When Aretha Franklin transitioned from Columbia Records to Atlantic in 1966, Atlantic Vice President Jerry Wexler approached the singer with song suggestions, including Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Ray Charles’ “Drown in My Own Tears.” While intrigued, Franklin had her own idea: “Respect,” a song already in her live repertoire. Wexler, in a conversation with Franklin’s manager Ted White, as recounted by biographer David Ritz, expressed a proviso: “Long as she changes it up.” White’s confident reply? “You don’t gotta worry about that. She changes it up all right.” And change it she did, transforming a song into one of the Best Songs Ever recorded.
Otis Redding penned and originally performed “Respect” for Stax/Volt in 1965. However, Aretha Franklin claimed the song as her own with her iconic rendition, recorded at Atlantic’s New York studio on Valentine’s Day, 1967. This version of “Respect” became her first Number One hit and cemented her status as the undisputed Queen of Soul. It’s a testament to her artistry that she took a good song and elevated it to the pantheon of the best songs ever created.
Redding’s version of “Respect” is a powerful, almost pleading march for equal treatment. Franklin’s interpretation, however, operates from a position of strength. She isn’t asking; she’s declaring. Her powerful voice demands an end to unfairness, infused with a potent sexual authority. The message is clear: respect is earned, not given freely. Wexler, in his autobiography, Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music, noted this distinction: “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?” This transformation is a key reason why “Respect” is considered one of the best songs ever, its layers of meaning resonating deeply.
The song’s brilliance was further amplified by the now-legendary “Sock it to me” refrain, conceived by Aretha and her sister Carolyn, and sung by Carolyn and Erma Franklin. Tom Dowd, the recording engineer, recounted his astonishment at the moment Aretha spelled out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” in the breakdown, a moment of pure genius that solidified the song’s place among the best songs ever. Adding to the song’s unique texture, Wexler incorporated chord changes from Sam and Dave’s “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” under King Curtis’s saxophone solo, as Redding’s original lacked a bridge. This clever musical interpolation further enriched what would become one of the best songs ever.
The raw emotion in Franklin’s performance is undeniable, fueled perhaps by her personal experiences during a turbulent marriage. Wexler astutely observed, “If she didn’t live it, she couldn’t give it.” Yet, he emphasized, “Aretha would never play the part of the scorned woman.… Her middle name was Respect.” This lived experience translated into a performance that resonated universally, making “Respect” one of the best songs ever made, not just sung.
“Respect,” the opening track of her Atlantic debut album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, was a catalytic moment, fusing rock & roll, gospel, and blues into the blueprint for soul music that continues to inspire artists today. Mariah Carey herself acknowledged Franklin as “my mentor,” highlighting the lasting impact of her work and “Respect”‘s status as one of the best songs ever. Beyond its musical innovation, the song’s powerful call for respect resonated deeply within the civil rights movement and the burgeoning feminist revolution. Franklin’s active support for the Black Panther Party and her performance at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral underscore her commitment to these causes. In her 1999 memoir, Franklin articulated the song’s broader appeal: it reflected “the need of the average man and woman in the street, the businessman, the mother, the fireman, the teacher — everyone wanted respect.” Decades later, this sentiment remains powerfully relevant, confirming “Respect”‘s timeless message and its place as one of the best songs ever created. The enduring power of “Respect” is why it continues to be celebrated as one of the best songs ever written and performed.
