In an impressive career spanning over 6 decades, Aretha Franklin managed to establish herself as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. Whether it was a heartfelt soul ballad, a gospel hymn, or an empowering anthem, Franklin could do it all. Therefore, it’s no surprise she earned the honorific nickname ‘The Queen of Soul’. To celebrate Aretha Franklin’s rich repertoire, I’ve ranked her 10 best songs of all time. Let’s dive into the list!
10. Ain’t No Way
I start this list with “Ain’t No Way”. The beautiful soul ballad was written by Franklin’s younger sister Carolyn and recorded by Aretha for her 1968 album Lady Soul. The backing vocals are provided by Carolyn and members of the Sweet Inspirations. The high note in the background of the song is sung by Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy.
9. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone
“Ain’t No Way” was released as the B-side to A-side single “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone”. The single reportedly sold half a million copies in the first week of its release. “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” is a typical uptempo and energetic Aretha Franklin song, that eventually reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
8. Spanish Harlem
For number 8 I picked “Spanish Harlem”. Franklin released the song, written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector, as a single on her compilation album Aretha’s Greatest Hits in 1971. The song was originally released by Ben E. King in 1960, but Franklin’s rendition became a bigger hit, reaching number 2 on the US charts and number 1 on the Dutch chart.
7. Chain of Fools
Franklin’s iconic song “Chain of Fools” was written by Don Covay, but Franklin’s sister Carolyn felt the song perfectly reflected Aretha’s turbulent marriage with Ted White. “Aretha didn’t write ‘Chain’, but she might as well have. It was her story. When we were in the studio putting on the backgrounds with Ree doing lead, I knew she was singing about Ted. I can’t listen to that song without thinking about the tipping point in her long ugly thing with Ted.”
Aretha Franklin recorded and released “Chain of Fools” – which tells the story of a woman who realizes she’s been taken advantage of in a relationship – shortly before she separated from Ted White.
6. Amazing Grace
For number 6 I picked “Amazing Grace”. As a centerpiece of the best-selling live gospel album of all time, the song deserves a place on this list. In an epic 10-minute-long rendition, Franklin conveys the popular hymn as good as anybody ever did – if not better.
5. Think
“Think” is probably Franklin’s greatest self-penned song. She wrote the song with her husband Ted White, although Franklin’s sister Carolyn claimed Aretha wrote the song all by herself. “Think” reportedly addressed Franklin’s stormy marriage with Ted White, but quickly became a protest song, inviting the listener to ‘think’ about the events going on in the 1960s. Whether you prefer the original release or The Blues Brothers’ version, “Think” is certainly one of Franklin’s greatest songs.
Read more: The Story Behind “Think” by Aretha Franklin
4. “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”
After 6 unsuccessful years at Columbia Records, producer Jerry Wexler persuaded Aretha Franklin to sign with Atlantic Records. Her first single, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”, finally gave Franklin the success she worked so hard for. “What a moment! I had my first million-seller, and I felt like a million myself,” Franklin reflected in her biography From These Roots. “After so many hitless years with Columbia, my dream was coming true.”
3. I Say a Little Prayer
For number 3 I picked “I Say a Little Prayer”. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and originally released by Dionne Warwick in late 1967. Franklin released her version of the song less than a year later on her 1968 album Aretha Now. “I Say a Little Prayer” was also released as a B-side to the single “The House That Jack Built”, and garnered enough airplay to become a hit as well.
2. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Inspired by Theodore Brown’s play “Natural Man”, producer Jerry Wexler asked songwriting partners Carole King and Gerry Goffin to write a song about a “Natural Woman” for Aretha Franklin. King and Goffin reportedly wrote the song in a single night, after which Franklin recorded it for her twelfth studio album Lady Soul. The song about the transformative power of love easily ranks as one of Franklin’s greatest recordings.
Read more: The Story Behind “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin
1. Respect
It’s an unsurprising choice, but in my opinion “Respect” is undeniably Aretha Franklin’s greatest song. While it was originally recorded by the ‘King of Soul’ Otis Redding, ‘The Queen of Soul’ elevated the song to new levels and released the ultimate version of the song. Beyond being Franklin’s greatest song, it’s also one of the best – and most important – anthems to emerge out of the turbulent 1960s.
“It was the need of a nation, the need of the average man and woman in the street, the businessman, the mother, the fireman, the teacher – everyone wanted respect,” Franklin wrote in her biography From These Roots. “It was also one of the battle cries of the civil rights movement. The song took on monumental significance.”
Read more: The Story Behind “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
That wraps up this list of the 10 best Aretha Franklin songs. Do you agree with my list? What would you change? What other songs should’ve been included on this list? Feel free to let me know in the comments below.
