I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)

Aretha Franklin's contract with Columbia Records had expired and Atlantic scooped up the talent in January, 1967. Producer Jerry Wexler took her to Muscle Shoals, Alabama and introduced her to studio stalwarts King Curtis, Spooner Oldham and Chips Moman. One of the resulting hits was "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" (Ronnie Shannon). This is from the demo issued on the 2007 album "Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign of The Queen Of Soul".

The first big hit of Aretha Franklin's illustrious career was "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”. The single topped the R&B chart and crossed over to number nine on the Top One Hundred. Recorded at Rick Hall's FAME Studios the single resulted in the top five album of the same name. The legendary recording of "Respect" is on this LP.