Episode 149: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
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Aretha Martin's "Respect"
Aretha Martin, who was assisting Wexler at the session, said later. We thought, how could we lift this song up? Respect is in C, but that bridge, Curtis's saxophone solo, is in F-sharp. A totally unrelated key, but we liked it. So from the F-sharp we went to the G. It sounded like a half tone modulation, but it wasn't. There was nothing haphazard on Aretha's part,. The way we came up with that strange key change, which led back naturally. "I think I know what inspired her"
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