Aretha Franklin: The Early Struggles of the Greatest Singer of All Time
Aretha Franklin may well have been the one that got away for Berry Gordy, who made an early attempt to sign her to Motown. Born in Detroit and raised by a gospel-singing father who also managed her career, the Motown connection seemed like a perfect fit.
However, in 1960, Aretha’s father turned Berry down—believing the label wasn’t yet big enough for his daughter. Instead, he signed her to Columbia Records in 1961.
Aretha stayed with Columbia for five years but never found major success. Meanwhile, Motown exploded into a musical powerhouse—perhaps giving her father reason for second thoughts.
Everything changed in late 1966 when Aretha signed with Atlantic Records. Just months later, she was in a studio in Alabama working with a group of musicians who would become key to the sound of classic Aretha Franklin tunes.
This house band, known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, was notably different from Motown’s all-Black Funk Brothers—these players were white, Southern, and steeped in a different kind of soul tradition.
Aretha Franklin Tunes: From a One-Take Vocal to Soul Legend
After just one day in the studio, the session came to an abrupt and violent end. Following a heated argument, Aretha’s husband accused her of singing about another man and assaulted her so severely he knocked her teeth out.
What you hear on the released track is, remarkably, just the guide vocal—Aretha was unable to re-record it after the attack. That song was I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You).
Despite the circumstances, the track became her first top-ten hit and marked the beginning of a monumental run of Aretha Franklin tunes that would define her legacy.
Soon after, she released iconic hits like Respect, Chain of Fools, Think, I Say a Little Prayer, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Rock Steady.
It’s difficult to find a soul singer who doesn’t revere Aretha—her influence runs so deep that she essentially defines the genre. In 2010, Rolling Stone crowned her the greatest of them all, placing her at #1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Aretha Franklin Tunes | Related Pages
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recordings.
| C | G/B | Bb | F F C/E Dm |
Looking out on the morning rain, I used to feel so uninspired…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
A Change Is Gonna Come | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G | G | Am | Em |
I was born by the river, in a little tent, oh and just like that river I’ve been…
Start learning with the full lesson series: A Change Is Gonna Come – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
I Say A Little Prayer | Chord + TAB
You can learn how to play I Say A Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| F#m | Bm7 | Bm7 |2/4 E7 |4/4 Amaj7 |
The moment I wake up. Before I put on my makeup (makeup)…
Start learning with the full lesson series: I Say A Little Prayer – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Respect | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Respect by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G7 | F7 |
(Oh) What you want, (Oh) Baby, I got it…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Respect – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Think | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Think by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recordings.
| Bb | Eb Bb |
You better think (think). Think about what you’re trying to do to me…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Think (Aretha Franklin) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Aretha Franklin on the web
