If you tried to pinpoint the exact moment that Aretha Franklin ascended to her throne as the undisputed Queen of Soul, her 1967 LP “Never Loved A Man (The Way That I Love You” is ground zero. After a stifling run at Columbia Records, A 25 year old Franklin signed with Atlantic, teamed up with gifted producer Jerry Wexler (Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield) and cut Never Loves a Man at the legendary Muscle Shoals recording studio in Alabama. The result was astonishing. At times, the record feels almost spiritual, (Do Right Woman, A Change Is Gonna Come) but at the same time it is packed with bonafide party starters like the title track, Good Times, Save Me and the anthemic Respect. Never Loved a Man is a landmark album in pop music, shuddering with equal parts agony and ecstasy. Long live the Queen!
Pete Whelan 