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Otis Redding wrote this and originally recorded it in 1965. His version hit #35 in the US.

Redding's version consisted of only verses, no chorus or bridge. Aretha appropriated King Curtis's sax solo from Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby," which he recorded the previous night for Stax Records, and used that for the bridge. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL,)

It was Aretha's idea to cover this song. She came up with the arrangement and added the "Sock it to me" lines. Her sister Carolyn, who sang backup on the album, also helped with the song.

Aretha recorded this in New York City with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a group of 4 studio musicians who also played sessions in Nashville and Muscle Shoals, Alabama before starting their own Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. This was one of their first, and most famous recordings. They went on to work with Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, Bob Seger and The Staples Singers.

Jerry Wexler produced this. He played a big role in unleashing Aretha's talent. Wexler said in his autobiography, Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music: "The fervor in Aretha's voice demanded that respect; and more respect also involved sexual attention of the highest order. What else would 'sock it to me' mean?" (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Franklin had just signed with Atlantic Records, and when her single "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You" became a hit, Atlantic arranged the sessions to quickly put out an album. Aretha went on to release her biggest hits with Atlantic and became known as the "Queen Of Soul."

Tom Dowd was the engineer for this session. He worked for Atlantic Records, who had an arrangement with Stax, which is where Otis Redding recorded. Dowd worked with Redding, which led to Aretha's cover. In the documentary Tom Dowd And The Language Of Music, Dowd talked about working with Franklin on this song: "I walked out into the studio and said, 'What's the next song?' Aretha starts singing it to me, I said, 'I know that song, I made it with Otis Redding like 3 years ago.' The first time I recorded 'Respect,' was on the Otis Blue album, and she picked up on it. She and Carolyn were the ones who conceived of it coming from the woman's point of view instead of the man's point of view, and when it came to the middle, Carolyn said, 'Take care, TCB.' Aretha jumped on it and that was how we did 'Respect.'"

The lyric "Take care, TCB" is often misheard. "TCB" means "Taking Care of Business."

Aretha's line, "Sock it to me," which is a sexual reference, became a catch phrase on the TV show Laugh In in the '70s.

This has been used in many movies, including Platoon, Forrest Gump, Mystic Pizza, and Back To School.

Before Aretha broke through and became the Queen of Soul, Etta James was the more popular singer. After this was released, James tried to resurrect her career by releasing her own cover of an Otis Redding song. She did a version of Redding's "Security," but it barely got noticed.

Franklin played piano on this.

This was Aretha's first song to chart in England.

Many believe that Aretha was drawing on her own tumultuous marriage at the time for inspiration. Jerry Wexler commented: "If she didn't live it, she couldn't give it... But, Aretha would never play the part of the scorned woman.... Her middle name was Respect." (Quotes from Rolling Stone magazine's Top 500 Songs)

Maureen McGovern, who hit #1 with "The Morning After," played the part of a nun who sang this in the movie Airplane! (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL,)

In the movie Rat Race, Rowan Atkinson sings this even though he is listening to "Chain Of Fools." (thanks, Scott Baddwin - edmonton, Canada)

In 1989 the American R&B vocalist Adeva had a #17 hit in the UK with her house version of this song. It was her debut hit and coincidentally her next 2 releases also peaked at #17. She never achieved a higher chart placing. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Comments:

TCP means The Colored People. Elvis Presley changed it to TCB Takin' Care of Business for his version but Aretha sings TCP Take care...The Colored People. TCB is just plain wrong if you're talking about Aretha, thanks.
- cafenitro, tulsa, OK

Hey, that's not bad. I thought the kept saying "Take that PCP"... a drug reference.
- Jenni, Lincoln, NE

I've wondered about the "Take out T-C-P" line for years. First, it sounds more like P than B to me. I also thought about the spelling thing (taking out TCP in RESPECT spells "Rese") which only makes sense if you consider that the backups respond with "Ree, ree, ree" which are "Rees" when you think about it.
- Doug, Boston, MA

good point roberta. you could say that it is the best cover in rock n roll. She is the queen of soul and always will be. She rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- nicole, n/a, WI

Since Elvis' company was called TCB for Taking Care of Business, could this have been a tip o' the hat to him?
- CindyLouise, Buxton, NC

In 1967 the sheet music for this had the lyric "take out T-C-P". I've also seen it written as "take care of pleasin' me" even though it's clear that is not what she says. Has anyone written to Ms. Franklin and asked her?
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

I used to think (Until JUST NOW!) that the line was "Take out TCP" which made no sense. TCP is for body cuts, but that had no relovense in the song. So then I tried taking out TCP in RESPECT but that spelled "Rese" which again is irlovent
- Mjn Seifer, Not listed for personal reason, England

I believe TCB means, "Taking Care of Business", but I think what Aretha Franklin sings is, "TCP", which would stand for, "This Colored Person". This would be consistent with the language of the era and the song.
- Aulden, Miami, FL

Great song, great lyrics, great vocals. An awesome song, and it should be on the list for greatest songs.
- Bill, Dallas, TX

Otis was aware that Aretha' version of this song was truly great. His comment was "that woman stole my song."
- Don, Newmarket, Canada

I believe the "take care, TCB" line which is described above as being misheard and meaning "Take care, taking care of business" is actually, "Take care o' TCP" which was taken by so many of us to mean, during that time of much racial and social upheaval, "Take care of The Colored People."
- David, Ashland, OR

It was also played in"Major Pain"
- James, I am sinking, LA

FYI When Otis Redding originally wrote this, it was customary to show proper respect for your elders. His original line "...Is to give me my proper respect when you get home" was interpreted by Aretha as "Give me my propers, when you come home," NOT ..."give me my profits..." as stated in the lyrics posted here. Interestingly, this has been shortened to "Let's give so-and-so props" in today's lingo.
- Maria, Grand Rapids, MI

I've always enjoyed listening to this song, as well as "Think", from a racial context; sure, it's an obvious relationship song, but when you consider the time of release and the circumstances of that period, both can be easily interpreted as civil rights songs. That just makes them even more enjoyable for me.
- yduR, Knoxville, TN

Dyh. of course she's the Queen Of Soul. Why wood anyone dispute that?
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

Not only is "Respect" #5 on the Rolling Stone list, numbers one through four are original - so one could say this is officially the greatest cover version in rock and roll.
- Roberta, Lawrence, KS

Hey, Matt. You get around a bit. Last saw you posting on Nirvana SLTS! And Aretha is indeed the Queen of Soul!
- Eloise, London, England

Aretha Franklin is the queen of soul. I think she got like #1 on the 50 greatest women in music or somethin like that.
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

This is also #5 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs. Why is this the first comment here. I mean come on. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
- Ross, Independence, MO