Today’s classic song featured in the movie The Big Chill of the day is “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” as recorded by Aretha Franklin. It’s one of the best songs of the 20th century—and it was written in a single evening.
The story goes that lyricist Gerry Goffin was coming out of the Oyster House bar on Broadway one late summer evening, when a limousine pulled up beside him. Inside the limo was head of Atlantic Records, Jerry Wexler. He rolled down his window and said to Goffin, “I’m looking for a really big hit for Aretha. How about writing a song called ‘Natural Woman’?”
Gerry took that request home to his wife and songwriting partner, Carole King, and they went to work. In that single evening, Gerry came up with the lyrics and Carole added the music. The next day, they went into the studio and recorded a demo, which they then took to Wexler. Several days later Wexler called the songwriting team back into his office and told them that Aretha liked the song. In fact, she’d already recorded it. Wexler then proceeded to play the record for them. Carole’s reaction, in her own words, was “Oh. My. God.”
(By the way, for making that initial suggestion, Carole and Gerry gave Jerry Wexler co-songwriting credit on the tune. Not a bad thank you.)
“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” is one of Aretha Franklin’s best recordings, period. Her vocal performance, backed up by her sisters Erma and Carolyn, the Sweet Inspirations, and some of Atlantic’s top studio cats (including Spooner Oldham on piano, Eric Gale on guitar, Tommy Cogbill on bass, and Gene Chrisman on drums), is nothing short of astounding. It is, without a doubt, one of the signature songs for the Queen of Soul.
Atlantic released the “Natural Woman” single in September of 1967 and it went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #12 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart. Aretha’s recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1971, Carole King recorded her own version of “Natural Woman” for her seminal album, Tapestry. Carole’s solo version, featuring only her piano and Charles Larkey’s bass, is less powerful than Aretha’s but carries no less emotion. It’s a terrific tune no matter who’s singing it, and Carole makes the song personal.
“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” has been covered by numerous other artists over the years, including Celine Dion and Mary K. Blige. It was featured in the movie The Big Chill in the after-after dinner scene where various characters were getting it on with other characters. It was a perfect fit.
Which leads us to today’s really special bonus video of the day. It’s the legendary Aretha Franklin singing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to Carole King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony for Ms. King. Damn, the Queen of Soul pulled out all the stops and brought down the house with that one; she had everybody on their feet, including President Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle. (Just watch Carole’s face when Aretha tears into it—it’s something.)
