Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You c.1973/74 US VG+/VG+

ARETHA FRANKLIN - I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU

Experience the definitive structural transition of Atlantic Records' catalog with this distinct 1973/1974 US reissue of Aretha Franklin’s monumental breakthrough album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. This release documents the brief, highly collectible window immediately following Atlantic's relocation from Broadway to its new Manhattan headquarters. Pressed on vintage mid-1970s stereo wax, the record sports the iconic green-and-orange center split, but is updated with the historic early "75 Rockefeller Plaza" rim text layout. Musically, this edition preserves the high-headroom, hard-hitting soul presentation engineered by Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. The lacquer tracking perfectly isolates the blistering horn sections, the heavy, gospel-infused call-and-response backing arrangements, and Franklin’s seismic vocal performances on foundational masterpieces like "Respect" and "Do Right Woman - Do Right Man". Packaged inside a sturdy cardboard jacket that curiously retains Atlantic’s older "1841 Broadway" credit on the rear sleeve, this pressing is a classic, rich-sounding analog sleeper from a crucial corporate transformation era.

Circa 1973/1974 US release by Atlantic, catalog # SD 8139.  Reissue with 1973/1974 date based on the Atlantic labels with the 75 Rockefeller Plaza, N.Y., N.Y. (no Warner logo).

Sleeve grades VG+.  Excellent condition - great color/finish/gloss on front, sharp corners, no material edgewear, intact spine/seams, no visible ringwear.  Includes original company inner sleeve.

Vinyl grades VG+.  Plays through crisp and clear with no issues.  Super clean vinyl on both sides with just a couple hairlines.