Aretha Franklin, the #26 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"A fine lady of soul."

"Aretha Franklin truly has a powerful God-given voice and a Heart Of Gold."

"She is amazing."

"Hats off to one of the greatest singers of my life."

"Her vocals were just flawless. Her voice is one of the BEST of our century. Gorgeous."

"Women around the world  find the queen in ourselves through her shared songs of heart!"

"Aretha Franklin is a vocal legend and one of the grandest singers of all time."

"All hail the Queen!"

"Her voice brings joy to my soul."

"Class and beauty."

"One of the best voices in the world."

"Her singing is the very meaning of soul."

"So many great songs from her."

"She sends chills through my bones."

"Aretha hits the notes so effortlessly."

"A living legend."

"Lord have mercy! What an amazing voice!"

"She is so gifted."

"Absolutely beautiful voice."

"Singing that comes straight from heaven."

"She makes it seem so easy--the mark of genuine talent."
Aretha brought fire and heat to popular music."

"Her songs make you happy in an instant."

"I can't stop movin'."

"Incredible voice. One of the all-time greats."

"A talent that only comes around a few times in a century."

Aretha Franklin was born March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee but moved to Buffalo, New York with her family when she was two.  Three years later, her father, C.L. Franklin, became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.  Aretha's mother and father had a troubled marriage, and they separated in 1948 when Aretha's mother relocated to Buffalo.  

Several people, including Mahalia Jackson, helped look after the children after the separation.  Aretha learned how to play piano by ear during this time.  C.L. Franklin gained attention from his sermons, leading several celebrities, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke, to visit the Franklin home.

Aretha's mother died when she was 10, and shortly after, Aretha began singing solos at New Bethel.  When she was 14, her father began managing her, taking his daughter along with him on gospel caravan tours so she could sing in the churches where her father preached.  

C.L. helped Aretha get a recording contract with J.V.B. Records and Aretha released her debut album Songs of Faith in 1956.  When Aretha was 18, C.L. helped her record a two-song demo for the purposes of finding a major record label for her singing career.  Aretha moved to New York City, where she took vocal and dance lessons.  Columbia Records soon came calling and Aretha signed a deal in 1960. 

In 1961, Franklin released her first secular album, Aretha:  With The Ray Bryant Combo, but her first single, "Won't Be Long", stalled at #76.  The next year, Aretha released the albums The Electrifying Aretha Franklin and The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin.  She didn't have much more luck with those projects.

Franklin's version of "Soulville" from her 1964 album Unforgettable:  A Tribute to Dinah Washington is the song which pointed Aretha in the right direction after nearly a decade of recording all different styles.  Returning to her roots--R&B--was what finally did the trick.

 

By the mid-60's, Aretha was earning $100,000 from performances at theaters and nightclubs.  But Aretha didn't feel she was reaching her full potential at Columbia and switched to Atlantic Records in 1967.  She joined the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)".  But an argument with her boyfriend Ted White required Atlantic exec Jerry Wexler to fly them out of Alabama to New York City to complete recording.  On her 33rd try, Franklin struck paydirt with a #9 hit (#1 R&B) that sold over one million copies.

 

The album of the same name was released, which was certified Gold and rose to #2 on the Album chart.  The main reason for the big sales was her second single on Atlantic, a song Otis Redding first recorded in 1965.  Featuring the saxophone of King Curtis, "Respect" flew to #1 in the U.S., #3 in Canada and #10 in the United Kingdom and is now one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  The single also was certified Gold and Franklin won her first Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Whereas she had languished at Columbia who was unsure how to showcase her talent, Aretha thrived at Atlantic in a comfortable atmosphere that allowed Franklin to grow and her voice to become more confident and powerful.  

 

Aretha covered the Ray Charles hit "Drown In My Own Tears".

 

On her way, Franklin released the album Aretha Arrives later in the year.  The recording sessions were delayed because Aretha shattered her elbow in an accident while touring the southern part of the United States.  The single "Baby I Love You" peaked at #4 and gave Franklin three consecutive million-sellers.   

 

This track was never released as a single, but it may be the best song on the album.  Aretha showcases that incredible voice on "Night Life".  

 

At the beginning of "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", Franklin sings with a Gospel-influenced tone and through the use of overdubbing plays both piano and organ.   

Among the many artists who have covered the song are Whitney Houston, Cher, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Etta James, Joan Baez and Phoebe Snow.  

Aretha released her first Greatest Hits compilation in 1967, followed by Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits Volume II the following year.  In June of 1968, Aretha was featured on the cover of Time magazine.

In 1968, Aretha released the album Lady Soul and followed it later in the year with Aretha Now.  The former was certified Gold and features Cissy Houston (mother of Whitney) and her group the Sweet Inspirations as well as Aretha's sisters Carolyn and Erma on backing vocals.  

 

While the album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You provided the launching pad Franklin was looking for, Lady Soul allowed her to take flight, yielding three big hits.  In September, Aretha released the Carole King-Gerry Goffin-Jerry Wexler song "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)", #2 on the R&B chart and #8 overall.

Another monster hit followed--"Chain Of Fools" climbed to #1 R&B and #2 Popular and #4 in Canada.  Featuring Joe South on guitar, the single also sold over one million copies.

Franklin captured the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Chain Of Fools".  She scored another big hit with "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone", a #5 hit she co-wrote that went Gold.  Once again, the Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn & Erma Franklin sang backing vocals, Bobby Womack played guitar and King Curtis played saxophone.

Franklin's album Aretha Now generated the feminist anthem "Think" (which she co-wrote), a #1 R&B song that also reached #7 overall and sold over one million copies.

The amazing Queen of Soul continues with Part Two, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!