I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)

"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
Single by Aretha Franklin
from the album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
B-side"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
ReleasedFebruary 10, 1967
RecordedJanuary 24, 1967[1]
Genre
Length2:51
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Ronnie Shannon
Producer(s)Jerry Wexler
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
"Mockingbird"
(1966) 		"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
(1967) 		"Respect"
(1967)
Official music audio
"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" on YouTube

"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin. Released on Atlantic Records as the first big hit of her career and the lead single from her tenth studio album of the same name, it became a defining song for Franklin,[3] peaking at number one on the rhythm and blues charts and number nine on the pop charts.[4] The B-side was "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man".[5] Before this Franklin had placed only two Top 40 singles on the pop chart during her modest tenure with Columbia Records.

  1. ^ Dobkin 2006, p. 133.
  2. ^ Masley, Ed (May 30, 2017). "Sgt. Pepper and beyond: A look back at 20 great albums released in 1967". azcentral. Retrieved November 3, 2023. ...that no-good heartbreaker she'd leave if she could on the gospel-flavored title track.
  3. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 52 – The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 8] : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 215.
  5. ^ Dobkin, Matt (2004). I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You: Aretha Franklin, Respect, and the Making of a Soul Music Masterpiece. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 7–8, 187–188. ISBN 0-312-31828-6.