Take It Like You Give It
Aretha Franklin · 1967
26 min · 11 tracks · funk
A vibrant blend of soul and pop, showcasing Aretha's powerful vocals over lush arrangements and rhythmic grooves.
Top tracks — play these first
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Why Was I Born? Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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I May Never Get to Heaven — This track highlights the depth of Franklin's vocal expression, blending soulful melodies with poignant lyrics about longing and spiritual reflection.
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Take It Like You Give It — The title track encapsulates the album's thematic essence, featuring a catchy rhythm and showcasing Franklin's signature blend of sass and vulnerability.
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Only the One You Love — This song stands out for its smooth delivery and heartfelt lyrics, demonstrating Franklin's ability to convey deep emotion within a concise structure.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases Aretha's vocal prowess with strong compositions and vibrant arrangements but lacks the cohesion of her most celebrated works.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow ballad, then shifts to mid-tempo grooves in the following tracks, maintaining a steady pace until the final two songs which slow down again.
- Several tracks feature prominent brass arrangements that complement the rhythm section, creating a rich and layered sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short bursts of emotional impact
- uplifting moments for quick breaks
- vibrant storytelling in each track
- playful energy for social settings
Maybe skip if you
- long, immersive listening preferences
- slow, drawn-out experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Further solidified Franklin's status after her rise to fame.
- Themes
- soulful longing· spiritual reflection· vibrant sassiness
- Career context
- Released in January 1967, 'Take It Like You Give It' arrived shortly after Franklin's rise to fame with her hit album 'I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You'. This album further solidified her status as the 'Queen of Soul', transitioning from a respected gospel artist to a mainstream music icon. At this point in her career, Franklin was beginning to forge a unique sound that would influence generations.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gladys Knight· Etta James· Nina Simone
Tracklist
- 1 Why Was I Born? Start here 2:52
- 2 I May Never Get to Heaven 3:27
- 3 Tighten Up Your Tie, Button Up Your Jacket (Make It for the Door) 1:58
- 4 Her Little Heart Went to Loveland 2:34
- 5 Lee Cross 2:53
- 6 Take It Like You Give It 1:50
- 7 Only the One You Love 2:23
- 8 Deeper 2:03
- 9 Remember Me 2:12
- 10 Land of Dreams 2:12
- 11 A Little Bit of Soul 2:18
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
Shares the same soulful longing and powerful vocal delivery with lush arrangements.
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Combines vibrant soul grooves with themes of love and spiritual reflection, akin to Franklin's style.
Just as I Am
Bill Withers
Features heartfelt storytelling and soulful melodies that resonate with the emotional depth of Franklin's work.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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