While the inclusion of "Respect" -- one of the truly seminal singles in pop history -- is in and of itself sufficient to earn I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You classic status, Aretha Franklin's Atlantic label debut is an indisputable masterpiece from start to finish. Much of the credit is due to producer Jerry Wexler, who finally unleashed the soulful intensity so long kept under wraps during her Columbia tenure; assembling a crack Muscle Shoals backing band along with an abundance of impeccable material, Wexler creates the ideal setting to allow Aretha to ascend to the throne of Queen of Soul, and she responds with the strongest performances of her career. While the brilliant title track remains the album's other best-known song, each cut on I Never Loved a Man is touched by greatness; covers of Ray Charles' "Drown in My Own Tears" and Sam Cooke's "Good Times" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" are on par with the original recordings, while Aretha's own contributions -- "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream," "Baby, Baby, Baby," "Save Me," and "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" -- are perfectly at home in such lofty company. A soul landmark. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is the breakthrough album by Aretha Franklin, released on March 10, 1967. It established Aretha as a superstar and a major force in the recording industry. The album, along with her signature song, "Respect", were chart-topping hits upon their initial release.
"Respect" was a #1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop singles chart, and the title track was a #9 single. The album hit #1 on the Black Albums chart and #2 for several weeks on the Pop Albums chart.
It was certified Gold in 1967 and has since sold several million copies in the United States, but has never been updated by the RIAA.
In 2002, Rolling Stone placed the album at #1 on their "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" list.
Q magazine (1/03, p.54) - Included in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums Ever"
Q magazine (7/93, p.106) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...[the album] came out in May 1967 and was Number 2 in America within weeks...now it stands untainted by time. She seemed so much a force of nature it's strange to recall that this was actually her tenth album..."
