“Ain’t No Way” (1968) – Aretha Franklin * Written by Carolyn Franklin * 45: “(Sweet, Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” / “Ain’t No Way” * LP: Lady Soul * Produced by Jerry Wexler * Label: Atlantic
This B-side to Franklin’s “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” single comes across as a sacred rendering of sexual longing. Written by Aretha’s sister Carolyn, “Ain’t No Way” evokes Book of Genesis patriarchy with the line “I know that a woman’s duty is to help and love a man.” It also contains high notes sung to heaven by Cissy Houston, which the early sixties taught us to associate with death songs.