When Aretha Franklin transitioned from Columbia Records to Atlantic in 1966, Jerry Wexler, Atlantic’s vice president, approached the singer with song suggestions, including Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Ray Charles’ “Drown in My Own Tears.” While receptive, Franklin had her own idea: “Respect,” a song already in her live repertoire. According to Franklin’s biographer David Ritz, Wexler, in a conversation with Franklin’s manager Ted White, expressed slight hesitation, “Long as she changes it up.” White confidently replied, “You don’t gotta worry about that. She changes it up all right.” This anecdote foreshadowed the seismic shift Franklin was about to bring to the song and the music world, cementing “Respect” as one of the most Popular Songs Of All Time.
Otis Redding originally penned and recorded “Respect” for Stax/Volt in 1965. However, it was Franklin who truly claimed the song, creating the definitive version during a session at Atlantic’s New York studio on Valentine’s Day 1967. This rendition became her first Number One hit, instantly establishing her as the undisputed Queen of Soul and propelling “Respect” into the pantheon of popular songs of all time.
Redding’s version of “Respect” is a compelling, almost forceful plea for consideration. Franklin’s rendition, however, transcends a simple request. She sang from a position of power, a woman demanding an end to unfair treatment with a palpable sexual confidence. In essence, her message was clear: respect is earned, not given freely. Wexler himself noted this transformation in his autobiography, Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music. He observed, “For Otis, ‘respect’ had the traditional connotation, the more abstract meaning of esteem. The fervor in Aretha’s magnificent voice demanded that respect and more: Respect also involved sexual attention of the highest order. What else could ‘Sock it to me’ mean?”
The iconic “Sock it to me” refrain, delivered by Franklin’s sisters and backup singers, Carolyn and Erma, was a spontaneous creation during the session. Engineer Tom Dowd recalled being astonished by the sassy breakdown where Aretha spells out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” crediting Carolyn with this brilliant addition. Furthermore, lacking a bridge in Redding’s original, Wexler ingeniously instructed the renowned Muscle Shoals studio band to incorporate the chord progression from Sam and Dave’s “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” beneath King Curtis’s tenor saxophone solo. These elements elevated the song far beyond a cover, transforming it into an entirely new creation and solidifying its place among popular songs of all time.
The raw emotion in Franklin’s performance is undeniable, fueled by her personal experiences, including a turbulent marriage. Wexler astutely commented, “If she didn’t live it, she couldn’t give it.” However, he also emphasized that Franklin never portrayed herself as a victim. “Her middle name was Respect,” he stated, highlighting the inherent strength and dignity in her interpretation, which resonated deeply with listeners and contributed to the song’s enduring popularity.
“Respect” not only spearheaded her Atlantic Records debut album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, but it also became a cultural phenomenon. It masterfully fused rock & roll, gospel, and blues, establishing a blueprint for soul music that continues to inspire artists today, with figures like Mariah Carey acknowledging Franklin as a mentor. Beyond its musical innovation, the song’s powerful and unapologetic demands resonated profoundly with both the civil rights movement and the burgeoning feminist revolution. Franklin’s support for the Black Panther Party and her performance at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral further cemented her role as a voice for social change. In her 1999 memoir, Franklin articulated the song’s universal appeal, stating it reflected “the need of the average man and woman in the street, the businessman, the mother, the fireman, the teacher — everyone wanted respect.” This timeless message of respect continues to resonate today, ensuring “Respect” remains not just a popular song, but an enduring anthem for generations.
