This list of songs is inspired by lists published by radio station KEXP-FM from Seattle in 2010, as well as the latest poll taken in 2021 by Rolling Stone Magazine. For the most part I will faithfully countdown from their lists, starting at Song #500 and going until I reach Song #1. When you see the song title listed as something like: Song #XXX (KEXP)….it means that I am working off of the official KEXP list. Song XXX (RS) means the song is coming from the Rolling Stone list. If I post the song title as being: Song #xxx (KTOM), it means I have gone rogue and am inserting a song choice from my own personal list of tunes I really like. In any case, you are going to get to hear a great song and learn the story behind it. Finally, just so everyone is aware, I am not a music critic nor a musician. I am a music fan and an armchair storyteller. Here is the story behind today’s song. Enjoy.
RS: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.
Song #498: Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin.
Oh…….My…….Goodness!!! It’s the Queen of Soul Herself, Aretha Franklin!!!!! She of the 18 Grammy Awards and 44 nominations! In 1987, she became the first female ever inducted to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Finally, over the course of her illustrious career, she has amassed the second highest total of R & B record sales in history (next to Whitney Houston). Yes, that Aretha Franklin!
Aretha Franklin was having hit records when I was still learning to talk. “Chain of Fools” is a prime example of Lady Soul at her fiercest and finest. This song is about a wife discovering that her husband has been unfaithful to her and that, in fact, she is just one of many “links on his chain”, making her and the other women “a chain of fools”. As is often the case, this song mirrors Franklin’s real life. When it was first released in 1968 (when I was 4 years old), Franklin was involved in an abusive marriage and was just summoning the courage to do something positive about her situation. So, when you listen to this song, listen to the power and conviction with which she sings about betrayal and heartbreak. What a voice! Clean, clear, unwavering and, most of all, powerful beyond measure.
Aretha Franklin is widely regarded as one of Music’s finest talents. The depth and breadth of the respect accorded her has been well-earned. In a career marked by excellence and durability, there are none better than the Queen of Soul Herself, Aretha Franklin!
***PS: the guitar work in this video is excellent, too. Crank this video and sing along. It will free your soul on this beautiful day.
The video for Chain of Fools can be found here. ***The lyrics video can be found here.
Thanks to KEXP for inspiring this post. The link to their website is here.
For those who wish to know even more about Aretha Franklin, the link to her website an be found here.
***As always, all original content contained within this post remains the sole property of the author. No portion of this post shall be reblogged, copied or shared in any manner without the express written consent of the author. ©2021 http://www.tommacinneswriter.com
*Header photo was taken by Michael Ochs. He was a musical archivist with an emphasis on music photography. The Michael Ochs Archives can be viewed here.
You are all of the above and more. You constantly inspire us all to look outwards and upwards with your writing topics. I definitely have stepped outside my comfort level with your music reviews.
I think that is a good thing, no?