The history of popular music is, in large part, the history of black music.  From jazz, to gospel, to soul, to R&B, to funk, to rock & roll, to hip-hop . . . you can’t really discuss the last hundred and twenty-odd years of music without discussing the profound contributions of black Americans.  This issue of Thriller celebrates Black History Month by looking at one specific song – Aretha Franklin’s version of “Spanish Harlem” – and tracing all the places that it takes us.  Check out last year’s BHM edition here.

The song may have been written by two white men – Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector – but from its first recording in 1960 by Ben E. King (of “Stand By Me” fame), it was a black song.  Aretha Franklin’s version in 1971 proved to be the definitive one, containing everything that had made black music in the 20th century so earth-shattering, as well as the seeds of where the music would go in future generations.  But, before we dissect it, take a listen.