100 MOST ESSENTIAL ARETHA FRANKLIN SONGS. This post: #10-6. Concludes tomorrow.

Aretha Franklin deserves her title of the ‘Queen Of Soul’. Her unique vocal skill set her apart from singers that came before her and she was an immense influence on those that followed in her wake. She is the subject of a new motion picture and a box set spanning her career has just been released.

Caffè Lattè pays tribute to 100 of Aretha Franklin’s finest recordings, from her early career on Columbia Records and her revolutionary tracks on Atlantic and beyond.

ARETHA  FRANKLIN

100 ESSENTIAL SONGS

Hear the songs as the countdown continues on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gJiqlZYzIZ5KFJmdNPPdO?si=3effc26e4650484e

:10:

SPANISH HARLEM

Year: 1971

Atlantic single

A remake of a song first recorded by Ben E. King. Written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector, Aretha’s version was produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. Her interpretation improved on King’s chart performance: peaking at #2 Pop and enjoying 3 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Soul Chart.

:9:

SISTERS ARE DOIN’ IT FOR THEMSELVES

Year: 1985

Album: Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

Duet with Eurythmics

This anthemic collaboration was written by the British duo’s Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. The latter produced the track. It appeared on both acts’ 1985 albums: ‘Be Yourself Tonight’ (Eurythmics) and ‘Who’s Zoomin’ Who?’. The single made the Top 10 in Britain, Europe and New Zealand.

:8:

THINK

Year: 1980

Album: The Blues Brothers (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

“Think” was written by Aretha Franklin with husband Ted White. It was originally issued as a single in 1968. That version made the Pop Top 10 and reached #1 on the Soul Chart. Aretha re-recorded the song for the film ‘The Blues Brothers’ which included her in the cast alongside other performers that included Ray Charles, James Brown and Cab Calloway. The film version is also included on the ‘Aretha’ 2021 box set.

:7:

I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING

(FOR ME)

Year: 1986

Album: Aretha

Duet with George Michael

This duet was penned by Simon Clime and Dennis Morgan. Narada Michael walden produced the track. Issued as a single in 1987, the song topped charts in the UK, U.S.A., Europe and Australia.

:6:

I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER

Year: 1968

Album: Aretha Now

There have been countless interpretations of this classic from the Burt Bacharach / Hal David songbook. Aretha’s heavenly take reached the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic.