I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

i always heard me some aretha playin on the radio somewhere in my mama's house when i was growin up but my first real recollection of seeing her was in the movie 'blues brothers' (a classic!)...

but, alas, i came of age in the 80's, meaning i couldnt appreciate any of the true artists that gave meaning and definition to the words "soul music"... the 80's was the antithesis of soul - electronic, synthesized and cold.

so to make a short story shorter, i started gettin my soul back in the late 1990's... and aretha has been leading the way for me ever since!

aretha, gladys, isaac, al, teddy, marvin, ojays, isleys, patti, smokey, stevie... if you breathe, you should own at least ONE of each of these folks cd's... this is cornerstone music...

start with this one...

remove the annoying protective seal,
open case,
remove cd and watch the sun reflect gently from the surface,
place cd into player,
press play...

and gitcho soul back!

This album has been voted, by public poll, #97 on the list of the 100 Best Albums. A VH1 poll of the music industry itself places it significantly higher at #30. Personally, I believe VH1 has the better placing for it.

Songs as follows:

1. Respect--High energy chart topper that retains every bit of its punch at this late date. Predates rap as a cultural document.

2. Drown in My Own Tears--a much slower paced song that is beautiful and melancholy. Another great song.

3. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)--Title cut of the album isn't quite as good as some of the other songs, but it works, again both viscerally and culturally.

4. Soul Serenade--beautiful. Perhaps the most musically beautiful song on the album.

5. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream--a heartbreaking testament to the fragility of dreams. This song gets the golden teardrop for saddest song on the album. ;)

6. Baby, Baby, Baby--weakest song on the album. Nothing wrong with it, even then, it just is the least memorable.

7. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)--Upbeat swinger that manages to have a suprisingly rosy outlook. A nice change of pace.

8. Good Times--If this one doesn't get you on your feet, give up on music. High octane number that never gets old.

9. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man--another beautifully melancholy look at the double standard. Gets high marks both musically and lyrically.

10. Save Me--What more can be said? It's more of the same.

11. Change Is Gonna Come--A fitting close to a fantastic album. The emotion of this song is undeniable, heartfelt, uplifting and moving.

Truly, this is one of the greatest albums of all time. Every song manages to succeed in the way it is intended, whether as a upbeat toe tapper or an emotional catharsis. How many albums can you say that about? Not a whole heck of a lot.

This album is utterly a gorgeous piece of music from start to finish. Never mind that I've never been a huge Aretha fan, everything she's ever done pales in comparison to this one and most all other music pales in comparison, for that matter. The title track is so awe-inspiring, I can't describe. All other tracks are chills-inducing as well. Who could ever deny the eternal "coolness" of this record?

recorded after 7 unfulfilling years at columbia, this atlantic debut offers no hint at the fate that would befall aretha - to be crowned the Queen of Soul; with no hint at abdication either.

what this does offer is pure, unadulterated soul that side of the delta, with one track, first recorded by otis redding, (from a male point of view of course) eventually morphing into a female anthem (apart from being aretha's first million seller)- respect - available in mono and stereo versions.

THE best soul album ever? couldn't agree with that more...

I picked this CD up while looking for an essential Aretha Franklin recording, and I'm soooo glad I did. It's got "Respect", "I Never Loved A Man" and "Do Right Woman". These songs send chills up my spine, but my favorite track is "A Change Is Gonna Come". From the opening notes, I just know that something spectacular is going to follow. I can listen to this CD when I'm happy, sad, or in-between and it just always fits. The album is timeless: pure soul, how it is, and how it should be.