Spirit in the Dark (1970) Songwriting Credits

Authorship Breakdown 5 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Aretha Franklin carries a lyricist or composer credit.

42%

5 trackswritten by Aretha Franklin 7 tracksoutside writers

Aretha Franklin's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist42%

Composer42%

Producer0%

Performer100%

By the Numbers

12

Tracks

18

Lyricists

3

Producers

1970

Released

"Spirit in the Dark" is Aretha Franklin's seventeenth studio album, a soul and R&B record released by Atlantic Records in August 1970. Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd, and Arif Mardin produced the album at Criteria Studios in Miami. The record produced the singles "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," which reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 11 on the pop chart, and the title track "Spirit in the Dark," which peaked at No. 3 R&B and No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking her first Atlantic album to fall short of the Top 20. It received critical acclaim, with Pitchfork later awarding it 9.0 out of 10 and DownBeat giving five stars, and it is considered one of Franklin's classic Atlantic LPs.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers

#	Title	Lyricist(s)	Composer(s)	Producer(s)	Performers
1	Don't Play That Song	Ahmet ErtegünBetty Nelson	Ahmet ErtegünBetty Nelson	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
2	The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday's Kiss)	Rick DarnellRoy HawkinsArt BensonDale Petite	Rick DarnellRoy HawkinsArt BensonDale Petite	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
3	Pullin'	Jimmy RadcliffeCarolyn FranklinAretha Franklin	Jimmy RadcliffeCarolyn FranklinAretha Franklin	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
4	You and Me	Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
5	Honest I Do	Jimmy ReedEwart Abner	Mathis James ReedEwart Abner Jr.	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
6	Spirit in the Dark	Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
7	When the Battle Is Over	Jessie HillDr. John	Jessie HillMalcolm John Rebennack Jr.	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
8	One Way Ticket	Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
9	Try Matty's	Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
10	That's All I Want from You	Fritz Rotter	Fritz Rotter	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
11	Oh No Not My Baby	Gerry GoffinCarole King	Gerry GoffinCarol Joan Klein	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)
12	Why I Sing the Blues	B.B. KingDave Clark	Riley B. KingDave Clark	Tom DowdArif MardinJerry Wexler	Aretha Franklin (Lead Vocals)