Album of the Day

I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU wasn't Aretha Franklin's first album (she'd previously recorded ten of them for Columbia Records), but it was the first she'd cut with a label and producer that truly “got” her, and that made all the difference. Powered by the iconic single “Respect” – which went to No.1 on the U.S. chart on this day in 1967 -  the Jerry Wexler-produced Atlantic release is a master class in soul whose 11 lessons also include “Do Right Woman-Do Right Man,” “Baby, Baby, Baby” and the title song. Aretha's force-of-nature vocals, songwriting skills (she penned four of the 11 tracks here) and piano work shine throughout, justifying the set's frequent inclusion in “Greatest Albums of All Time” lists from the likes of Rolling Stone and Q magazines. With I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU, the Queen of Soul earns her crown!