Aretha Franklin

I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

  • MOG Editorial Review

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    Groomed in the church choirs of Tennessee, Aretha Franklin began an ascent from piano prodigy to world class vocalist at a young age, releasing her first album at only fourteen. However, Aretha's breakout success wouldn't come until the age of 25 with the release of I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You. Anchored by the instantly recognizable anthem "Respect," Franklin's tenth album is a master class in soul, gospel, blues and pop music. The album ends with Aretha belting out a powerful cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Gonna Come," which marked the start of Franklin's reign as "The Queen of Soul" and one of the best vocalists in history.
  • AMG Review of I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You

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    Jason Ankeny
    All Music Guide

    While the inclusion of "Respect" -- one of the truly seminal singles in pop history -- is in and of itself sufficient to earn I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You classic status, Aretha Franklin's Atlantic label debut is an indisputable masterpiece from start to finish. Much of the credit is due to producer Jerry Wexler, who finally unleashed the soulful intensity so long kept under wraps during her Columbia tenure; assembling a crack Muscle Shoals backing band along with an abundance of impeccable material, Wexler creates the ideal setting to allow Aretha to ascend to the throne of Queen of Soul, and she responds with the strongest performances of her career. While the brilliant title track remains the album's other best-known song, each cut on I Never Loved a Man is touched by greatness; covers of Ray Charles' "Drown in My Own Tears" and Sam Cooke's "Good Times" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" are on par with the original recordings, while Aretha's own contributions -- "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream," "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Save Me," and "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" -- are perfectly at home in such lofty company. A soul landmark.

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