Aretha Franklin
I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

Published in 1967 on the Atlantic label, "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" by Aretha Franklin is, along with Otis Redding's "Otis Blue", the best soul album of the Sixties. Produced by Jerry Wexler, the vice president of the New York record company, who skillfully wrested the artist from Columbia Records, "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" is a perfect synthesis of poignant ballads, sharp soul, sensual blues, and heartfelt gospel. Everything springs from the deep soul of Aretha who can infuse each track with the eternal magic of her unique voice.
The seven years spent with Columbia, unproductive, disappointing, and musically always teetering between jazz and over-arranged pop, are swept away in a moment. Every song on this album lives and shines thanks to the passionate power that emanates from the artist's incredible personality, dealing with a remarkable and varied repertoire. The skillful use of the horns, the rhythmic pace, the backing singers' accompaniment, and the overall atmosphere bear the classic mark of the Sixties Atlantic productions.
The title track of the entire work is a splendid and heartfelt soul ballad. It's an invocation to the beloved man, behind which it's easy to see the image of Ted White, the singer's violent husband and dictatorial manager at the time. "Drown In My Own Tears" comes from Ray Charles's repertoire, while the plea of "Save Me" and the charming "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" are Aretha's original compositions.
"A Change Is Gonna Come", one of the greatest songs of all time, is a heartfelt tribute that could not be missing to the great Sam Cooke, a personal friend and mentor of the singer. Interesting is the delicate "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", another remarkable ballad that Gram Parsons will brilliantly cover with his Flying Burrito Brothers on their debut album. If the romantic pace of "Baby, Baby, Baby" is pure sweetness set to music, "Soul Serenade" and "Dr. Feelgood" are a plunge into the past when a very young Aretha performed gospel and spiritual songs in the Detroit church where her father, Reverend Franklin, used to preach.
Talking about this album, we cannot forget the version Aretha offers of Otis Redding's "Respect". The singer delivers it in an explosive version that not only reached the top of the singles chart of the time but also became an anthem of dignity and women's rights. In this new guise, "Respect" directly enters the all-time great classics. Much of the album's success is attributable to the skillful work of the producer who managed to synergize Aretha's strength and determination with the extraordinary skill of the session men who participated in the recording sessions. Among these, we remember Duane Allman, Dan Penn, Chips Moman, and Spooner Oldham. Thanks to its excellent tracks, "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" represents the definitive consecration of the singer to a soul star. A well-deserved role that she would consolidate the following year with "Aretha In Paris", which according to many represents the greatest live of soul music.