"Dr. Feelgood"is rightly celebrated for it’s approach to female sexuality. It's a gorgeous tune, Aretha paying the eternal compliment to the brotha who knows how to handle his business in more ways than one. Like a blaxploitation sex goddess, she builds and builds the tension, blending religious ecstasy and sexual energy leading to that breathless bridge that couldn't have been any more perfect if it was written by heaven's team of songwriters.

Don't send me no doctorrrrr Fillin' me up with all those pills I got me a man named Dr. Feelgood. He takes care of all my pains and my ills Name's Dr. Feelgood and taking care of business is this man's game and after one visit to Dr. Feelgood YOU can see why feel good is his name! oh! ohh!! ohhh!! Good God almighty the man sure makes me feel GOOOOOOD!

Backed up with a claustrophobic arrangement on loan from God and perhaps the most ecstatic vocals Aretha's ever done, it is one of the most literate and adult dissertations on the joys of sex and an indispensable addition to your late night record collection

"A Change Is Gonna Come" is a fitting coda to this monumental epic of an album. A cover of Sam Cooke's chilling protest anthem, she turns it into a tribute and statement that her darkest days are behind her. Does she even try to top the song? Nope; For not even Aretha could top Cooke's most mountainous moment (and the greatest soul single in recorded time, in my opinion). What she does, however, is personalize the song and create a good composite sketch of its beauty.

Where Sam creates an insane sermon, carrying the anger of 52 million ex-slaves all too well; Aretha makes it into a personal moral of perseverance. There is an inner peace in her interpretation, her phrasing bursting with a quiet serenity with her vocal rests sounding like sighs. It's as if she has just got out of a dark place and she won't ever be there again. "A Change Is Gonna Come" is Aretha on the road to happiness; possessing the knowledge that through a positive outlook and strong sprit, good will ultimately come to you.

It came back to her in multitudes. After two more tormenting years, she dumped Ted White and continued with a slew of releases, ranging from great to brilliant to breathtaking. Some were influenced by jazz (Soul 69, The Other Side Of The Sky) some were gritty southern funk (Sprit In The Dark). Some were deep soul epics (Lady Soul), some were gorgeous pop (Aretha Arrives, Aretha Now, Young Gifted And Black, Let Me In Your Life, The Girls In Love With You) while yet others were live albums (Live at Fillmore West, Amazing Grace). All of them have one thing in common: you should buy them. Now.