Aretha Franklin – Thanks For the Music!! Thanks For the Attitude!!

Posted on by Opher

Back in the sixties I was greatly into the wonders of Soul Music with its power and attitude. It seemed to capture the spirit of Black Culture. These were the heady days of civil rights. Blacks were only now fighting for equality and Soul Music had that power and joy in it.

I particularly loved Booker T & the MGS, Wilson Pickett, Lee Dorsey, Eddie Floyd, Sam and Dave, James Brown, Albert King and Percy Sledge.

I loved the sounds coming out of that Stax Studio in Memphis with its racially mixed musicians that seemed to sum up the times for me. I visited it a few years back. There was magic.

For me the King of Soul was undoubtedly Otis Redding. He was unassailable. But the Queen of Soul was Aretha Franklin.

Aretha was a feisty little lady full of power who belted out her songs with a voice that could blow down walls.

The two stand out tracks for me were Think and Respect.

You better think (think)
Think about what you’re trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free
Oh, freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom)
Oh, freedom, yeah, freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom)
Freedom, oh freedom
Hey, think about it, think about it
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Both songs seemed to me to not just be about the emancipation of Black culture but also the equality of Women. It seemed to me that Aretha was fighting for both with all her heart and soul!
Good on you Aretha. We’ll miss you!
Dig the power!!!