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The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1

The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 is a compilation album by singer Aretha Franklin, released by Rhino Records in March 1994. The album compiles 13 of her first 14 singles for Atlantic Records all of which were recorded during the 1960s. The original recordings were produced by Jerry Wexler, and this compilation was certified platinum by the RIAA.[2]

The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1
Compilation album by
Aretha Franklin
ReleasedMarch 18, 1994
RecordedJanuary 1967 – October 1969
GenreSoul music
Length47:26
LabelRhino Records
ProducerGary Stewart
Aretha Franklin chronology
Greatest Hits: 1980-1994
(1994) 		The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1
(1994) 		A Rose Is Still A Rose
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
NME9/10[1]

Content

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This compilation contains thirteen of Franklin's initial fourteen singles released in the United States on Atlantic from her debut "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" of February 1967 through "Call Me" of January 1970. The first eight all made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, including her chart-topping signature song, "Respect." No single included charted lower than No. 19 on the Hot 100. Missing is her eleventh single of this sequence, "I Can't See Myself Leaving You" of April 1969; also missing is her 1968 version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" released as a single in the United Kingdom only.

The other three tracks appeared as b-sides, two of which charted on the Hot 100 independently of their hit sides. The single mixes do not appear here on every track.

All basic tracks were recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with the studio's core session musicians. Additional overdubbing on select recordings took place at Atlantic Studios in New York City.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Respect" (Atlantic 2403 Billboard No. 1)Otis Redding2:25
2."Baby I Love You" (Atlantic 2427 Billboard No. 4)Ronnie Shannon2:51
3."I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (Atlantic 2386 Billboard No. 9)Ronnie Shannon2:43
4."Chain of Fools" (Atlantic 2464 Billboard No. 2)Don Covay2:48
5."Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Atlantic 2386b)Chips Moman, Dan Penn3:15
6."(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Atlantic 2441 Billboard No. 8)Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler2:44
7."(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (Atlantic 2486 Billboard No. 5)Aretha Franklin, Ted White2:25
8."Ain't No Way" (Atlantic 2486b Billboard No. 16)Carolyn Franklin2:54
9."Think" (Atlantic 2518 Billboard No. 7)Aretha Franklin, Ted White4:14
10."See Saw" (Atlantic 2574 Billboard No. 14)Steve Cropper, Don Covay2:19
11."The House That Jack Built" (Atlantic 2546 Billboard No. 6)Bob Lance, Fran Robbins2:46
12."I Say a Little Prayer" (Atlantic 2546b Billboard No. 10)Burt Bacharach, Hal David2:22
13."The Weight" (Atlantic 2603 Billboard No. 19)Robbie Robertson3:36
14."Eleanor Rigby" (Atlantic 2683 Billboard No. 17)John Lennon, Paul McCartney2:38
15."Share Your Love with Me" (Atlantic 2650 Billboard No. 13)Alfred Braggs3:20
16."Call Me" (Atlantic 2706 Billboard No. 13)Aretha Franklin3:56

Collective personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1994) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[3] 105
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] 10
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[5] 117
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] 85

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[7] 2× Gold 150,000*
United States (RIAA)[8] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Dellar, Fred (October 22, 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 47. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum database retrieved 25 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  5. ^ "ベリー・ベスト・オブ・アレサ・フランクリン VOL.1 | アレサ・フランクリン | ORICON NEWS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Aretha Franklin – The Very Best Of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "French album certifications – Aretha Franklin – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  8. ^ "American album certifications – Aretha Franklin – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin". Recording Industry Association of America.
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