Words & Music by: Side A – Ronnie Shannon; Side B – Dan Penn, Chips Moman
Musicians: Aretha Franklin (lead vocals, piano), Chips Moman (guitar), Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Tommy Cogbill (bass), Dewey Oldham (keyboards), King Curtis (tenor sax), Charles Chalmers (tenor sax), Willie Bridges (baritone sax), Melvin Lastie (cornet / trumpet), Gene Chrisman (drums), Carolyn Franklin (backing vocals), The Sweet Inspirations (backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Jerry Wexler and engineered by Tom Dowd at FAME Recording Studios, Muscle Shoals, AL, Side A - Jan. 24, 1967; Side B - Feb. 1967
Highest chart positions: Side A - US #9, US R&B #1; Side B - US R&B #37
Though Franklin had had a fair degree of success in the charts since 1960, this is widely considered as her breakthrough single. It was also her first US Top 10 and US R&B #1. This was soon followed by classics such as "Respect" (US #1, US R&B #1, UK #10), "Baby I Love You" (US #4, US R&B #1, UK #39), "A Natural Woman" (US #8, US R&B #2) and "Chain of Fools" (US #2, US R&B #1, UK #37) - all in 1967.
This was also the first single Franklin recorded for Atlantic Records. She didn't renew her expiring contract with Columbia in January 1967, signing with Atlantic instead. Looking at the list of hits that followed, it seems that Atlantic did something right.
The Sweet Inspirations included Emily "Cissy" Houston, mother of Whitney Houston.
List price: Very Good+ is $5, Near Mint is $10
No comments:
Post a Comment