You is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on October 16, 1975, by Atlantic Records.

Background

It was a commercial disappointment, stalling at number 83 on Billboard's album chart. The album's only pop chart single, "Mr. D.J.", peaked at number 53 on Billboard's Hot 100, while climbing to only number 13 R&B. The title track, issued as the follow-up, reached number 15 R&B. The album brought an end to Aretha's collaboration with Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, who signed her to the label in late 1966, and headed up production on all but one of her albums from 1967-1975.

Critical reception

The Guardian named "Mr. D.J. (5 for the D.J.)" one of Franklin's "30 Greatest Songs", and called it "a horn and call-and-response vocal-laden strut that defies anyone in earshot not to dance." Rolling Stone called the album "supper-club soul." While praising Franklin's genius as undiminished, it felt the songs were about "mush, not hurt, not pain, not joy or ecstasy or even the mystical wonderment that seemed somehow wrenched from Aretha's soul," and considered the melodies "undistinguished."

Track listing

Personnel

Performance

Production