Aretha Franklin's first album with Atlantic demonstrates the wisdom of the label change. As Rolling Stone wrote, "the place where gospel music collided with R&B and rock & roll and became soul." In addition to the hit single of the same name and "Respect," this album includes a cover of the Sam Cooke classic, "A Change is Gonna Come."
Loaded with hits—"Chain of Fools," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," and "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"—the album was her third recorded at Atlantic.
Rolling Stone called it her best album to date and the best album of the past five years. It has more of a jazz feel than her earlier albums, and the "blues" part of rhythm and blues is also more pronounced. Producer Wexler pushed the envelope on this one, replacing many of the Atlantic studio musicians with recruits from the Count Basie Orchestra and the Miles Davis Quintet.
After a spell in which she got lost in pop, Aretha re-found herself in this Luther Vandross produced album. The title track was her first hit in years.