Aretha Franklin discography

This discography documents the releases of albums and singles by Aretha Franklin. Widely regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling R&B female artists of all time.[1] Billboard ranks her as the 34th Greatest Artist of all time.[2] Franklin has scored 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the most among women for nearly 50 years until Nicki Minaj passed her in 2017.[3] Billboard listed her as the 41st Top Gospel Artist of the 2010s.[2] She has accumulated 20 No. 1 hits on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Aretha Franklin discography
Franklin performing at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009
Studio albums38
Live albums6
Singles131

Amazing Grace remains the biggest-selling live gospel album of all time, being certified 2× Platinum in the US.[4][5] According to RIAA database, Franklin has sold 16.5 million albums and singles in the US (based on certifications).[6]

She is ranked first among female vocalists with the most Billboard chart hits during the rock era (1955–2012) with a total of 88 according to Joel Whitburn's Record Research. In total cumulative weeks, Franklin is the fifth most successful female artist on the Billboard 200 with a total of 995 cumulative weeks on the chart behind Adele, Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Taylor Swift.

Albums

Studio albums

AlbumYearPeak chart positionsSalesCertificationsRecord label
US
[7]
US
R&B
/HH

[8]
AUS
[9][10]
CAN
[11]
FRA
[12]
GER
[13]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
SWI
[16]
UK
[17]
Aretha1961Columbia
The Electrifying Aretha Franklin1962
The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin69
Laughing on the Outside1963
Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington1964
Runnin' Out of Fools849
Yeah1965101893
Soul Sister19661328
Take It Like You Give It1967
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You21236Atlantic
Aretha Arrives5118
Lady Soul1968211825
Aretha Now3112266
Soul '691969151159
Soft and Beautiful29Columbia
This Girl's in Love with You1970172818Atlantic
Spirit in the Dark25225
Young, Gifted and Black197211253
Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)1973302
Let Me in Your Life19741418815
With Everything I Feel in Me576
You1975839
Sweet Passion1977496
Almighty Fire1978631263
La Diva197914625
Aretha1980476Arista
Love All the Hurt Away1981364
Jump to It1982231
Get It Right1983364
Who's Zoomin' Who?19851331513465062149
Aretha198632733564560202351
Through the Storm198955218671611946
What You See Is What You Sweat1991153285626
A Rose Is Still a Rose19983075936
So Damn Happy20033311106
This Christmas, Aretha2008102DMI
Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love20115415Aretha
Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics20141333044323032RCA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

AlbumYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsRecord label
US
[7]
US
R&B
/HH

[8]
CAN
[11]
HUN
[25]
JP
[26]
Songs of Faith1965Checker
Aretha in Paris196813214Atlantic
Aretha Live at Fillmore West19717118191
Amazing Grace1972722342
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[18]
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism198710625Arista
Gospel Greats1999Atlantic
Don't Fight the Feeling: Live at Fillmore West (with King Curtis)2005157Rhino
Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972200740
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Soundtrack albums

AlbumYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsRecord label
US
[7]
US
R&B
/HH

[8]
CAN
[11]
Sparkle197618158Atlantic

Compilation albums

AlbumYearPeak chart positionsSalesCertificationsRecord label
US
[7]
US
R&B
/HH

[8]
AUS
[10]
BEL
(WA)

[27]
CAN
[11]
FRA
[12]
GER
[13]
HUN
[25]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
UK
[17]
Take a Look196717322Columbia
Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits941030
Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits Volume II1968
Aretha's Gold196918122Atlantic
Today I Sing the BluesColumbia
Aretha's Greatest Hits197119327Atlantic
In the Beginning: The World of Aretha Franklin 1960–19671972160Columbia
The Best of Aretha Franklin1973Atlantic
Ten Years of Gold197613529
The Legendary Queen of Soul1981209Columbia
Sweet Bitter Love1982
Aretha's Jazz1984Atlantic
The Best of Aretha Franklin2591
30 Greatest Hits19856
[29]
1169
[30]
16
Aretha Sings the BluesColumbia
The First Lady of Soul198689Stylus
20 Greatest Hits1987WEA
Aretha After HoursColumbia
Jazz to Soul1992
Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings9917Rhino
Chain of Fools1993
Greatest Hits: 1980–1994199485237527Arista
The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1: The 60's1051013108Rhino
The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 2: The 70's
Queen of Soul: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin20
Sings Standards1996Sony Music
The Early Years1997Legacy
A Natural Woman & Other HitsRhino
Respect & Other Hits
The Delta Meets Detroit: Aretha's Blues1998
Spanish Harlem
Think & Other Hits
This Is Jazz, Vol. 34Sony Music
Greatest Hits38Global TV
Love Songs2001Sony Music
Aretha's Best494Rhino
Respect: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin20023496221415Warner Music
The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years (1960–1965)Legacy
Platinum & Gold Collection2003Arista
Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul200787Atlantic
Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen547Arista
A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin2009Sony BMG
Sunday Morning ClassicsColumbia
Original Album Series2244Rhino
The Very Best of Aretha Franklin201059
Great American Songbook2011Legacy
More Gospel GreatsRhino
Take a Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on ColumbiaLegacy
Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980–19982012
The Very Best of Aretha Franklin & Otis Redding Together
(with Otis Redding)
782011Rhino
Soul Queen111403415
Original Album Series Vol. 2201337Atlantic
The Queen Greatest HitsSony Music
The Queen of Soul (box set)2014124Atlantic
The Real... Aretha Franklin – The Ultimate CollectionRCA
The Atlantic Albums Collection2015Atlantic
A Brand New Me201723227964223645Rhino, Atlantic
The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–197020186577922
The Queen of Soul1233445
The Genesis of Aretha Franklin[36]2021Columbia
The Glory of Aretha Franklin[37]Arista, RCA
The Genius of Aretha Franklin[38]32Atlantic
Aretha (4-CD box set & digital edition; also 2-LP & 1-CD highlights)[39]12015211Rhino
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

The JVB era (1956–1959)

YearSingle
1956"Never Grow Old" [A]
1959"Precious Lord (Part 1)" [B]

Notes

  • A "Never Grow Old" was reissued by Checker Records in 1957, 1968 and 1973.
  • B "Precious Lord (Part 1)" was reissued by Checker Records in 1960 and 1969.

The Columbia era (1960–1966)

SingleYearSingle informationPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[40]
US
R&B

[41]
US
A/C

[42]
AUS
[9]
CAN
[11]
"Today I Sing the Blues"
c/w "Love Is the Only Thing"
1960
  • October 1960
  • Columbia
  • "Today I Sing the Blues" - 41793-51461
  • "Love Is the Only Thing" - 41793-51462
10Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo
"Won't Be Long"
c/w "Right Now"
  • December 1960
  • Columbia
  • "Right Now" - 41923-52417
  • "Won't Be Long" - 41923-52418
767
"Are You Sure"
b/w "Maybe I'm a Fool"
1961
  • April 1961
  • Columbia
  • "Are You Sure" - 41985-53175
  • "Maybe I'm a Fool" - 41985-53176
"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (A-side)
  • September 1961
  • Columbia
  • "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" - 42157-54730
  • "Operation Heartbreak" - 42157-54731
373012The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
"Operation Heartbreak" (B-side)6non-album track
"I Surrender, Dear" (A-side)1962
  • January 1962
  • Columbia
  • "I Surrender, Dear" - 42266-55745
  • "Rough Lover" - 42266-55746
87The Electrifying Aretha Franklin
"Rough Lover" (B-side)94
"Don't Cry, Baby"
c/w "Without the One You Love"
  • June 1962
  • Columbia
  • "Without the One You Love" - 42456-57127
  • "Don't Cry, Baby" - 42456-57128
92The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin
"Just for a Thrill" (A-side)
  • August 1962
  • Columbia
  • "Try a Little Tenderness" - 42520-57690
  • "Just for a Thrill" - 42520-57691
111
"Try a Little Tenderness" (B-side)100
"Trouble in Mind"
c/w "God Bless the Child" (from The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin)
  • c. November–December 1962
  • Columbia
  • "Trouble in Mind" - 42625-58445
  • "God Bless the Child" - 42625-58446
86non-album tracks
"Here's Where I Came In (Here's Where I Walk Out)" (A-side)1963
  • May 1963
  • Columbia
  • "Say It Isn't So" - 42796-71349
  • "Here's Where I Came In" - 42796-71350
125
"Say It Isn't So" (B-side)113Laughing on the Outside
"Skylark"
c/w "You've Got Her" (non-album track)
  • September 1963
  • Columbia
  • "You've Got Her" - 42874-71348
  • "Skylark" - 75734
"Kissin' by the Mistletoe"
c/w "Johnny" (non-album track)
  • December 1963
  • Columbia
  • "Kissin' by the Mistletoe" - 42933-76424
  • "Johnny" 42933-76425
An All-Star Christmas
"Soulville"
c/w "Evil Gal Blues"
1964
  • c. March–April 1964
  • Columbia
  • "Evil Gal Blues" - 43009-77198
  • "Soulville" - 43009-77218
121Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington
"Runnin' Out of Fools"
c/w "It's Just a Matter of Time"
  • c. August–September 1964
  • Columbia
  • "Runnin' Out of Fools" - 43113-78448
  • "It's Just a Matter of Time" - 43113-78453
5730Runnin' Out of Fools
"Winter Wonderland"
c/w "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)"
  • c. November–December 1964
  • Columbia
  • "The Christmas Song" - 43177-79156
  • "Winter Wonderland" - 43177-79157
non-album single
"Can't You Just See Me" (A-side)196596Soul Sister
"Little Miss Raggedy Ann" (B-side)non-album single
"One Step Ahead"11918
"(No, No) I'm Losing You"11434Soul Sister
"You Made Me Love You"10932
"Tighten Up Your Tie, Button Up Your Jacket"1966Take It Like You Give It
"Until You Were Gone"Soul Sister
"Cry Like a Baby"11327
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

The following singles were released or re-released after Franklin left Columbia.

SingleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[40]
US
R&B

[41]
CAN
[11]
"Lee Cross"196731Take It Like You Give It
"Take a Look"562836Take a Look
"Mockingbird"9457Runnin' Out of Fools
"Soulville" (re-release)196883Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington
"Jim"1969Soft and Beautiful
"Today I Sing the Blues" (re-recording)101Soul '69
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

The Atlantic era (1967–1979)

SingleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[40]
US
R&B

[41]
US
A/C

[42]
AUS
[9]
BEL
(WA)

[43]
CAN
[11]
GER
[13]
NL
[14]
UK
[17]
"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (A-side)1967915I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
"Do Right Woman — Do Right Man" (B-side)37
"Respect"1114183231110
"Baby I Love You"4151339Aretha Arrives
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"8236112879Lady Soul
"Chain of Fools"2151234361237
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"196837Aretha Arrives
"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (A-side)5162247Lady Soul
"Ain't No Way" (B-side)169
"Think" (A-side)7149256321226Aretha Now
"You Send Me" (B-side)5628
"The House That Jack Built" (A-side)621134Aretha's Gold
"I Say a Little Prayer" (B-side)103872934Aretha Now
"See Saw" (A-side)14929471119
"My Song" (B-side)3110Non-album single
"The Weight" (A-side)19691933812This Girl's in Love with You
"Tracks of My Tears" (B-side)7121Soul '69
"I Can't See Myself Leaving You" (A-side)28322Aretha Now
"Gentle on My Mind" (B-side)7650Soul '69
"Share Your Love with Me"13116This Girl's in Love with You
"Eleanor Rigby"1759119
"Call Me" (A-side)197013111
"Son of a Preacher Man" (B-side)
"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" (with The Dixie Flyers)1111313Spirit in the Dark
"Spirit in the Dark" (with The Dixie Flyers) (A-side)23348
"The Thrill Is Gone" (with The Dixie Flyers) (B-side)
"Border Song (Holy Moses)" (A-side)37535Young, Gifted and Black
"You and Me" (with The Dixie Flyers) (B-side)Spirit in the Dark
"You're All I Need to Get By"197119332Aretha's Greatest Hits
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" (A-side)61408
"A Brand New Me" (B-side)72Young, Gifted and Black
"Spanish Harlem"2161756214Aretha's Greatest Hits
"Rock Steady" (A-side)92124481Young, Gifted and Black
"Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)" (B-side)73973
"Day Dreaming"1972511113
"All the King's Horses" (A-side)26770
"April Fools" (B-side)
"Wholy Holy"8149Amazing Grace
"Master of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)"197333861Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)
"Angel"201444737
"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"3133826Let Me In Your Life
"I'm in Love"197419122
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"47644
"Without Love"45663With Everything I Feel in Me
"With Everything I Feel in Me"197520
"Mr. D.J. (5 for the D.J.)"5313You
"You"197615
"Something He Can Feel"281Sparkle
"Jump" (A-side)7217
"Hooked on Your Love" (B-side)
"Look into Your Heart"1977821077
"Break It to Me Gently"851Sweet Passion
"When I Think About You"16
"Almighty Fire (Woman of the Future)"197810312Almighty Fire
"More Than Just a Joy"51
"Ladies Only"197933La Diva
"Half a Love"65
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

The Arista era (1980–2007)

SingleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[40]
US
R&B

[41]
US
A/C

[42]
US
Dan

[45]
AUS
[9][46]
CAN
[11]
GER
[13]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
UK
[17]
"United Together"1980563Aretha (1980)
"What a Fool Believes"1981173946
"Come to Me"843989
"Love All the Hurt Away" (with George Benson)4664249Love All the Hurt Away
"Hold On, I'm Comin'"53
"It's My Turn"29
"Livin' in the Streets"1982
"Jump to It"241442Jump to It
"Love Me Right"22
"This Is for Real"198363
"Get It Right"611974Get It Right
"Every Girl (Wants My Guy)"7
"Freeway of Love"1985311116531368Who's Zoomin' Who?
"Who's Zoomin' Who"72101381942302311
"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Eurythmics)1866101533222069
"Another Night"198622921467445354
"Freeway of Love" (re-release)51
"Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You"3099478
"Jumpin' Jack Flash"2120333621424358Aretha (1986)
"Jimmy Lee"2821719644246
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)198715212145131
"Rock-A-Lott"8225484
"If You Need My Love Tonight" (with Larry Graham)88
"Oh Happy Day"1988One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
"If Ever a Love There Was" (with Four Tops)3126Through the Storm
"Through the Storm" (with Elton John)198916173631841
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (with Whitney Houston)415184329
"Gimme Your Love" (with James Brown)4879
"Everyday People"1991133315969What You See Is What You Sweat
"Someone Else's Eyes"53
"What You See Is What You Sweat"
"Ever Changing Times" (with Michael McDonald)1992191138
"Someday We'll All Be Free"Malcolm X
"A Deeper Love"19946330178315Greatest Hits: 1980–1994
"Willing to Forgive"2652217
"Jump to It" (CJ's Master Mix)18Non-album single
"Honey"11430Greatest Hits: 1980–1994
"It Hurts Like Hell"199611651Waiting to Exhale
"A Rose Is Still a Rose"1998265122A Rose Is Still a Rose
"Here We Go Again"7624168
"The Only Thing Missin'"2003537So Damn Happy
"Wonderful"46
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" (with Mary J. Blige)2007103Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen
"Put You Up on Game" (with Fantasia)41
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

The final years (2008–2018)

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
R&B

[41]
US
Dan

[45]
2009"Angels We Have Heard on High"This Christmas, Aretha
2011"How Long I've Been Waiting"91Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love
2014"Rolling in the Deep" (The Aretha Version)471Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Billboard Year-End performances

YearSongYear-End
Position
1967"Respect"13
"Baby I Love You"59
"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"75
1968"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"46
"I Say a Little Prayer"93
"Think"94
1970"Call Me"100
1971"Spanish Harlem"49
"Bridge over Troubled Water"52
1972"Day Dreaming"61
1974"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"11
1985"Freeway of Love"43
"Who's Zoomin' Who"94
1987"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)36
1998"A Rose Is Still a Rose"95

Other appearances

SongYearAlbum
"What Have I Got To Lose" (Four Tops feat. Aretha Franklin)1983Back Where I Belong
"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (duet with Eurythmics)1985Be Yourself Tonight
"Someday We'll All Be Free"1992Malcolm X (soundtrack)
"If I Lose"White Men Can't Jump (soundtrack)
"Standing On The Rock Of Love"Bebe's Kids
"O Christmas Tree"A Very Special Christmas 2
"What Now My Love" (duet with Frank Sinatra)1993Duets
"Respect" (live version)1994Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume II[49]
"Bridge over Troubled Water" (live version)Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III[50]
"The Makings of You"A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield
"It Hurts Like Hell"1995Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album
"You've Got a Friend" (BeBe & CeCe Winans feat. Aretha Franklin)Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King
"Christmas Here With You" (Four Tops feat. Aretha Franklin)Christmas Here With You
"White Christmas" (Four Tops feat. Aretha Franklin)
"Silent Night" (Four Tops feat. Aretha Franklin)
"Somewhere"1996Somewhere: The Songs of West Side Story
"Back To Living Again"New World Order (album)
"I'll Fly Away"1997Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute
"Think (Live)"Live On Letterman (Music from The Late Show)
"R-E-S-P-E-C-T" (with The Blues Brothers)1998Blues Brothers 2000 (soundtrack)
"Chain of Fools" (live, duet with Mariah Carey)VH1 Divas Live
"Don't Waste Your Time" (duet with Mary J. Blige)1999Mary
"Carry The Flame"2002Salt Lake City 2002 Official Music Of The Games
"A House Is Not a Home"2005So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
"A Message from Aretha"I Gotta Make It
"Gotta Make It (Remix)" (Trey Songz feat. Aretha Franklin & Juvenile)
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" (duet with Mary J. Blige)2006Bobby - Original Soundtrack
"You've Got a Friend" (Ronald Isley feat. Aretha Franklin)2010Mr. I
"Ooh Baby Baby" (duet with Smokey Robinson, live December 1, 1979)2011The Best of Soul Train Live[51][52]
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" (duet with Tony Bennett)Duets II (Tony Bennett album)
"O Tannenbaum" (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra & Wynton Marsalis feat. Aretha Franklin)2019Big Band Holidays II
"Never Gonna Break My Faith" (ft. The Boys Choir of Harlem. 4.7.2020: Nr. 1 Billboard Gospel Song Chart)2020

See also

References

External links