Aretha Franklin.
Like Elvis, there’s no real need to mention her surname. Everyone knows Aretha, the Queen of Soul. A master not only of the soul genre, but also of Rythm & Blues, gospel, jazz, and pop. A recipient of numerous awards over her six decades-long career, she could really belt out the hits.
This playlist is a slightly trimmed collection of most of her top 10 hits only from the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. All other charts were excluded, otherwise the list would become ridiculously overwhelming. One song which was never issued as a single (but probably should have been) has been thrown in the mix just because it’s awesome.
Highest chart positions are listed immediately to the right of the release year:
YEAR #(Billboard Hot 100 chart/Billboard Hot R&B chart).
1967 #9/1
I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) (2:52)
1967 #1/1
Respect (2:31)
1967 #4/1
Baby I Love You (2:44)
1967 #8/2
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (2:46)
1967 #2/1
Chain of Fools (4:23)
1967 (never issued as a single)
Dr. Feelgood (Love Is Serious Business) (3:19)
1968 #5/1
(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone (2:26)
1968 #7/1
Think (2:20)
1968 #6/2
The House That Jack Built (2:20)
1970 #11/1
Don’t Play That Song (You Lied) (3:00)
(with The Dixie Flyers)
1971 #9/2
Rock Steady (3:14)
1972 #5/1
Day Dreaming (4:01)
1973 #3/1
Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) (3:27)
1985 #3/1
Freeway of Love (4:06)
1985 #7/2
Who’s Zoomin’ Who (4:09)
1987 #1/5
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (4:02)
(with George Michael)
