There is no question about the fact that Aretha Franklin had the most decorated and celebrated catalog among female musicians and performers.
The late Queen of Soul boasted off a long string of timeless classics, that continued to age pretty well despite decades of changing trends in the music industry.
Granted several of her hits were covers, already done by other artists, but it was Aretha’s trademark soul-staple on them that brought out an extra special meaning – be it Bridge Over Troubled Waters (original by Simon & Garfunkel), Say A Little Prayer For You (original by Dionne Warwick) or even Respect (original by Ottis Redding).
Miss Franklin’s powerhouse belting abilities and her impassioned delivery of a song, which allowed her to take any performance to church towards the climax, made her a force-to-be-reckoned-with – among Soul and RnB vocalists of her time.
So it was quite a task to pick 20 of her best classics among such a gigantic list of songs.
But we tried, nevertheless.
Here are Miss Aretha Franklin’s top 20 best songs:
20) IT HURTS LIKE HELL
Featured on one of the most important and most decorated female RnB albums of the 90’s – the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack album, this Babyface-penned soul-stirring song about love and loss, allows Aretha to exude the pain of a broken heart. When she reaches for the money notes, towards the climax – this legend, in her mid-50’s then, showcases that she can still blow it out of the park.
19) A ROSE IS STILL A ROSE
The title track of her thirty-fourth studio album released in the year 1998. Even Aretha couldn’t escape the hip-hop influence in her music, that every other song had back in the 90’s. This Lauryn Hill written and composed jam, also featuring her harmonising in the background, allowed the singer to introduce herself to a newer audience. A heartfelt ode to the beauty in women, that doesn’t have to rely in their search for a man, to shine on.
18) CHAIN OF FOOLS
One of her biggest hits from the late 60’s which went on to become a staple in her career, as she continued to perform it with several twists all the way to the end of the century. Written by Don Covay, the captivating and catchy lyrics of this classic, still make you wanna involuntarily clap along.
17) GOOD TO ME AS I AM TO YOU
1967 was a pretty busy year for Aretha, with her departure from Columbia records and her first project released under Atlantic Records, and then 3 other studio albums released the same year. After the path-breaking success of I Never Loved A Man, followed by two more albums the same year, Aretha ventured into 1968 with another remarkable project – ‘Lady Soul’, which featured this vocal juggernaut. Perhaps one of her most powerful, fierce, goosebump-inducing display of belting abilities, alongside ‘Look To The Rainbow.’
16) HOOKED ON YOUR LOVE
Featured on the soundtrack album of Sparkle, this bombastic track, written by the legendary Curtis Mayfield – goes through the roller coaster of Aretha’s undeniable vocal chops. Classic Aretha and her classic vocals, from one of her best recorded albums.
15) I WONDER (Where Are You Tonight)
Before her success with Atlantic Records, Aretha’s fourth studio project released under Columbia in the year 1963, featured this sweeping melancholic ballad, about a tragic lonesome night reminiscing over a lost love. She was only 21 years old then, but her delivery already had maturity beyond her years.
14) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Although Simon and Garfunkel’s original was already a soul-stirring, award-winning classic, Aretha’s take on it gave a flavor, Aretha knew best. She took this to Church too. Letting her fingers do the magic on the piano, her version is equally sublime as the original.
13) DR FEELGOOD
Dr Feelgood is like a gritty confessional of a lustful love, from a good girl gone bad, displaying the orgasmic side of her vocals. A sweeping vocal performance, often eclipsed only by her own live performances of the same.
12) GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL
Featured on her unmissable soundtrack album for the motion picture – Sparkle, this sexy-licious track features Aretha at her most sensual. A roof-raising experience to hear her bursting out with passion towards the end as she proclaims a maddening-kind-of-love for her man.
11) BABY I LOVE YOU
A laid-back midtempo, simple-worded love song that makes for great easy-listening. That classic Aretha sound and one of her trademark recordings from the same era that produced some of her career’s biggest hits.
10) THINK
The way Aretha exclaims ‘FREEDOM’ after the first verse of this song is enough testament to her vocal prowess from the time of her prime. By 1968, Aretha had already produced her 13th studio album, which consisted of this #7 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Several other versions were released by Franklin later on, but nothing tops the original raw, gritty and powerful take from her late 60’s self.
9) ANGEL
The kind of pain Aretha infused in this Carolyn Franklin and Sonny Sanders written 1973 hit, allowed you to dwell into the dark, deep, solitude of a lonely heart – like few singers can. She does in fact sound like an angel during the first-half of this heartbreaking tune, and then raises you spirits — and the hair on your back with a soulful finale.
8) ROCK STEADY
Nothing on this list screams — “70’s” — as much as this Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler produced Billboard Top 10 hit. 5 Decades since it’s release and we’re still wondering how not to start moving one’s hips when that infectious intro stars planning.
7) SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU
A chart-topping original hit from Dionne Warwick, Aretha infused such energy into this tune as she covered it, that it turned into a whole different song. Her sky-high notes, a beautiful display of her head voice and her melisma – Franklin simply tore it up towards the climax, making it a goosebumps-inducing experience.
6) RESPECT
Franklin’s signature tune – which became her most highly revered song around the time of it’s release and continue to garner accolades several years down the lane. Originally sung and written by Otis Redding, Aretha’s feisty take on this hit served as a backdrop of the feminist movement, and is still representative of equality among the sexes.
5) AIN’T NO WAY
Released in the year 1968, as a B side to her single, ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’, this classic – has not only survived the test of time, but has also become one of her most recognisable tunes. With Gospel legend Cissy Houston’s operatic voice in the background, taking you to the heavenly highs and Aretha’s ability to project the pain from the deepest depths of her soul, you just can’t help but play this one on repeat, even now.
4) (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN
This Carole King-penned classic has been covered by dozens of other divas since Aretha Franklin first put her legendary chops to it. But it is the subtle beauty and caressing restraint with which Ms. Franklin sings this tune that helps establish it as one of the most adored love songs of all time.
3) (SWEET SWEET BABY) SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE
This classic uptempo with a high-octane production still has the capacity to make you groove, or at least jam along – as it did back in 1968 – when it became a Top 5 hit for the songstress. Co-written by Franklin herself along with Teddy White, under the production of Jerry Wexler – this is a joyful musical masterpiece.
2) DON’T PLAY THAT SONG
This piano assisted sweeping ballad about an adolescent and innocent love, sung with such emotion that it sounds like a moment lost somewhere down in your own memory lane, offering a sweet nostalgic escape to a world you were perhaps never even a part of. Aretha’s ability to make you imagine the whole scene in your head as she sings ‘I remember on our first date, he kissed me and he walked away, I was only seventeen..’ – is simply unparalleled.
1) I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU
Aretha Franklin in her prime, matter-of-factly addressing the hole she’s been sunk into – by falling in love with the wrong man. A display of astonishing soul and power of her vocals and the pain and conviction in her delivery at the same time. One of her most decorated classics, serving as the title track to one of her most decorated albums. The entire song is a treat to your soul, but when she gets to the bridge, she ventures into church…
“I can’t sleep at night
And I can’t even fight
I guess I’ll never be free
Since you got, your hooks, in me”
Honourable mentions for some of her other classics – Call Me, Are You Sure?, Look Into You Heart, Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves, Day Dreaming, Amazing Grace, The House That Jack Built, See Saw, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing – among several others.
When it comes down to Queen of Soul Aretha, listing down just 20 of her best tracks – isn’t enough. The truth is – any of these songs could have been placed at #1, and it still would have made perfect sense.
That’s the power of one of the most talented and gifted artists of the past 100 years.