Lady Soul

The album was her third R&B chart-topper, the follow-up to Aretha Arrives and included some of her biggest hit singles: "Chain of Fools" (#2 Pop), and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (#8 Pop), and "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (#5 Pop). It eventually sold well over a million copies in the United States alone. The album was reissued on Rhino Records in a deluxe edition in 1995.

Gospel/R&B singer Cissy Houston (mother of Whitney Houston) and her group the Sweet Inspirations are credited as background vocals on several tracks, along with Aretha's sisters Carolyn and Erma Franklin. Eric Clapton, at the time a member of the band Cream, is credited as the guitarist on the track "Good to Me as I Am to You" .

Lady Soul peaked at #1, #2 and #3 on Billboard's Black Albums, Pop Albums and Jazz Albums charts respectively. The single "Ain't No Way" – B-Side of "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet, Sweet, Baby)" – peaked at #9 on the Black Singles chart and #16 on the Pop Singles chart.

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[5]

In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Lady Soul the 41st greatest album of all time. It is number 85 on Rolling Stone's list "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[6] The album was rated the 29th best album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.[7]

All tracks produced by Jerry Wexler and Recording engineered by Tom Dowd.

A Side

1. "Chain of Fools" (Don Covay) 2:46

2. "Money Won't Change You" (James Brown, Nat Jones) 2:08

3. "People Get Ready" (Curtis Mayfield) 3:42

4. "Niki Hoeky" (Jim Ford, Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas) 2:31

5. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) 2:44

B Side

1. "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) 2:25

2. "Good to Me as I Am to You" (Aretha Franklin, Ted White) 3:56

3. "Come Back Baby" (Walter Davis) 2:25

4. "Groovin'" (Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati) 2:57

5. "Ain't No Way" (Carolyn Franklin) 4:17

CD reissue bonus tracks

1. "Chain of Fools" (Unedited Version) 4:22

Originally issued on the quad album The Best of Aretha Franklin, Atlantic #QD-8305, January 08, 1973

2. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Mono Single Version) 2:49

3. "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" (Mono Single Version) 2:28

4. "Ain't No Way" (Mono Single Version) 4:12

Note: Numbers in italic (following original single release information) denote peak positions on Billboard's "Top/Best Selling R&B Singles" and "Hot 100" charts respectively - courtesy BPI Communications and Joel Whitburn's Record Research Publications.

• Aretha Franklin – vocals, backing vocals, piano
• Roger Hawkins, Gene Chrisman – drums
• Eric Clapton, Bobby Womack, Joe South, Jimmy Johnson – guitar
• Tommy Cogbill – bass guitar
• Warren Smith – vibraphone
• Spooner Oldham – piano, organ, electric piano
• Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Melvin Lastie – trumpet
• Tony Studd – trombone
• King Curtis – tenor saxophone
• Frank Wess, Seldon Powell – flute, tenor saxophone
• Haywood Henry – baritone saxophone
• Carolyn Franklin – backing vocals
• Cissy Houston – backing vocals

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1968 (U.S.)