An icon of my youth. I don't want to get too Madonna about it, and make it all about me. But I always thought the whole "Queen of Soul" thing was a bit of A&R hype, something Jerry Wexler might have thought up, and the story behind it would be really cool to know.

Still, it stuck and for a pretty good reason. The lady knew how to wail, a natural woman for sure, totally worthy of respect. There was no one else on her level, and she broke a lot of ground for those who came afterward.