'Respect': 1967 Aretha Franklin Tune Was an Otis Redding Hit
If you learned how to spell "respect" thanks to the legendary Aretha Franklin, you're not alone. Franklin's seminal 1967 track, "Respect," was a rallying cry—an anthem for women everywhere. It also resulted in the Queen of Soul's commercial breakthrough and international acclaim.
Released as a single on April 10, 1967, one month after the debut of Franklin's ninth studio album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, "Respect" is listed on countless rankings of the best songs of all time.
For example, it took the No. 1 spot on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2021. "Respect" also clocked in at No. 4 on the publication's list of "The 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time." The tune skyrocketed to the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles charts. It also became certified Platinum in five countries and Gold in three.
Franklin went on to win two Grammys in 1968, one for "Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female," and one for "Best Rhythm & Blues Recording." "Respect" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987 and was added to the National Recording Registry courtesy of the Library of Congress in 2002.
While "Respect" is synonymous with the iconic singer-songwriter and pianist, it first belonged to an equally iconic artist: Otis Redding. Redding released the soul track as a single in August 1965. It was originally a ballad, but Redding reworked it and sped up the tempo during the recording process. The artist included the song on his third studio album, Otis Blue. The record achieved commercial success, extending beyond his R&B and blues fan base. "Respect" also became Redding's second-largest genre crossover hit.
Franklin recorded "Respect" in February 1967, having performed it at her concerts. She decided to flip the gender in the lyrics with the aid of her sisters, Carolyn and Erma Franklin, and added new lyrical flourishes, such as spelling out the word "respect." Franklin also rearranged the music so the cover sounded significantly different from Redding's version.
And the rest is, as they say, history. Franklin took a cover and made it her own, incorporating her unique vision while honoring the original song. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, indeed.