Aretha Franklin’s A Woman Falling Out of Love is a record about ending a relationship, and it treats that ending like a slow-motion funeral. The album runs 61 minutes across 12 tracks, and it plays like a woman singing her way through grief, anger, and finally acceptance. This is not a pop record. It is a gospel record dressed in soul, and it knows exactly what it wants to be.
The title track sets the tone: a woman falling out of love is not a happy thing, and the music does not pretend otherwise. Franklin builds the album around a series of ballads and slow jams, mostly covers, and she leans into the pain rather than smoothing it over. The record is less about finding a new lover than about processing the loss of the old one.
How Long I’ve Been Waiting Opens the Record
The album opens with “How Long I’ve Been Waiting,” a track that turns the familiar ache of longing into something more patient. Franklin sings about waiting for someone who has stopped returning her calls, and the song’s steady groove matches the narrator’s refusal to give up entirely. It is a strong opener, though it does not quite hit the emotional peak the record promises.
“Sweet Sixteen” follows, and it is the first sign of trouble. The song is a cover, and while Franklin delivers it with her usual command, the arrangement feels dated. It is a pleasant enough listen, but it does not add much to the narrative thread the album is building.
This You Should Know and U Can’t See Me
“This You Should Know” picks things back up. It is a direct address to an ex-partner, telling them exactly what went wrong, and Franklin’s delivery is sharp and unapologetic. The song is a standout, and it earns its place as one of the album’s best moments.
“U Can’t See Me” continues the trend. It is a song about emotional distance, and Franklin sings it with a sense of weariness that makes the sentiment land. The production is sparse, and the focus stays on her voice, which is exactly where it should be.
A Summer Place Through The Way We Were
“A Summer Place” is a soft, acoustic-leaning track that slows the tempo even further. It is pleasant, but it lacks the urgency that defines the rest of the record. “The Way We Were” is better. The classic standard gets a full-throated reading from Franklin, and she finds the sadness in a song that is often treated as nostalgia. It is a solid performance, but it does not reach the heights of the album’s best material.
New Day and Put It Back Together Again
“New Day” is a cover, and it is one of the weaker entries. The song is meant to be uplifting, but Franklin’s delivery feels half-hearted, as if she is going through the motions rather than committing to the message. It is a minor stumble, but it is noticeable.
“Put It Back Together Again” is a different story. It is a gospel-tinged plea for reconciliation, and Franklin sings it with genuine feeling. The song asks for forgiveness, and Franklin sounds like she means it. It is a highlight, and it shows the range she can bring to material that is not her own.
Faithful and His Eyes Is on the Sparrow
“Faithful” is a slow-burning ballad that tests the patience of the listener. It is not a bad song, but it drags, and the album’s momentum stalls for a stretch. The song is about trust, and Franklin sings it with conviction, but the arrangement is overly padded.
“His Eyes Is on the Sparrow” is a hymn, and it is the most spiritual moment on the record. Franklin’s voice soars over the sparse piano accompaniment, and the song feels like a prayer. It is a quiet triumph, and it reminds the listener why she remains one of the greatest singers of her generation.
When 2 Become One Closes the Album
“When 2 Become One” is a cover, and it is a strange choice for a record about heartbreak. The song is about unity, and it feels out of place next to everything else here. It is not a failure, but it is a misstep, and it leaves the album feeling unresolved.
“My Country ’Tis of Thee” closes the record with a patriotic cover that feels like a concession to convention. It is a solid performance, but it does not leave the listener with much to think about. The album ends on a note of duty rather than emotion, which is a shame.
The Verdict on the Album
A Woman Falling Out of Love is not a perfect record, but it is a compelling one. Franklin’s vocal work is consistently excellent, and she finds the right emotional register for almost every song she touches. The problem is the sequencing. The middle stretch drags, and the final two tracks feel like filler rather than a conclusion.
The best moments — “This You Should Know,” “U Can’t See Me,” “Put It Back Together Again,” “His Eyes Is on the Sparrow” — are among the finest recordings of her career. The weaker moments — “New Day,” “When 2 Become One,” “My Country ’Tis of Thee” — are forgettable in a way that a stronger album would not allow. The record is uneven, but it is never boring.
“His Eyes Is on the Sparrow”
That line, sung with full voice, captures the spirit of the entire project: a woman trusting that something greater than herself is watching over her, even when she cannot see it herself.
Hard Numbers
- Artist: Aretha Franklin
- Album: A Woman Falling Out of Love
- Release type: Album
- Track count: 12
- Total running time: 61 minutes
- Best tracks: “This You Should Know,” “U Can’t See Me,” “Put It Back Together Again,” “His Eyes Is on the Sparrow”
- Tracks to note: “How Long I’ve Been Waiting,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “A Summer Place,” “The Way We Were,” “New Day,” “Faithful,” “When 2 Become One,” “My Country ’Tis of Thee”
The record is a portrait of a woman letting go, and it is a brave one. Franklin does not hide the pain, and she does not soften it. She sings it, and she lets the songs carry the weight. The result is an album that is both flawed and essential, a document of a great artist at the height of her powers, even when the material around her is less than ideal.
- How Long I’ve Been Waiting5:20
- Sweet Sixteen5:10
- This You Should Know4:16
- U Can’t See Me5:05
- A Summer Place4:39
- The Way We Were5:28
- New Day4:18
- Put It Back Together Again6:16
- Faithful6:32
- His Eyes Is on the Sparrow6:09
- When 2 Become One4:56
- My Country ’Tis of Thee2:57
