"The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970" is a compilation album that offers a comprehensive look at Aretha Franklin's foundational years with Atlantic Records. Released by Rhino Records in September 2018, just weeks after Franklin's passing, this album gathers her first 17 singles for the label. It spans from her debut single, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" in February 1967, to "Border Song (Holy Moses)" in October 1970. This collection
not only serves as a tribute to her early success but also highlights the incredible output and impact she had during this pivotal period of her career.
Content and Chart Performance
The compilation features 34 tracks, encompassing both the A-sides and B-sides of her first 17 singles released in the United States for Atlantic Records. Many of these singles, including their B-sides, were also featured on the Atlantic Records albums Franklin released during the same years. Some singles were issued prior to their respective albums, while others appeared on the market after the album's release. The collection is notable for the remarkable chart success of its contents.
All 17 A-sides included in the collection achieved a spot in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Furthermore, the first eight of these singles all charted within the top ten, a testament to Franklin's immediate and profound impact. This impressive run includes her chart-topping signature song, "Respect." Beyond the A-sides, six B-sides also managed to chart independently on Billboard, with her rendition of "I Say a Little Prayer" also reaching the top ten. The collection notably omits her 1968 version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which was released as a single exclusively in the United Kingdom.
Critical Acclaim and Enduring Legacy
The singles featured in "The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970" are widely considered to represent some of the greatest work of Aretha Franklin's career. This sentiment is supported by various critical assessments. For instance, seven of the 34 tracks on this set appear on Billboard's list of her ten greatest songs. Additionally, 16 tracks from the compilation are featured on Rolling Stone's list of Franklin's greatest 50 songs. Half of the songs identified by The New York Times as Franklin's 20 essential tracks are also present in this collection, underscoring its significance.
The original recordings were primarily produced by Jerry Wexler, often in collaboration with Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. Most of these tracks were recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City, featuring session musicians from FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Franklin's initial session for Atlantic took place at FAME Studios, and two additional sessions were held at Criteria Studios in Miami, with the Dixie Flyers referring to the musicians involved in the Criteria sessions. The Amazon sales website indicates that these are digitally remastered versions of the original mono issues, though this detail is not explicitly stated in the set's liner notes or packaging. The album received a perfect 10/10 rating from PopMatters, further solidifying its critical standing.
