Aretha Franklin's top 20 songs
Mark Pukalo
The "Queen of Soul" made every song her own, and created an amazing library. Her booming voice and presence make her one of the greatest singers of all time. Here's my list of her best songs.
1. Respect - Can't be anything else but No. 1. Originally written and recorded by the great Otis Redding.
2. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Carole King and Gerry Goffin co-wrote this classic song for Aretha. The Queen brought the house down when she sang this at the Kennedy Center honors for Carole. Go see it on Youtube. It brings tears to your eyes.
3. Day Dreaming - Catchy tune made it to No. 5 on the Billboard chart and was ranked 61st for the year 1972
4. Amazing Grace - Does anyone sing this better? I think, Not.
5. Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Stevie Wonder was one of the writers of the song, but did not release it on an album until after Aretha's version made it to the top 10 in 1974.
6. Freeway of Love - The Big Man, Clarence Clemons, plays his sax on this classic which was the Queen's highest charting single in 12 years when it came out in 1985.
9. Chain of Fools - No. 1 R&B hit written by Don Covey. The song is about a woman who is being cheated on and is too weak to leave, but will some day break the chain.
10. Rock Steady - Top 10 hit was written by the Queen for the "Young, Gifted and Black" album.
11. A Change is Gonna Come
12. United Together
13. I Say a Little Prayer
14. Spanish Harlem
15. The Weight
16. Young, Gifted and Black
17. You're All I Need to Get By
18. (Sweet, Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
19. Call Me (This Girl's in Love with You)
20. Baby I Love You
Others
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
Drown in my own tears
Bridge over Troubled Water
Oh Me oh My (I'm a Fool for you Baby)
Mr. DJ
Spirit in the Dark
Ain't No Way
You Send Me
Something He Can Feel
Son of a Preacher Man
