Aretha Franklin

Released: July 1, 1972

Songwriter: C.L. Franklin

Aretha and to all of the musicians in this great choir
That took me all the way back to the living room at home
When she was about 6 and 7 years of age
I saw you cry
And I saw you respond
But I was just about to bust wide open
You talk about being moved

Not only because Aretha, my daughter, Aretha is just a strong singer
Reverend James Cleveland knows about those things
When James came to prepare Aqua for a gospel broadcast
Which is still in existence
And he and Aretha used to go in the living room
And spend hours in there
Singing different songs
She's influenced greatly by James
If you wanna know the truth
She ain't never left the church

Aretha Franklin is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known simply by her first Aretha. She is the reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” with a legacy that spans five decades. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Aretha began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin’s church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Aretha embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records with modest success.

After moving to Atlantic Records in 1967, she released a steady string of US top ten hits through 1973 including “Spanish Harlem”, “Chain Of Fools”, “Baby I Love You”, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “Daydreaming”, “The House That Jack Built”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", ”Think“ and her first chart-topper “Respect” – a song that also won Aretha her first of 18 Grammys. During this time, several of her songs were also successful overseas.

By the mid-70s, Aretha’s commercial success waned and she left Atlantic for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980. Her 1982 song “Jump to It,” returned her to the top 40 for the first time in six years. 1985’s Who’s Zoomin' Who? got her back into the top 10 twice with its title track and “Freeway Of Love”. Four more songs reached the top 40 through 1986.

more tracks from the album

Amazing Grace

From the album

Amazing Grace (1972)

Aretha Franklin popular songs

Remarks By Reverend C.L. FranklinAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Amazing Grace