5 Facts About Jerry Wexler and Aretha Franklin's 1967 Album

Jerry Wexler produced the album for Atlantic Records. He oversaw the sessions that resulted in Aretha Franklin’s breakthrough record.

The album was released in March 1967. It became a landmark in soul music history.

Wexler helped shape Franklin’s signature sound. He paired her with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section for a raw, gospel-infused style.

The album’s title track became Franklin’s first number-one single. “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” topped the R&B charts.

Wexler’s production approach emphasized Franklin’s vocal power. He stripped back arrangements to let her voice take center stage.