Yesterday’s classic song of the day was the song “Call Me,” a hit for both Petula Clark and Chris Montez. Today’s classic song of the day is another song called “Call Me,” this one written and performed by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Released as a single in January of 1970, this “Call Me” peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
Aretha’s slow and sultry “Call Me” was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, with Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler, and Tom Dowd producing. Instrumental backing was by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, including Barry Beckett on electric piano and Hammond organ, Eddie Hinton and Jimmy Johnson on guitars, David Hood on bass, and Roger Hawkins on drums. Cissy Houston, Brenda Bryant, and Pat Lewis provided the background vocals.
Aretha Franklin, of course, sang this one with her typical Gospel-infused fervor, and also accompanied herself on acoustic piano. Her vocals on this one manage to somehow be hot yet cool at the same time. That was a talent she had.
Aretha wrote “Call Me” shortly after divorcing her husband of eight years, Ted White. (The still-lingering hurt from her breakup is evident in her emotional vocals.) She said she was inspired to write this one after seeing a young couple in New York City. As they were parting, after they said their “I love you’s,” they said to each other, “Call me the moment you get there.” And that’s in the lyrics.
So here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, Aretha Franklin performing “Call Me” live at the Fillmore West on March 7, 1971. They don’t call her the Queen of Soul for nothing.
