I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

I love this album, period. To me it represents many things but rather than to bore you with my reminescings, all I can say is take one listen to--if nothing else--"Dr. Feelgood" on this seminal Aretha album. It's perfection. If that tune alone doesn't show you how great she was in her early Atlantic years, the tune "Do Right Woman--Do Right Man" ought to. And the entire album's production and instrumentation is as great as they come.

Aretha Franklin isn't the queen of soul for nothing. She certainly knows how to put feeling into her music.

I Never Loved A Man features many classic singles. Respect is the most commercial song on here but there are other stand outs as well. Dr. Feelgood is slow and sassy. Save Me grooves along quite nicely. And sleeper tracks like Good Times and Soul Serenade will always uplift your soul.

Whereas the music isn't as diverse as her greatest hits collections, there is plenty of charm on I Never Loved A Man to make the listening experience a good one.

Well I remember Aretha's Columbia years. An interesting singer with some fine albums such as "Unforgettable," her tribute to Dinah Washington. But not memorable in any way. Then came "I Never Loved A Man," the single, and instantly everyone knew one of the greatest music stars of all time had arrived. (Or, as was written, "She makes up for losing Bille Holiday."). When "Respect" and the album landed the deal was sealed and Aretha went sailing forth with hit after hit--"Baby I Love You," the incredible "Natural Woman," then "Chain of Fools" (have you ever heard the original version of the record before it was heavily edited with Aretha's unforgettable spoken introduction?) and right on down the line. And album after album after album of sheer brilliance. She's still around and still doin' it--word is her forthcoming album "So Damned Happy" is terrific. "I Never Loved A Man" certainly has met the test of time. It's as stunning today as it was when it first appeared. It's one of the greatest albums ever made.

Well I remember Aretha's Columbia years. An interesting singer with some fine albums such as "Unforgettable," her tribute to Dinah Washington. But not memorable in any way. Then came "I Never Loved A Man," the single, and instantly everyone knew one of the greatest music stars of all time had arrived. (Or, as was written, "She makes up for losing Bille Holiday."). When "Respect" and the album landed the deal was sealed and Aretha went sailing forth with hit after hit--"Baby I Love You," the incredible "Natural Woman," then "Chain of Fools" (have you ever heard the original version of the record before it was heavily edited with Aretha's unforgettable spoken introduction?) and right on down the line. And album after album after album of sheer brilliance. She's still around and still doin' it--word is her forthcoming album "So Damned Happy" is terrific. "I Never Loved A Man" certainly has met the test of time. It's as stunning today as it was when it first appeared. It's one of the greatest albums ever made.

The magnitude of Aretha's voice and the depth of her emotions are displayed in every song. She shared with Sam Cooke the obvious trials of being Black, especially during this time period, and she more than reiterated his thoughts with "A Change is Gonna Come." Her love drama is spelled out to us in "Baby, baby, baby" and "Do Right Woman/Man." For you Blues lovers, there is the down and dirty "Dr. Feelgood." No matter how you look at it, this CD is a great buy!