Here, Aretha Franklin sings one of her most famous and successful blues songs of all time - "Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)". This song was released as a single in 1967, and became the title of her album which contained many other soulful songs. However, this song is unique because it hit number one on the pop charts, although it is somewhat of a slow, jazzy, blues song.

Album Cover

Aretha Franklin’s album, “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” was produced by Jerry Wexler with the label Atlantic Recording Corporation. The album was released on March 10, 1967 and manufactured and marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group company. She started recording the album at FAME studios in Alabama, but then finished recording in New York.

During 1967, Motown was at it’s prime – soul music pervaded the world and integrated black culture into pop culture and pop music. Franklin’s album was jazzy, soulful, with a distinct pop influence. Artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, and James Carr were popular in the years preceding Franklin’s success, and they inspired Aretha to produce this diverse, monumental album that would never be forgotten.

In 1967, "Respect" was a #1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop singles chart and the title track was a #9 single. In 2002, Rolling Stones placed the album at #1 on their "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" list. Aretha won two Grammys in 1986 for her song “Respect”—‘Best Rhythm & Blues Recording’ and ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance’.

Track Listing

“Respect” (Otis Redding) 2:29

“Drown in My Own Tears” (Henry Glover) 4:07

“I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (Ronny Shannon) 2:51

"Soul Serenade" (Curtis Ousley, Luther Dixon) 2:39

"Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" (Aretha Franklin and Ted White) 2:23

"Baby, Baby, Baby" (A. Franklin, C. Franklin) 2:54

"Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" (A. Franklin, White) 3:23

“ Good Times” (Sam Cooke) 2:10

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Dan Penn, Chips Moman) 3:16

"Save Me" (Ousley, A. Franklin, C. Franklin) 2:21

“A Change Is Gonna Come” (Cooke) 4:20

Personnel/Band Members

Aretha Franklin - Piano, Vocals, King Curtis - Tenor saxophone, Carolyn Franklin - Background Vocals, The Sweet Inspirations - Background Vocals, Willie Bridges - Baritone saxophone, Charles Chalmers - Tenor saxophone, Gene Chrisman – Drums, Tommy Cogbill – Bass, Jimmy Johnson – Guitar, Melvin Lastie - Trumpet, Cornet, Chips Moman – Guitar, Dewey Oldham - Keyboards

"If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about." - Aretha Franklin