Hailed in the years since its release as one of Aretha Franklin's greatest achievements, the seminal album I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVED YOU had something of a tortured birth, as recounted in music writer Matt Dobkin's fascinating eponymously-titled reconstruction of its recording. Feeling that Franklin's sound could use a little roughening up around the edges, producer Jerry Wexler selected Muscle Shoals studios in the deep South for her Atlantic Records debut. The musicians had never heard of the singer, but were terrified of Wexler, whom they saw as a big-time producer who might make or break their careers (Wexler in fact had little production knowledge). Though initially productive, the sessions were derailed when a disturbance erupted between Franklin's husband and manager, Ted White, and one of the musicians. In an illuminating narrative that includes short biographies of all the album's major participants, Dobkin recounts Wexler's machinations to get the recording back on track, as well as the production and musical background behind the album that produced, in addition to the outstanding title song, such momentous cuts as Respect and Dr. Feelgood. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.