| "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Aretha Franklin | |
| from the album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You | |
| A-side | I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) |
| Released | 1967 |
| Format | Vinyl record (7" 45 RPM) |
| Recorded | 1967 |
| Genre | R&B, Pop |
| Length | 3:14 |
| Label | Atlantic |
| Writer(s) | Chips Moman Dan Penn |
| Producer | Jerry Wexler |
"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (also written "Do Right Woman — Do Right Man") is a single by Aretha Franklin. It was released in March 1967. Rolling Stone listed it as number 476 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Contents |
"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" was written by Chips Moman and Dan Penn.[1] It was produced by Jerry Wexler.[1]
Franklin began recording the song in 1967 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, after completing "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)". While taking a break for the night at the motel, Franklin's then-husband and manager Ted White got into a fight with FAME Studios owner Rick Hall[2] or Wexler,[3] whom White blamed for getting "rednecks" to work with her.
The following morning, it was found that Franklin and White had left[3] with the song still unfinished. Franklin disappeared for several weeks,[2] later reappearing in New York. She then finished the song with the help of her sisters Carolyn and Erma.[1][3]
At the beginning of the song, Franklin sings with a gospel-inspired tone, which continues through the bridge. Through overdubbing, Franklin plays both the piano and the organ.[4] Eventually the song harkens to Franklin's hit "Respect".[5]
According to Bill Janovitz of Allmusic, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" contrasts the power of temptation and rewards of fidelity. He notes that its melody is "soothing".[5] Patricia Hill Collins writes that it has a feminist message, urging African-American men to respect women as their equals and not follow the then-common belief that it is "a man's world" by using or abusing them; she also writes that the song urges men to be loyal, responsible, and "sexually expressive".[6]
Although the song is originally heavily inspired by soul, covers have different styles. For example, the The Flying Burrito Brothers cover in 1969 was a "country-soul waltz".[5]
"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" spent 11 weeks on the charts, peaking at number 9.[1] It was included on Franklin's album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You[1] and the single was released as the b-side to "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)".[4] Wexler called it "perfection".[1]
In 2004, Rolling Stone selected "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. As of the 2010 edition, it is ranked 476th.[1]
The song was featured in the 1995 film Dead Presidents