Milestones of the female soul singers

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You is Aretha Franklin's 9th studio album, doubling as her first released through Atlantic Records; it reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Just prior to her I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You album, Aretha Franklin's 8 studio albums were released under Columbia Records, all of which used jazz, yet flopped.

But Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You album was her breakthrough.

The title track of the I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You album serves as Aretha Franklin's first major success, peaking at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On the other side of the border, Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You peaked at number 5 on the Canadian pop music charts, marking her first major Canadian success.

Respect is Aretha Franklin's signature tune, but also a music landmark, having been covered by female musicians with soul.

Whereas the original Respect version focuses on a plea from a working man, Aretha Franklin's version focuses on confidence and fierce independence for girls/women.

Using the letter-by-letter spelling of R-E-S-P-E-C-T and the playful refrain "Sock it to me," the Aretha Franklin version of Respect is an anthem for both civil rights and second-wave feminism.

The Aretha Franklin version of Respect topped the Billboard Hot 100 and rhythm & blues charts.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, Aretha Franklin's Respect version reached number 3 on the Canadian pop music charts.

Beyond its North American success, the Aretha Franklin iteration of Respect also won success in other parts of the world, notably Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Aretha Franklin's iconic iteration of Respect reached number 10 in Britain, number 14 in Australia and number 7 in the Netherlands, establishing her as a global music icon.

Plus, Aretha Franklin's Respect version won 2 Grammy Awards; it was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry.

For Aretha Franklin's version of Respect, it is one of the best, greatest most famous songs ever.

Whereas Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You tune achieves success in North America (but not worldwide), Respect earns truly successful global dominance.

Incidentally, Aretha Franklin's version of Respect is her worldwide breakthrough.

Using her androgynous contralto singing voice, her staggering phrasing and her sobbing delivery, Timi Yuro's soulful and emotional singing tones define her music.

Hurt is Timi Yuro's breakthrough hit, doubling as her signature tune.

What's a Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You?) is another Timi Yuro hit with this hurting theme, but with a more upbeat tone.

Health issues and music shifts ironically make Timi Yuro hurt, mirroring the titles of her tunes with the theme of this physical, mental and emotional breakdown that she feels.

Despite her own struggles, Timi Yuro's influence in bridging the gap between black music (specifically rhythm & blues and soul) and mainstream pop music is profound.

Beyond the United States, Timi Yuro is also popular in the United Kingdom as a figure of the Northern soul scene, but also the Netherlands, as well as Asian nations, including the Philippines.

I Feel Love by Donna Summer represents the future with a completely synthesized backing track.

For Donna Summer's I Feel Love tune, it pioneered modern electronic dance music (EDM), which has many genres, including dance-pop, techno, trance and synth-pop.

You Give Good Love is Whitney Houston's first major success.

For Whitney Houston's You Give Good Love, it reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On the other side of the border, Whitney Houston's You Give Good Love tune reached number 5 on the Canadian pop music charts, marking her first major Canadian success.

Saving All My Love for You is Whitney Houston's first tune to top the Billboard Hot 100, but also her worldwide breakthrough.

How Will I Know is Whitney Houston's first upbeat tune.

The music video for How Will I Know serves as Whitney Houston's first to receive heavy rotation on MTV, which gave her exposure to teenagers and made her the first black woman to do so.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) is a shift for Whitney Houston by reaching a wider audience with a more pop-oriented music sound after hits with ballads on her debut album.

George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden are the masterminds behind Whitney Houston's upbeat tunes: How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

Originally written and performed by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston's soulful version of I Will Always Love You is her signature tune, but also a cultural phenomenon.

The soulful Whitney Houston version of I Will Always Love You puts melisma on a global level.

It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be is a duet between Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.

What makes It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be something of an appropriate duet is that Aretha Franklin symbolizes the old generation, while Whitney Houston symbolizes the new.

Aretha Franklin, incidentally, is Whitney Houston's honorary aunt; Cissy Houston is one of the backup singers for Aretha Franklin, but also Whitney Houston's mother.

Crazy Blues, which Mamie Smith performed, is innovative in that it is the first commercial tune in the blues genre featuring lead vocals by an African-American singer to earn major success.