Top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked & Complete Discography

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Our Top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked & Complete Discography looks back at the wonderful recording career of Aretha Franklin and her amazing body of work. There are not many singers in pop music history that could go head to head with the soulful and yet extremely powerful voice of Aretha Franklin. There have been a few like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson that could hit higher notes, but when it came down to being the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin will hold that title forever. Aretha Franklin has left behind a massive body of work.

Her first album was released in 1961 on Columbia Records simply titled Aretha. She continued to release studio albums over the next five decades. Aretha Franklin recorded for Columbia Records, Atlantic Records and Arista Records. Aretha Franklin released close to forty studio albums and over one hundred and thirty singles. Our Top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked & Complete Discography list presents all her studio albums released in chronological order. Out of the thirty eight released, we also picked out our ten favorites.

# 10 – Soul Sister

We open up our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List with the legendary singer’s eight album entitled Soul Sister. The Soul Sister album was released in 1966. The album hit number one hundred and thirty two on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. However, Soul Sister would hit number eight on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts making it Aretha Franklin’s third straight top 10 album on the R&B Charts.

Side One:

Until You Were Gone

You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It)

Follow Your Heart

Ol’ Man River

Sweet Bitter Love

A Mother’s Love

Side Two:

Swanee

(No, No) I’m Losing You

Take a Look

Can’t You Just See Me

Cry Like a Baby”

# 9 – The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin

Continuing with our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we move on to the sensational album entitled The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin. This is one of her earliest albums. Despite it not being a huge selling album it’s one of those records in which every songs is just a wonderful excursion into deep soul and r&b song by a woman who would become one of the greatest ever. The album was released in.1962. The The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin album hit number sixty nine on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts.

Side One:

Don’t Cry, Baby

Try a Little Tenderness

I Apologize

Without the One You Love

Look for the Silver Lining

I’m Sitting on Top of the World

Side Two:

Just for a Thrill

God Bless the Child

I’m Wandering

How Deep Is the Ocean

I Don’t Know You Anymore

Lover Come Back to Me

# 8 – A Rose Is Still a Rose

In the number eight spot on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we present the album entitled A Rose Is Still a Rose. This is the most modern Aretha Franklin album to make our top 10. It was a brilliant late career recording that showcased Aretha Franklin dipping into the hip hop genre as well as an assortment of other musical styles. It was all hands on deck for this one as it stands as her best recording of her late period.  The album was released in 1998. A Rose Is Still a Rose hit number thirty on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. The album also broke onto the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts peaking at number seven.

Side One:

A Rose Is Still a Rose  with Lauryn Hill

Never Leave You Again

In Case You Forgot

Here We Go Again

Every Lil’ Bit Hurts

In the Morning

Side Two:

I’ll Dip

How Many Times

Watch My Back

Love Pang

The Woman

# 7 – Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

This was a big one. Who’s Zoomin’ Who? would become Aretha Franklin’s biggest selling album of her career. It may not have been her best from an artistic standpoint, but the album sold big time in the middle of the CD Evolution of the mid 1980s. The album did feature a great Clarence Clemons saxophone solo in the hit single “Freeway Of Love.” The album was released in 1986. The Who’s Zoomin’ Who? album hit number thirteen on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. Who’s Zoomin’ Who? also hit number three on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts.

Side One:

Freeway of Love

Another Night

Sweet Bitter Love

Who’s Zoomin’ Who

Side Two:

Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves

Until You Say You Love Me

Ain’t Nobody Ever Loved You

Push

Integrity

# 6 – Aretha Arrives

Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we present the album entitled Aretha Arrives. The Aretha Arrives album was released in 1967. The album hit number five on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. Aretha Arrives would become Aretha Franklin’s second straight number one album on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts.

Side One:

Satisfaction

You Are My Sunshine

Never Let Me Go

96 Tears

Prove It

Night Life

Side Two:

That’s Life

I Wonder

Ain’t Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)

Going Down Slow

Baby, I Love You

# 5 – Young, Gifted and Black

At the halfway point on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List is the album entitled Young, Gifted and Black. The album was released in 1972. The Young, Gifted and Black album hit number eleven on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. The album also broke onto the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts peaking at number two. The Young, Gifted and Black album would become Aretha Franklin’s  fourth Gold selling album.

Side One:

Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby)

Day Dreaming

Rock Steady

Young, Gifted and Black

All the King’s Horses

Brand New Me

Side Two:

April Fools

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

First Snow in Kokomo

The Long and Winding Road

Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)

Border Song (Holy Moses)

# 4 – Soul ’69

At the number four spot on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we present the album entitled Soul ’69. The album was released in 1960. The album hit number fifteen on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts.The album also broke onto the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts peaking at number one making it six number oneS in a row for Aretha Franklin.The album also appeared on the United Kingdom Official Albums Charts reaching the number nine position. It was also a top 20 album on the Canadian Album Charts.

Side One:

Ramblin

Today I Sing the Blues

River’s Invitation

Pitiful

Crazy He Calls Me

Bring It On Home to Me

Side Two:

Tracks of My Tears

If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody

Gentle on My Mind

So Long

I’ll Never Be Free

“Elusive Butterfly

# 3 – Aretha Now

Dancing and singing along on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we present the energetic album entitled Aretha Now. The album was released in 1968. The Aretha Now album hit number three on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. Aretha Now would also become Aretha Franklin’s fourth straight number one album on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts. It also stands as her highest charting album ever on the United Kingdom Official Albums Charts reaching the number six position.

Side One:

Think

I Say a Little Prayer

See Saw

Night Time Is the Right Time

You Send Me

Side Two:

You’re a Sweet Sweet Man

I Take What I Want

Hello Sunshine

A Change

I Can’t See Myself Leaving You

# 2 – Lady Soul

Just of the top spot on our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List we present the monumental album entitled Lady Soul. Aretha Franklin could do no wrong with albums like these. Lady Soul is regarded as one of the greatest R&B albums ever released. The album was released in 1968. It was Aretha Franklin’s second Gold album. The outstanding Lady Soul album hit number two on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. The album hit number one the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts. On the United Kingdom Official Albums Charts Lady Soul reached number twenty five. Look at the songS that appeared on this fantastic album.

Side One:

Chain of Fools

Money Won’t Change You

People Get Ready

Niki Hoeky

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Side Two:

(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone

Good to Me as I Am to You

Come Back Baby

Groovin’

Ain’t No Way

# 1 – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

We wrap up our top 10 Aretha Franklin Albums Ranked List with the album entitled I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.  The album was released on March 10, 1967.  It was issued on Atlantic Records. This has long remained the album that so many Aretha Franklin fans have felt was her greatest record. The extraordinary I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You album hit number two on the US Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. The album also hit number one the US Billboard Top R&B Albums Charts. On the United Kingdom Official Albums Charts I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You reached number thirty six. It opened with here greatest single release of her career.

Side One: 

Respect

Drown in My Own Tears

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

Soul Serenade

Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream

Baby, Baby, Baby

Side Two: 

Dr. Feelgood

Good Times

Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Save Me

A Change Is Gonna Come

Aretha Franklin Studio Albums Discography

Below is a complete list of all of Aretha Franklin’s studio albums she released throughout her Hall Of Fame career. It’s amazing to see how she would release multiple albums a year especially in the 1960’s which was very common among all musical artists at the time.

Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo

Released in 1961

The Electrifying Aretha Franklin

Released in 1962

The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin

Released in 1962

Laughing on the Outside

Released in 1963

Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington

Released in 1964

Runnin’ Out of Fools

Released in 1964

Yeah!!!

Released in 1965

Soul Sister

Released in 1966

Take It Like You Give It

Released in 1967

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Released in 1967

Aretha Arrives

Released in 1967

Lady Soul

Released in 1968

Aretha Now

Released in 1968

Soul ’69

Released in 1969

Soft and Beautiful

Released in 1969

This Girl’s in Love with You

Released in 1970

Spirit in the Dark

Released in 1970

Young, Gifted & Black

Released in 1972

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Released in 1973

Let Me in Your Life

Released in 1974

With Everything I Feel in Me

Released in 1974

You

Released in 1975

Sparkle

Released in 1976

Sweet Passion

Released in 1977

Almighty Fire

Released in 1978

La Diva

Released in 1979

Aretha

Released in 1980

Love All the Hurt Away

Released in 1981

Jump to It

Released in 1982

Get It Right

Released in 1983

Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

Released in 1985

Aretha

Released in 1986

Through the Storm

Released in 1989

What You See Is What You Sweat

Released in 1991

A Rose Is Still a Rose

Released in 1998

So Damn Happy

Released in 2003

This Christmas, Aretha

Released in 2008

Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love

Released in 2011

Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics

Released in 2014

Aretha Franklin’s Live Albums Discography

Songs of Faith

Released in 1965

Aretha in Paris

Released in 1968

Aretha Live at Fillmore West

Released in 1971

Amazing Grace

Released in 1972

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

Released in 1987

Gospel Greats

Released in 1999

Don’t Fight the Feeling: Live at Fillmore West

Released in 2005

Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972

Released in 2007