Another giant of 60s (and later) music has gone.

Aretha Franklin was undoubtedly the best purveyor of the branch of music she excelled in. Not for nothing was she known as the Queen of Soul.

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman wasn’t a hit in Britain. I’m not sure if it was ever released as one in the UK but her expression in this recording is the epitome of soul.

Aretha Franklin: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Her biggest solo hit in the UK in terms of chart placing was actually I Say a Little Prayer, in 1968:-

Aretha Franklin: I Say a Little Prayer

But only one word suffices to describe her achievements.

Respect.

Aretha Louise Franklin: 25/3/1942 – 16/8/2018. So it goes.

Back to Otis Redding for some more soul. A no. 15 hit in the UK in 1967.

Otis Redding: Hard To Handle

After Percy Sledge last week, some more soul.

This was the first track by Otis Redding that I remember hearing. If I can believe Wikipedia the backing was provided by Booker T and the MGs and Isaac Hayes worked on the arrangement.

Otis Redding: Try a Little Tenderness