500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Aretha Franklin, 'Chain of Fools'

500 Greatest Songs of All Time

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252

Aretha Franklin, 'Chain of Fools'

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Writer: Don Covay
Producer: Jerry Wexler
Released: Nov. '67, Atlantic
12 weeks; No. 2

The second of four hits from 1968’s Lady Soul, this kissoff was written by Covay as a straight blues about field hands in the South. Covay reworked the lyrics for Franklin; producer Wexler cooked up the propulsive stomp. When songwriter Ellie Greenwich heard the track in Wexler’s office, she suggested an extra vocal-harmony part, which Wexler got her to sing on the final master.

Appears on: Lady Soul (Rhino)