Soul Tracks

At the core of Obama's historic campaign is a single word, CHANGE. Obama's run for the nation's highest office has birthed a slew of songs from artists representing a wide range of musical genres. However, hip hop and soul artists are at the front of the Obama movement. But no song embodies the campaign of Obama quite like Sam Cooke's 1963 epic 'A Change Is Gonna Come.' Inspired by Bob Dylan's protest song "Blowing In The Wind," and two life-altering incidents; a conversation with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina and the death of his infant son, Cooke composed the highly emotional tune. In the years that followed, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. Today's Soul Tracks features Aretha's 1967 reading of the song. Aretha paid homage to her friend and musical icon on her '67 Atlantic debut, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, considered to be one the greatest soul albums of all time. Forty one years after Aretha wrapped her gospel drenched vocals around the landmark song, I found myself anxiously anticipating a change. I know it's been a long, a long time coming but I know a CHANGE gonna come.

Soul Tracks

In 1967,during the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Ebony magazine declared “This is the summer of ’Retha, Rap, and Revolt.” Aretha, relatively unknown prior to '67, was the talk of the town. Soul music reached its' maturation in the work of Aretha. Sister ReRe released two albums in '67, her magnificent Atlantic debut, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, and Aretha Arrives. 'Respect,' an enduring declaration of independence, became an anthem for women and one of the battle cries of the Civil Rights Movement. 'I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You,' a soul landmark, and 'Baby, I Love You' reached the top of the charts. During a recording session in February of '67, Aretha cut 5 songs, 'Drown In My Own Tears,' 'Don't Let Me Lose This Dream,' 'Respect,' 'A Change Is Gonna Come' and the passionate 'Baby Baby Baby.' 'Baby Baby Baby,' composed by Aretha and sister Carolyn , was a 1964 hit for James Brown proteges Anna King and Bobby Byrd. Aretha accompanied herself at the piano and expressed her heartbreak and undying love on the intense 'Baby Baby Baby,' sung with such passion it comes across as autobiographical.

Under The Covers

Rumor has it that Barack Obama is looking for a campaign song, "A Change Is Gonna Come" is the ideal song for Obama's historical run for the White House. A change is so desperately needed in this country. "A Change Is Gonna Come" was composed by one of soul music's founding fathers, Sam Cooke, during the turbulent 60's. It's no coincidence that a gospel singer turned pop star wrote the highly emotional "A Change Is Gonna Come." Much like gospel staples "I Won't Complain" and "How I Got Over," "A Change Is Gonna Come" forces one to reflect on their life. Cooke was inspired by Bob Dylan's protest song "Blowing In The Wind," and two life-altering incidents; a conversation with sit-in demonstrators in Durham, North Carolina and the death of his infant son. The song, with it's dramatic orchestral backing and mournful french horns, exemplified the trials and tribulations of black America, especially the second verse, "it's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die/'cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky/it's been a long, a long time coming/ but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will." "A Change Is Gonna Come" appears on Cooke's final studio album, Ain't That Good News. Surprisingly, "A Change Is Gonna Come" only reached #9 on the Black Singles charts. In the years that followed, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. In 1966, Aretha Franklin wrapped her soulful gospel drenched vocals around "A Change Is Gonna Come" and payed homage to her musical idol. The song is included on 'Retha's '67 Atlantic Records debut, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, considered to be one the greatest soul albums of all time. Aretha's cover of the song is mind blowing, Aretha's opening note sends a chill through your body and for a second you forget "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a Sam Cooke song. Even though Aretha is one of music's greatest interpreters, Cooke's recording reigns supreme. "A Change Is Gonna Come" set the foundation for other socially-conscious songs such as Marvin's "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" and Curtis Mayfield's "We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue." "A Change Is Gonna Come" ranks on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was selected by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry, a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."

Classic Album Revisited

Many people consider ReRe's I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You to be the greatest soul album ever released. The recording of the legendary album began on January 26, 1967 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and ended on February 16 in NYC. The project was entrusted to the musical genius of producers Arif Madrin, Jerry Wexler, and Tom Dowd. Aretha was accompanied by an array of talented musicians, all unaware they were creating the blueprint for all soul artists to follow. The first song recorded was the title cut "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You". Aretha accompanied herself at the piano and sang from the depths of her being, declaring "you're a no good heart breaker...your a liar and a cheat... I don't know why I let you do these things to me...." Aretha was a woman capable of expressing emotions from the depths of her soul. That was evident in "Do Right Woman-Do Right Man", a thought provoking song that tested the nature of relationships. She made it a family affair with sisters Erma and Carolyn singing background vocals along with Cissy Houston. Aretha along with sister Carolyn and legendary sax man King Curtis wrote "Save Me", a joyful infectious song that spoke of one lover wanting to be saved from the other. Aretha barred her soul and injected a gospel style sound on an emotionally charged cover of Ray Charles "Drown In My Own Tears." Sister ReRe recorded the intense "Baby Baby Baby", where she expressed her heartbreak and undying love. Superb guitar and saxophone arrangements complemented Aretha's vocals on "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream." As on of the great interpreters of soul music Aretha brought something special to an Otis Redding hit. Aretha took "Respect", with it's unforgettable "sock-it-to-me" background part, and turned it into a classic and taught us how to spell at the same time. There was no doubt that Aretha was a product of the sanctified church when she sang a personal and highly emotional rendition of Sam Cooke's, one of her early musical mentors, "A Change Is Gonna Come." Aretha serenaded listeners with "Soul Serenade", a1964 hit for King Curtis. She also breathed new life into Sam Cooke's upbeat "Good Times." "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)" written by Aretha and then husband Ted White was sung with the intensity and conviction of a gospel singer. But unlike gospel it expressed adult love in its most passionate and erotic form. Aretha moaned and hollered " I don't want nobody always sitting around me and my man...but oh when me and that man get to loving... I just don't have time to sit and chit chat and smile...don't send me no doctor, filling me up with all those pills...I got me a man named Dr. Feelgood...Good God almighty the man sure makes me feel good." Aretha took us down many a road. She sung about the highs and lows of love, the harsh realities of relationships, the change needed so desperately in our country, and respect. Say it with me "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." Aretha's fusion of gospel, blues, and jazz is astounding. This album is in a class of its own, it has no peer. I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's "Women In Rock: 50 Essential Albums."