Lady Soul

Last updated

Lady Soul
ArethaFranklinLadySoul.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 22, 1968
RecordedFebruary 16 – December 20, 1967
Studio FAME Studios
Genre
Length28:41
Label Atlantic (SD 8176)
Producer Jerry Wexler
Aretha Franklin chronology
Take a Look
(1967)
Lady Soul
(1968)
Aretha Now
(1968)
Singles from Lady Soul
  1. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
    Released: September 1967
  2. "Chain of Fools"
    Released: November 1967
  3. "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"/"Ain't No Way"
    Released: March 1968
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]

Lady Soul is the twelfth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin released in early 1968 by Atlantic Records. The album stayed at number 1 for 16 weeks on Billboard 's R&B album chart, and it hit number 2 on the pop album chart during a year-long run. [5]

Contents

Background

Lady Soul was Franklin's third R&B chart-topper and reached number two on the Billboard 200, tying with I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You for her highest-charting album on the pop chart. The album also included some of her biggest hit singles: "Chain of Fools" (number 2 Pop), and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (number 8 Pop), and "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (number 5 Pop). It sold more than a million copies in the United States. The album was reissued on Rhino Records in a deluxe edition in 1995.

Gospel/R&B singer Cissy Houston (mother of Whitney Houston) and her group the Sweet Inspirations are credited as background vocals on several tracks, along with Aretha's sisters Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin. Eric Clapton, at the time a member of the band Cream, is credited as the guitarist on the track "Good to Me as I Am to You".

Lady Soul peaked at number 1, number 2 and number 3 on Billboard's Black Albums, Pop Albums and Jazz Albums charts respectively. The single "Ain't No Way" – B-Side of "(Sweet, Sweet, Baby) Since You've Been Gone" – peaked at number 9 on the Black Singles chart and number 16 on the Pop Singles chart.

Legacy

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [6]

In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Lady Soul the 41st greatest album of all time. In 2003 and 2012, it ranked at number 85 on Rolling Stone 's list "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". [7] It rose to number 75 in a 2020 reboot of the list. [8] The album was rated the 29th best album of the 1960s by Pitchfork . [9]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Jerry Wexler with Tom Dowd as and recording engineer.
A Side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chain of Fools"2:46
2."Money Won't Change You"
2:08
3."People Get Ready"3:42
4."Niki Hoeky"2:31
5."(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"2:44
B Side
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"2:25
2."Good to Me As I Am To You"
  • Franklin
  • White
3:56
3."Come Back Baby"2:25
4."Groovin'"2:57
5."Ain't No Way"4:17
CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chain of Fools" (Unedited Version)
  • Covay
4:22
2."(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Mono Single Version)
  • Goffin
  • King
  • Wexler
2:49
3."Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" (Mono Single Version)
  • Franklin
  • White
2:49
4."Ain't No Way" (Mono Single Version)
  • Carolyn Franklin
4:12

Notes

Charts

Chart (1968)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Pop Albums2
U.S. Billboard Top Soul Albums1
U.S. Billboard Top Jazz Albums3

Singles

Year releasedTitle US
Pop
US
R&B
September 7, 1967
(Atlantic single #2441)
"You Make Me Feel Like A (Natural Woman)"82
November 22, 1967
(Atlantic single #2464)
"Chain of Fools"21
February 9, 1968
(Atlantic single #2486)
"Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)"51
"Ain't No Way"168

Note: Numbers in italic (following original single release information) denote peak positions on Billboard's "Top/Best Selling R&B Singles" and "Hot 100" charts respectively – courtesy BPI Communications and Joel Whitburn's Record Research Publications.

Personnel

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You</i> 1967 studio album by Aretha Franklin

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is the tenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on March 10, 1967 by Atlantic Records. It was Franklin's first release under her contract with the label, following her departure from Columbia Records after nine unsuccessful jazz standard albums, and marked a commercial breakthrough for her, becoming her first top 10 album in the United States, reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200. Two singles were released to promote the album: "Respect" and "I Never Loved a Man ". The former topped the Billboard Hot 100, while latter reached the top 10.

<i>Young, Gifted and Black</i> 1972 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Young, Gifted and Black is the eighteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin, released in early 1972, by Atlantic Records. The album climbed to number 2 on Billboard's R&B albums survey and peaked at Number 11 on the main album chart. It was quickly certified Gold by the RIAA. Its title was cut from "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", recorded and released by Nina Simone in 1969.

<i>Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul</i> 1965 studio album by Otis Redding

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul is the third studio album by American soul singer and songwriter Otis Redding. It was first released on September 15, 1965, as an LP record through the Stax Records subsidiary label Volt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Harlem (song)</span> 1960 song by Ben E. King

"Spanish Harlem" is a song recorded by Ben E. King in 1960 for Atco Records. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. "Spanish Harlem" was King's first hit away from The Drifters, peaking at number 15 on Billboard's rhythm and blues and number 10 in pop music chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet Inspirations</span> American R&B vocal group

The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists. A founding member of the group was Dionne Warwick, who was later replaced by her aunt, Cissy Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Respect (song)</span> 1965 single by Otis Redding

"Respect" is a song written and originally recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released in 1965 as a single from his third album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul and became a crossover hit for Redding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman</span> 1967 song by Aretha Franklin

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 song by American soul singer Aretha Franklin released as a single by the Atlantic label. The words were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was composed by Carole King. Written for Franklin, the record reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of her signature songs. It made history on the UK Singles Chart a week after her death, finally becoming a hit almost 51 years after it was first released, entering at No. 79. Franklin also included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris in 1968.

<i>You</i> (Aretha Franklin album) 1975 studio album by Aretha Franklin

You is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on October 16, 1975, by Atlantic Records.

<i>Jump to It</i> 1982 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Jump to It is the twenty-eighth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, produced by Luther Vandross and released on July 26, 1982, by Arista Records.

<i>Get It Right</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Get It Right is the twenty-ninth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on July 14, 1983, by Arista Records. It was produced by Luther Vandross, following his successful teaming with the singer for the Gold-certified album, Jump to It, in 1982. Get It Right was not as commercially successful, and Franklin did not have Vandross produce any further albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Send Me</span> 1957 single by Sam Cooke

"You Send Me" is a song written and originally recorded by American singer Sam Cooke, released as a single in 1957 by Keen Records. Produced by Bumps Blackwell and arranged and conducted by René Hall. The song, Cooke's debut single, was a massive commercial success, becoming a No. 1 hit on both Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Records chart and the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Think (Aretha Franklin song)</span> 1968 single by Aretha Franklin

"Think" is a song written by American singer Aretha Franklin and Ted White, and first recorded by Franklin. It was released as a single in 1968, from her Aretha Now album. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Franklin's seventh top 10 hit in the United States. The song also reached number 1 on the magazine's Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles, becoming her sixth single to top the chart. Franklin re-recorded the song in the Atlantic Records New York studio for the soundtrack of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers and in 1989 for the album Through the Storm. Pitchfork placed it at number 15 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".

"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin. Released on Atlantic Records as the first big hit of her career and the lead single from her tenth studio album of the same name, it became a defining song for Franklin, peaking at number one on the rhythm and blues charts and number nine on the pop charts. The B-side was "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". Before this Franklin had placed only two Top 40 singles on the pop chart during her modest tenure with Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chain of Fools</span> 1967 single by Aretha Franklin

"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues chart and number two on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. In the lyrics, the singer has been with her boyfriend for five years but realizes she's one of his "chain of fools," women with whom he's been cheating. Others tell her to leave him, but she says his love is too strong and she's too weak. Yet someday, she predicts the chain will break.

<i>Soul 69</i> 1969 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Soul '69 is the fourteenth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin; released in 1969 by Atlantic Records, the album features covered material. The album charted at number 1 on Billboard's R&B albums chart and at number 15 on Billboard's Top Albums, but launched two largely unsuccessful singles, "Tracks of My Tears", which reached number 21 on "Black Singles" and number 71 on "Pop Singles", and "Gentle on My Mind", which charted at number 50 and number 76 respectively. The album was re-released on compact disc through Rhino Records in the 1990s.

<i>Aretha</i> (1980 album) 1980 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the twenty-sixth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on September 30, 1980, by Arista Records. This is Franklin's second eponymous album, and her first for Arista Records after a 12-year tenure with Atlantic Records.

<i>Love All the Hurt Away</i> 1981 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Love All the Hurt Away is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on August 20, 1981. This album is the singer's second release under the Arista Records label. The Arif Mardin-produced disc reached fourth place on Billboard's R&B albums chart and number 36 on the main Billboard album chart, selling roughly 250,000 copies in the US.

"Jump to It" is a 1982 song by American recording artist Aretha Franklin. The track is from her Gold-certified 1982 album of the same name, produced by Luther Vandross. The song was written by Vandross and Marcus Miller and features background vocals performed by Vandross and Cissy Houston. The single reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, remaining there for four consecutive weeks.

"Ain't No Way" is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her elder sister Aretha Franklin as the B-side to her 1968 hit, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone". This song should not be confused with a different song of the same title, recorded by Aretha Franklin on her 2003 CD So Damn Happy: "Ain't No Way" by Barry J. Eastmond and Gordon Chambers.

<i>The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970</i> 2018 compilation album by Aretha Franklin

The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970 is a compilation album of singer Aretha Franklin, released by Rhino Records in September 2018. The album contains her first 17 singles for Atlantic Records released in the United States from her debut for the label "I Never Loved a Man " of February 1967 through "Border Song " of October 1970. The Amazon sales website identifies these as digitally remastered versions of the original mono issues, although that is not indicated in the set's liner notes or packaging. The original recordings were produced by Jerry Wexler, at times in collaboration with Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin.

References

  1. Bush, John. "Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  3. Q, issue 7/93, p. 106.
  4. Hoard, Christian (November 2, 2004). Review: Lady Soul. pp. 214–217. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.{{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)
  5. "Aretha Franklin", Billboard.
  6. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (February 7, 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN   0-7893-1371-5.
  7. "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  8. "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  9. "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.