When Aretha Franklin transitioned from Columbia Records to Atlantic in 1966, Jerry Wexler, Atlantic’s VP, presented her with cover 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 song in mind: “Respect,” a track already part of her live performances. According to Franklin’s biographer David Ritz, Wexler’s conversation with Franklin’s manager, Ted White, went something like this: “Long as she changes it up,” Wexler said. White confidently replied, “You don’t gotta worry about that. She changes it up all right.” This anecdote sets the stage for understanding how Franklin transformed a song into an enduring anthem, a transformation that cemented its place in music history and on lists like Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs of All Time.
Otis Redding originally penned and recorded “Respect” for Stax/Volt in 1965. However, Aretha Franklin’s rendition, recorded at Atlantic’s New York studio on Valentine’s Day 1967, definitively claimed the song. “Respect” became her first Number One hit, instantly establishing her as the Queen of Soul. This version is the one that resonates through generations and is consistently lauded on lists celebrating the greatest songs, including Rolling Stone’s prestigious ranking.
Redding’s version of “Respect” is a powerful plea for equal treatment, delivered with a masculine, forceful energy. Franklin’s interpretation, however, operates from a position of strength. She isn’t pleading; she’s declaring. Her rendition is a demand for respect from a woman’s perspective, addressing the exhaustion and unequal footing in relationships with a potent sexual assertiveness. In essence, she communicates: respect is earned, not freely given. 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,” he wrote. “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 shift in meaning, imbued with Franklin’s unique vocal power, is a key reason why her version of “Respect” transcends Redding’s original and earns its place among the top songs recognized by Rolling Stone.
The iconic “Sock it to me” refrain, delivered by Franklin’s sisters and backup singers, Carolyn and Erma, was a spontaneous creation during the recording session. Aretha and Carolyn devised this catchy and energetic interjection, adding another layer to the song’s dynamism. Engineer Tom Dowd recounted his astonishment at Carolyn’s saucy breakdown where Aretha spells out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” exclaiming, “I fell off my chair when I heard that!” Furthermore, to compensate for the lack of a bridge in Redding’s original, Wexler instructed the Muscle Shoals studio band to incorporate chord changes from Sam and Dave’s “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” beneath King Curtis’s tenor saxophone solo. These musical augmentations and improvisations elevated Franklin’s “Respect” far beyond a simple cover, transforming it into a definitive soul masterpiece worthy of its high ranking in Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs.
The raw emotion in Franklin’s performance is undeniable. It’s widely believed that her turbulent personal life at the time fueled the passionate delivery. Wexler observed, “If she didn’t live it, she couldn’t give it.” He also emphasized a core aspect of Franklin’s persona: “Aretha would never play the part of the scorned woman.… Her middle name was Respect.” This lived experience, channeled through her exceptional vocal talent, gave “Respect” an authenticity and depth that resonated deeply with listeners and critics alike, contributing to its legendary status and placement on lists like Rolling Stone’s.
“Respect” spearheaded Franklin’s Atlantic debut album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, and became a catalyst, merging rock & roll, gospel, and blues into a quintessential soul sound that continues to inspire artists today. Mariah Carey, acknowledging Franklin’s influence, referred to her as “my mentor.” Beyond its musical innovation, “Respect” became an anthem for the civil rights movement and the burgeoning feminist revolution. Franklin’s unapologetic demands for respect mirrored the broader societal calls for equality and empowerment. Her support for the Black Panther Party and her performance at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral further solidified her connection to these movements. In her 1999 memoir, Franklin articulated the song’s universal 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 message remains powerfully relevant, ensuring “Respect” continues to resonate and maintain its celebrated position within the canon of music history, as reflected in Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Songs and beyond.
