change You, and Groovin’.

Very good overall! I added 3 songs to my everyday playlist... Would potentially go back and relisten to the full album again!

beautiful album

great album

beautiful listen songs like (sweet sweet baby) since you’ve been gone, and chains of fools are my favorites

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.

Some good tunes but thought they became slightly similar sounding

The queen herself. Some good old soul rhythms with attitude.

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.

Not my style! But definitely a very well-made album; Aretha's vocals are stunning. Will revisit.

I found "Lady Soul" to be a somewhat inconsistent experience. While the album contains some exceptional 60s R&B, I found myself far more drawn to the grit of the R&B tracks than the more grandiose, soulful arrangements like 'People Get Ready' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'. My main reservation lies with the vocal delivery. It may be considered musical sacrilege, but I often find that even the greatest singers fall into the trap of 'over-singing', showcasing vocal power simply because they can. In the cover of 'People Get Ready' (a great song), the slowed tempo and overwrought gospel gymnastics feel forced and performative, which personally takes me out of the music. This occurs again on 'Good to Me As I Am To You'; despite the brilliant instrumentation, the vocals are belted at a constant high volume that feels exhausting rather than evocative. 'Come Back Baby' narrowly escapes the same fate. I much prefer the restraint shown on 'Groovin’', 'Ain’t No Way', or the standout 'Chain of Fools', where a more subtle delivery allows the song to breathe. For me it's a decent album but not one I will be revisiting. Three stars. A Side 1 "Chain of Fools" (5/5) 2 "Money Won't Change You" (4/5) 3 "People Get Ready" (2/5) 4 "Niki Hoeky" (3/5) 5 "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (3/5) B Side 1 "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (3/5) 2 "Good to Me As I Am To You" (2/5) 3 "Come Back Baby" (3/5) 4 "Groovin'" (4/5) 5 "Ain't No Way" (4/5) Total - 33 Average - 3.3 206/1001 116/206 albums reviewed were new to me.

Not enough to convince me that I really love Soul. But wow. Music is good and her singing is killer!

A classic from one of the greatest voices ever.

Album 1 of 2026!

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

Soooo good. Will be listening again.

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

Nothing to dislike her but apart from Aint No Way nothing really moved me.

Like stright up majestic Not what I usually listen, but this first ones, are really energetic and I like them Not a fan of slow ones

Album 4 Top 3 favorites off the album: People Get Ready, Good to Me as I Am to You, Groovin' Oh, Aretha Franklin, my beloved. Is there really anything to be said? A fantastic voice, an album that makes you get up and dance, it's always a treat to listen to her. In the interest of saying something else, the bass across this album is delicious. If loving lower voices is a crime, lock me up and throw away the key. The horns are also clean as hell. I loved the funk in some of these tracks! I'm used to hearing more of her soul stuff, so that was neat! A very satisfying listening experience. I always smile when songs just fade out at the end. It's always amused me for some reason, practical though it is. A lot of smiling this album. Anyway, I think my soul ascended. That's all for now, folks!

Legendary album from the queen

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

She's brilliant

Not for me

Classics from a master. Best song: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

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

OK. I know she's good, but its not my kind of music. But Natural Woman is a classic.

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.

Great stuff! Hadn't heard this whole album before, but Niki Hoeky was a great new find. All hail the Queen of Soul.

I heard a couple of songs, yet to hear the entire album. Definitely a vocal powerhouse. But idk . I don't see myself listening to this music on loop

It’s Aretha. Incredible work.

Love listening to Aretha sing. Good album.

Ein kraftvolles Soul-Album mit ikonischen Songs wie „Chain of Fools“ und „(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman“. Arethas Stimme glänzt, die Arrangements sind stimmig. Ein Klassiker – nur wenige Titel bleiben weniger im Gedächtnis.

Aretha Franklin was such a powerhouse. Lady Soul is all killer, no filler, and is a masterclass in soul music. If you don’t enjoy this, consider your privilege of hearing revoked.

just a nice one to come back to. aretha never fails me. my top three favs are people get ready, good to me as i am to you and groovin'

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!

I definitely prefer I Never Loved a Man..., but this record is no slouch at all. 4/5

lady's got pipes my queen niki hoeky is way funkier than should be allowed you just wanna crank the volume

Always a go to! Class

great soul album

New to me. Lovely feel to the album, with some top notch names in the credits (Carol King, Eric Clapton, Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield etc) 1. Chain of Fools 2. You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman 3. Ain’t No Way (backing vocal wow!)

Aretha's most celebrated album, I believe. The Queen of Soul in great form here, everybody will know at least 3 songs I suspect - Chain of Fools, You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman and People Get Ready. All classics of the genre, but closing track Ain't No Way is also particularly tender. Although at one point it sounds like she says "With your tiny balls in my hands!" (it's actually 'if you're tyin' both of my hands'). Not sure I'd go the full 5 but all pretty powerful stuff.

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

Прикольно, очень хороший соул. Мои любимые треки: people get ready, niki hoeky, “…” A natural woman, groovin’, chain of fools

can’t go wrong with Aretha

Can't go wrong with Aretha Franklin 4.25-4.50/5

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

80

It was ok but not completely my vibe

Nice, but not very memorable. Not my favourite of the soul album's I've listened to so far.

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

Ok overall. Some tracks got a little odd on vocals. Chill and dramatic feeling vibes.

Komplett beim Duschen und ready machen gehört - perfekt für nebenbei/Hintergrund und cozy.

tan groovy, tan tranquilizante

Made me feel like the main character of a rom-com.

Bangs, no skips

One of the best voices that there ever was!

Really liked this album for easy listening - don't have to be super tied into the lyrics and can just let Aretha's voice wash over you. Reminds me of sipping coffee on a Sunday morning. Standouts for me were Chain of Fools, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Groovin'.

Lovely as always

An iconic voice, best shown in the slower songs on this album.

Areatha has a nice clear voice and there are maybe 3 solid melodies holding this album together but as a whole I do not feel the vibe enough to add this to my personal collection

Live laugh love Aretha Franklin. A classic for sure, though I feel not every track is very memorable on its own. Favorite Tracks: Chain of Fools, A Natural Woman, Ain't No Way

An absolute classic. What a voice!

15 December - Aretha: Lady Soul Was al bekend met (you make me feel like) a natural woman. Cain of fools Good to me as I am to you - insane opening met bass. Voelt de soul. Begrijp volledig dat zij voorganger is van soul en zo veel muziek hierop gebaseerd is

Only 10 songs here, but it does include Chain of Fools and Natural Woman A real pleasure to hear these classics again I'm going to sneak some of these onto the playlists my daughters listen to, and I'm interested to get their reactions!

Chill gospel, soul album Best song 1. Listen: ain’t no way

Objectively, she is The Woman

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...

Sweeping vocals, punchy and fun. They don't make them like this anymore

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

Noice!

Aretha’s voice is top notch - my favorite arrangements were with an interactive backing band and background singers. Best songs were the ones I knew, could have gone for less understated production. Personal taste.

I've never listened to this album, but I knew one or two songs (8). It's Aretha, she's the greatest, what else do you expect?

Great singing, great music. Lead singles Chain of Fools and You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman. Strong song choice in the supporting tunes, especially People Get Ready which is given a compelling arrangement.

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.

This lady is from another dimension; what a wonderful and powerful voice; what an energy; I have all the R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Aretha, I believe she still is delighting all the heaven souls 🥰👍

Legendary singer

Arethalla on todella muhkea ja rouhea ääni. Levy lähti heti hyvin liikkeelle, minulle tutummalla The Commitmentsinkin coveroimalla ”Chain on Fools”-biisillä. Tykkäsin levystä, hyvää musaa.

One of the GOATs. Clearly incredible singing, my only critique is that the sound is a bit too monotonous, which lands the album a 4.

This is the first album I've listened to through this. I think what I'm going to do is write my favorite quote from each album and rate it on a scale of 1-10. My favorite quote from this album was in the song "Good to Me as I Am to You", "If there's water in the pitcher, and we both need a drink/ To stay alive, my darlin', I'd need less water than you think" I don't really have much to compare this to yet but it was a pretty good album although I wouldn't classify it as life changing, so I think I'll give it a 7/10.

A Natural Woman is one of my favorite songs! Lots of hits in this one.

2,6/5

классный альб 7-8 из 10 где то может любимая песня aint no way

It was really nice to listen to, and she has an insane voice - it's just not really my genre of choice, and I don't see myself coming back to it very often. I wish i could do half stars becuase it's beautiful and deserves more then 3 stars but i just don't see myself coming back to it and nothing really stuck with me.

As usual, Aretha Franklin has a beatiful voice, and she brings such a fun energy to her songs. Album starts off good with a couple solid tracks. People Get Ready is beautiful. I enjoyed Niki Hoeky quite a bit. And then You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman comes on. Obviously a classic, well earned. Good To Me As I Am To You is really fun. and Ain't No Way sends us off nicely. There is not a single dud on this album, every track is beautiful. Really fun album, thoroughly enjoyed myself. Love you, Aretha! Best song: You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman

Favourite track: (You make me feel like) A Natural Woman

crazy how many songs i know despite it being soul. doesn't matter, though. i don't like soul.

Good to Me as I am to you is an epic song on this album full of hits from the queen of soul

Does what it says on the tin, but still manages to outshine its expectations

For two minutes and forty five seconds I DO feel like a natural woman.

She beltin'

Nice backdrop for IT work.

Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin 3/5 - An album with very powerful Vocals but lacking lyrics and instrumentals. Chain of Fool 4/5 - Classic soul with powerful vocals. Money Won't Change You 3/5 - No Comments. People Get Ready 3/5 - Very strong vocals but don't care for the lyrics at all. Niki Hoeky 3/5 - Like it but not sure what she was talking about. Natural Woman 4/5 - Don't know what a natural woman is but I'm happy for her. Since You've Been Gone 3/5 - Another powerful love song. Good to Me as I Am to You 3/5 - No comment. Come Back Baby 3/5 - No Comment. Groovin' 3/5 - Funky.

Maravilhoso

Blistering vocals. Easy to see why she's the gold standard all the rest are measured against.

Really tremendous album. That last song, Cissy Houston soars.

No notes. Amazing. I’d follow her from venue to venue if I could time travel to then.

There will never be another queen of soul. Her voice is so effortless powerful and distinctive. This album is full of her signature songs and catapulted her to the top. RIP.

Probably the queen of soul with an iconic voice. Several toe tappers. Also had an actual impact on the industry and genre.

the goddess of soul

This is the real goods. It’s just so good, so, so very good.

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 🎤👩🏾‍🎤⬛ Production: 🕰️🫤👌 Music: 🔥👏💖 Rating: 💎💎💎💎(💎)/5

Classic soul album. *Heard before

You make me feel, you make me feeeell! Aretha Franklin's unmistakable voice over some jazzy instrumental will always feel timeless.

A great album. A lot of soul.

Even if it's mostly background music sounding to me, a good recording/performance

Omfg yes. Classic tracks sung with soul

I have to give it up to Aretha of course, insane vocalist. This music just doesn’t quite speak to me. I really wish that it did. It’s enjoyable to listen to, but nothing really grabs me. I think I’ve always had a bit of trouble with soul music in general, particularly the vocal styles that are more acrobatic (Aretha is very tasteful mind you) just don’t hit me the way I think they’re supposed to. I would put it on for a certain vibe though.

This is the quintessential soul album that is great despite being before the era of and not in the theme of the “album.” Her singles are so strong that they are unbeatable and put together this is an amazing show of a true talent at the height of her power. Intoxicating, sensual and heartbreaking in a perfect spin.

How can you go wrong with Aretha Franklin

10/10 I’d been an admirer of Aretha Franklin’s work for a long time before listening to this album, and there were a ew standout tracks on here that I was already familiar with, but this album as a whole was a fresh one to me. It kind of goes without saying that Aretha has one of the most controlled, nuanced and distinctive voices in the history of recorded music, and you will find reference to her vocal talents all over my track by track breakdown. But that would all be for nothing, if the songs and music didn’t at least come close to providing a worthy backdrop to her abilities. And thankfully, here they step up to the plate in an almost majestic way. The band stride confidently along the line of giving exactly the amount of space for Aretha to do her thing, while still allowing themselves to step into prominence when she provides them the space. They consistently deliver a locked in yet smooth and fluid groove with all of the dynamic range and control that's needed to bring a living, breathing pulse to the music. The song choices are fantastic, with a really considered range between slow jams and higher tempo grooves that tickle towards edges of funk. There's also a nice mix of covers, songs written for Aretha and self penned tracks, which all adds up to a superb blend of quality. And that all ends with the unexpectedly spectacular final song that just blew my socks off, written by Aretha’s little sister Carolyn. There were a few moments that were perhaps slightly weaker than others but, frankly, the highs did enough to balance out any slight dips. So it’s safe to say they nailed all of the ‘non Aretha’s voice’ parts too. But final word should go to that very thing. Aretha owns every song she sings. She has so much effortless quality and delivers the required emotion out of a melody every time. From soft, sultry moments to soaring, driven highs, via vocal trills and vibrato that just seem tossed away like they’re second nature, she’s an absolute joy to listen to time and time again. The Queen of Soul indeed. Chain Of Fools - Such a groove to kick off the album. The alternating and then unified backing vocals are quality and Aretha eases herself into things so smoothly before giving a little taste of her vocal gymnastics here and there. There’s so much feel to the band here and it’s super tight, full of movement and has so much soul. Money Won't Change You - Her vocal delivery is exquisite but feels so effortless. She can chuck in a lovely bit of grit when she wants to and she can flick her way up and down scales and runs with reckless abandon, never losing the thread of the groove or melody. There’s a really great pulse to this that gets handed off between the different parts, but they also all come together at points to really drive home the rhythm. Super solid again. People Get Ready - A nice change of pace now. This one has some absolutely fabulous moments, the piano and guitar in particular add some quality nuance in places, and there are some really lovely chord changes. It’s slightly more of a meandering track, but Aretha just keeps delivering to give it undeniable quality and heart. Niki Hoeky - This has got a great rolling rhythm and the little horn stabs and swells give it that little extra dose of feel. It really makes you move. The bass work is so deep in the pocket you can barely reach it and it just strolls around brilliantly giving a pulsing tonal heartbeat. Some of the high notes she hits are stunning and there are more little runs and trills that just blow you away but are never overdone. Love the little breaks for the guitar too. Quality. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Carole King’s songwriting just gets deep into my bones. This is just a spectacular song. The harmonies in the chorus are stunning, the slow lilt to the rhythm in the verses oozes groove, and the subtle brass parts just add a gorgeous warmth to the song. And then you get Aretha just delivering a vocal masterclass of vocal and emotional control in her performance. It’s got bags of dynamic range, it ebbs and flows and it’s got an absolutely killer hook. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby) - Back to another solid groove. Aretha is smashing it again. It’s super tight and well put together, and the horn parts are great, in particular. It’s perhaps a bit less hooky and focused than some of the other tracks, and relies a little too much on repetition of the ascending scale motif, but it’s still a solid, tail shaker of a track. Good To Me As I Am To You - What a great, jazzy intro. The piano and guitar playing against one another is top notch. It’s a slow groove and Aretha just delivers again and again. She really knows how to push and pull her vocal intensity. A lot of the players get their little moments in here too, and it’s a great all-rounder that really delivers a great range of dynamic and passion. Come Back Baby - The bass line here is brilliant. It just strolls all over the place and gives everything another solid pulse. The call and response of Aretha and the backing vocals is great too and this is just a a super solid uptempo bounce of a track. It’s kind of hard not to be uplifted by a song like this. It’s not the most deep and meaningful of songs, but it’s and absolute beast of a good-time jam. Groovin' - Damn right they’re groovin’. This is smooth. It’s got that laid back soul feel to it that has enough zip to give it drive, but is relaxed enough that you can just chill while you bob your head. The little offbeat climbs from the band and backing vocalists during the verses are just slow soul perfection. Aretha gives a more restrained performance, for the most part, and here trills and vibrato at that low intensity just go to further prove her vocal control credentials. What a great track. Ain't No Way - Good god, this is excellent. It’s another slow jam, written by Aretha’s sister Carolyn, who is credited with backing vocals. If that’s her doing the high vibrato into a descending run, vocal talent must run in the family, because that is spectacular. This track is just a groove that does exactly what it needs to, which is provide a superbly written backbone to let Aretha just do her thing over the top. It’s chill inducing stuff and, again, she knows how to push and pull that dynamic. She’s got exceptional range, not only pitch wise, but the intensity and firmness of her delivery is so flexible, and she knows how to drag every bit of feeling out of a song. What a way to end the album.

Just such fantastic sound throughout. Strong instrumentals, strong sound, vocals, everything perfect. Wouldn't change a thing.

I mean its Aretha right? I had always heard of her and respect and all that but I never sat down to listen to a whole record by her. And damn im glad this site brought me here. Its just all around great. She has a powerful voice and she has good taste. She works with good people to bring in great musicians to make the best backing for her. Its all just wonderful and good and pure and worthwhile. Just listen cause its damn near perfect

“Lady Soul” is another outstanding album by Aretha, about which there isn't really much to say. Everyone probably knows “Chain of Fools” (which, more than 50 years after its release, is in itself a sign of quality), and writing any more good things about Aretha's voice doesn't seem particularly useful to me. That leaves a brief comparison with her album “I Never Loved a Man...”, released a year earlier, which is absolutely comparable in quality and which I already had the pleasure of reviewing: Here, too, the strongest song is right at the beginning (was that common practice back then?), Aretha's style no longer seems quite as groundbreaking, and this time the album title is short enough to write out in full. That's it!

Lots of classic pop soul stuff on this record, but some amazing gems. "Ain't No Way" is one of my favorite songs of this genre.

What an absolute gem of an album. Blasting right off with Chain of Fools and just keeping the vibe high the entire album. I didn't expect to give this a perfect score but I can't imagine enjoying an entire album much more. I will definitely listen again and glad I got this. 4.5/5

5 stars

The Queen for a very clear fucking reason

# Album Name: Lady Soul # Artist: Aretha Franklin # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: What a banger. Great voice. Great tunes. Amazing album. # Top Tunes: Whole damn thing # Would I listen to it again? yes

Aretha Franklin was outta control eh

3/5 . Songs have good energy.

Classic album that has stood the test of time. I have nothing negative to say about this.

Aretha Franklin, one of the most powerful female vocalists in history. Her voice is soothing, relaxed and absolutely powerful. Nobody else sounds like her. The songs here aren’t always the most adventurous or groundbreaking, but she refined Southern Soul to the point where even a plain tune turns into a masterpiece the moment she opens her mouth. Highlights on this album are "Chain Of Fools", "Nicky Hoeky", "A Natural Woman" and "Ain't No Way" (my personal favorite) which gives me goosebumps every single time. She will forever be missed. One of the greatest of all time. 9/10.

Good album - great voice

Overall Rating - 4.70/5 (9.40/10). Albums like this are why Aretha Franklin earned the title "The Queen of Soul."

good classics and the ones i hadnt listened to were fun

Pretty but not for me, although the hits iconic

All class. Day two album. Stereo turned up. Tail end of the thanksgiving blizzard. Holed up alone in Houghton. 4.75/5

Soul was never my cup of tea.

Incredibly enjoyable all the way through.

Exceptional album! Damn, she was the Queen, prove me wrong! We have songs here that are legends, and the rest of the album holds it together. Relevant today, treasures for tomorrow. God Bless Aretha Franklin!

Fun, powerful, and vividly soulful. One of the best offerings by one of the best vocalists of all time. A perfect album to sit back and listen to, or to get up and dance to. Spellbinding vocals and smooth jazzy backing music make this such an enjoyable listen. Top tracks: Chain of Fools, Niki Hoeky, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Unbelievable vocals, need to listen to more Southern soul albums

Impossible to not like this. Favs: Chain of Fools (You Make Me Feel Like) Natural Woman (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone

Снова соул и негры что за альбомы такие

Great album. It's full of classics.

Tuvo que haber un soul para que después hubiese música disco, la heredera natural del ritmo de la Motown. Pero es que Aretha es mucho más que soul. Ella es la contestación de las mujeres ante la hegemonía masculina. Aretha es el respeto, la fuerza y la naturalidad de quien se siente poderosa. A Aretha no se le tose. "Chain Of Fools" y "You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman)" ya han pasado a la posteridad.

Aretha Franklin was a legend, even in her own time. It's deserved. This album features all of The Queen of Soul's talent, plus a Carole King composition, The Swampers and Eric Clapton, just to name a few things. 5/5, put it on as soon as you're doing reading this.

Hit after hit from the Queen of Soul herself.

You can't argue with this album (well, you could, but you'd be wrong). It's just one great song after another. Favorite track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

She is the Queen. Flawless.

Absolutely outstanding album,

Incredible voice from an iconic performer. This has some of her most well-known hits on it. Very good album.

great voice good album

* love the way suspicious mind fades out then fades back in, it's like the opening of Dune **also I don't know if I think Here, My Dear is as goood as What's Going On, it's a cool sci fi funk Odyssey, but there ARE some classics on WGO. Anyway it's definetly worth listening as much as What's Going On or Let's Get It On! **I feel bad for rating Maiden that low but well... ****might have rated Hot Rats too high, it's higher than a 4 for sure, but do I like it as much as Entairtenment! Let's say? (No) Or the other album I did rate a 5? (Not really! But it's close) *****Who care anyway... I mean yeah, chain of fools and natural woman are fantastic obviously Ain't no way is great, short n sweet!

This hits different. Nobody compares to the Queen of Soul.

Amazing album from the queen

A nice soulful album from the queen of soul.

Just some damn good soul music by the Queen of Soul, and that's really the only way to put it. No notes for Aretha.....the best to ever do it. I really need to get this album on vinyl (cue the pic of the copy Alex already owns).

Beautiful 30 minutes. No notes

Everyone who worked on this is really talented. You probably should be if you're working with Aretha Franklin. Sort of a "no duh" heater. Favorite Tracks: People Get Ready, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Good to Me As I Am To You

The Queen of soul

Pretty good pop-soul music. Good listen!

The title of the album is 100% correct

So good

Great 60s MoTown! So many classic songs on here, it could be a greatest hits album.

Aretha's incredible vocal range and ability are expressed in a way that does not seem like over singing; righteous flamboyance, if you will. The instruments and background vocalists accompanying her voice are well arranged and support her voice well, and the rhythm and melodic elements of the album as a whole are nicely put together. A classic. Key Songs: "Ain't No Way", "People Get Ready", "Good to Me as I am to You"; but take your pick honestly

Liked this album a lot. Great dinner music or hanging by the dock.

Favourites: Money Won't Change You ★ (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman ★ Ain't No Way

What’s not to love

You know it takes a hell of a lot of talent that a rating of four feels sacrilege, but let me explain. I think that a chunk of the songs do sound a little samey, which feels more like the genre’s fault rather than Aretha’s. Other than that, it’s Aretha. There was nobody else like her and her talent obviously carries through here. I think I like the hits on here than the ones on I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You. Favorite track: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Other hits: Chain of Fools, Money Won’t Change You, Ain’t No Way, (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You Been Gone, Good to Me as I Am to You

Good

It's good undeniably i just dont gaf much it's very nice though

Just Wow! So many of what we now consider Soul standards on one album. Anything less that 5 stars would be unthinkable. Band is tight and on point for every track, but the voice....oh the voice. Just Wow!

Great. I've been neglecting soul music and this is a top-notch album.

What an incredible voice. I knew she was great but wow I've definitely been missing out

Album review 003 Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin (1968) Rating 4.5/5 I looked forward to re-listening to this album and was not disappointed at all - so much so that one listen turned into four in a row over the space of two very short hours. Not just amazing vocals, with one of the all time greats at the very top of her game, but great musicianship and some fine songwriting too.

Mega Nice

7/10

So much soul! Awesome! But... I think where you rank this may depend on your genre preference. I like soul, but it's not in my top three genres. As such, I'm going to give this four stars, but if soul and R&B are more your thing, this is definitely five stars. (And when it comes up, I'll probably give Aretha's album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, five stars. Heck, "Respect" alone could vault an album to five stars :)

Queen.

This album is an absolute gem. Cover to cover, classic warmth of mo-town, heartache, and a timeless sound. holy moly, golly gosh.

Way too short!

Truly amazing!

I mean what a voice. I know how famous Aretha Franklin is but I never listened to a full album by her. There were many great hits that I had to replay due to how good they were. She clearly has earned the title of Queen of Soul. The amount of views her songs have is a testament to her monumental legacy in the soul music world.

Who could give Aretha pass than 5?!

Damn!

3.5

2.5

Aretha is a goddess. No other notes

What a woman, these songs are incredible.

What a Queen!

So many good songs. Aretha are (arguably) her best.

Who doesn't love Aretha? This album is great, and had a few covers on it I had never heard her do before ("People Get Ready" and Groovin'") Highlights: "Chain of Fools", "Sweet Sweet Baby" and Ain't No Way"

Instant 5 stars. Such a gorgeous voice with such catchy songs, there was no way I could rate this anything other than 5 stars.

Not my think but got to give it to that woman, she is the life and soul of a party

what a voice. Couldnt fault the album really only reason not 5 is because Im not that fussed on soul.

There's no denying this is a great album. So much power and feeling in that voice. There is nothing bad to say about it. It's not my favourite genre, but this is flawless.

soul lady ate

Chain, chain, chain... this album starts great and is just awesome throughout. I actually don't think I've ever really listened to Aretha beyond RESPECT, and this album is a great showcase of her talents. Great R&B, and obviously her voice carries this album. I kept going back and forth on what to add to my album. I like the soulfulness of People Get Ready, the absolute Motown Chain of Fools or Sweet Sweet Baby, the ever pleasant Groovin', or the somber blues of Ain't No Way. I settled for Groovin', but this whole album was a 30 minute delight.

Generational talent. Generational bangers. What a voice! Loved her from the Fox97 and Blues Brothers. Better than I expected and figured the album would be great.

I'm hesitant to give 5 stars. It can feel like you're supposed to just based off the name and how we know this person's place in history. But this is a fantastic album! There is a reason Aretha can go by one name, and this is it. Her voice really is that pure, sweet cream butter. Bonus points to the amazing bass lines!

like it

Masterclass in soul and R&B. You really can't top the vocals and star power that she brings to the performance here. No skips, no notes.

Arethra Franklin is God.

Great album!!! Aretha, Queen of Soul.

What a masterpiece of an album. Aretha Franklin had the voice of a century, encapsulating heartbreak, love, triumph, rage, and soul in one gift wrapped album. Absolutely brilliant.

She's the Queen of Soul for a reason... Would I listen to again? Definitely.

1. That's some jazz like music, not very fond of these kinds of songs. Strong vocal here, can feel how talented the singer is. Chain Chain Chain Chain. 6/10 2. Continues the energy of the previous song, gives the same vibe, less intense though. Can easily see this as radio hit of 70s or 80s. 5/10 3. Wow, pacing here is much slower, I like that. It's like I am alone face to face with vocals, slower and quieter instruments really complements here. 6/10 4. Mysterious vibe, like it's opening for some detective story or something. Interesting. 5/10 5. Slow pacing as a third song and even better balance here. You make me feel like natural woman 7/10 6. Quick pace change, I like bass and drums here, works really well. 6/10 7. So calm. Like this song makes you relax a bit after all. 6/10 8. A fun mood here, like dancing mood. Somewhat reminds me of old dancing club vibe. 7/10 9. It's like time to have a break after dancing for previous song, like pary ended, let's have a talk with friends. 6/10 10. A good ending song here, feels like end of the journey and some goodbye song. No, not goodbye, but see you again song. 6/10 It was kinda a mistake to say jazz here, it's not at all. Still kinda biased against these kind of songs. Overall, album remains good through beginning till end. 6/10

All time great. No filler, and at least 2 unassailable classics.

ja

- Had wel iets, maar niet echt mijn ding. - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM

The greatest of all time, no doubt about it, but it's just not my scene.

Iconic. Perfect. No further notes.

Classic songs by a classic artist

An absolute certified classic. Aretha Franklin is just one of those goats blessed with so much talent. This album is such a joy to listen to from start to finish. An R&B/Soul queen!

Very nice 4/5

Tainted Love is the only song of note on this album.

Solid. Didn’t like some instruments distribution on some songs (only left or right headphones). Hard to not like Aretha Franklin song. Definitely some songs that I liked more than others but everything song was enjoyable.

she cooked

It's Aretha, what is there to say? Amazing voice, amazing music and amazing lyrics. An album that testifies how great of an artist she was.

Ahh, Aretha, a salve for everything that ails you.

Great Album, not my usual music, but banger after banger

People Get Ready, A Natural Woman, Ain’t No Way are my favourites here. I did get a bit bored while listening, but these tracks lifted me out. Also, personal preference but as iconic as Aretha is I’ve always preferred Otis Redding. 7/10

Classic album from the Queen of Soul. Has me reminiscing of Sunday afternoons when my Mom had the house filled with the sound of V103 playing the "dusties".

спасибо что женщины делают музыку

Great songs strong vocals. The title says it all.

Disfruto muchísimo de escuchar a Aretha, de las mejores voces de la historia de la música y siempre con cosas hermosas para expresar. Justo este álbum no lo había escuchado pero es indiscutiblemente un clásico. Favs: literalmente guarde todas

Obviamente cinco estrellas, es Aretha Franklin en big 1968... can't get any better PD: por que algunas canciones están dos veces y simplemente duran dos mins más? 😵‍💫 Favs: Chain of Fools, Groovin', Come Back Baby

Classic gold

One can never go wrong with Aretha Franklin

Not my genre. Hell of a voice though.

Brilliant album, some great songs. This has made me want to watch the Commitments again... 4.2

Enjoyable

The Queen of Soul and you can feel it! 6/5

You can get overwhelmed by how great it is to be

Best Song: (You Make me Feel) Like a Natural Woman This is another where all I can say is, "this is good." Is it something I will listen to often? Nope. Every once in awhile? Maybe. I get why it was added to the list and it isn't assaulting to the ears or anything but it sounds dated and isn't really my thing. Can Aretha Franklin sing? I mean c'mon!!!!! 4/5.

Voice of an angel? Nah. Angels wish they could sing like Areth.