Where to even begin with one of the most monumental classics in the soul music canon? Over the course of the early 1960s, Columbia Records had released nine albums and over two dozen singles on Aretha Franklin but never seemed to be able to find the commercial success to match her powerful voice. (That Columbia insisted on her recording straight-up, Brill Building-style orchestral pop songs probably didn’t help.) When her contract lapsed in 1966, Jerry Wexler quickly signed Aretha to Atlantic Records and sent her down to the already-legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Written by Ronnie Shannon, “I Never Loved A Man” was the first song Aretha and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section worked on together. No syrupy string sections or orchestral flourishes here – the tune starts with a classic slinky blues organ riff courtesy of Dewey “Spooner” Oldham, while Tommy Cogbill and Gene Chrisman provide bass and drums, respectively. As Re stalks her way into the chorus, King Curtis and company kick in the horns as Spooner Oldham moves to the piano (dubbed in later). During the bridge, Chips Moman’s guitar moans along in response to Aretha’s pleading calls. Cissy Houston, along with Franklin sisters Carolyn and Erma, provide backing vocals.

“I Never Loved A Man” (b/w “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man”) was released as Aretha’s first Atlantic single in January 1967, single-handedly ushering in a new era of southern-fried r&b and announcing the reign of the undisputed Queen of Soul. The song became an immediate smash hit, topping the US r&b charts for seven straight weeks and breaking into the pop Top Ten – the first time Ms. Franklin had ever landed there, but certainly far from the last. “I Never Loved A Man” also became the title track of Aretha’s first album on Atlantic, a powerhouse LP that also includes the classics “Respect”, “Dr. Feelgood”, “Save Me”, and more.

During the recording of this song one of the trumpet players Melvin Lastie started flirting with Aretha, and Aretha’s manager and husband Ted White instructed studio owner Rick Hall to sack the trumpeter. Rick refused and that was the end of the session, even though they were half-way through the B-side Do Right Woman. After further futile negotiations back at the hotel, Aretha and Ted flew back to New York.

This song was the only one on the album to be recorded at Muscle Shoals.