This morning, I read a post about Aretha Franklin’s cover of “Spanish Harlem” by my fellow blogger Randy (who writes a terrific blog Mostly Music Covers), and it made me realize that I’ve never written about the legendary Queen of Soul on this blog. I’ve decided to remedy that sorry situation by featuring my all-time favorite Aretha Franklin song, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)“.
The song was written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Wonder in 1967, however, his version was never released as a single and did not appear on an album until his 1977 anthology Looking Back. Franklin recorded the song in 1973, backed by Atlantic Records session musicians known as the Arif Mardin Orchestra (Mardin was a VP and producer at Atlantic from 1963-2001), one of whom was the late, great Donny Hathaway, on electric piano.
“Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” was released in November 1973, and later included on her 20th studio album Let Me in Your Life. It became a big hit for Franklin, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and #3 on Hot 100 chart in early 1974. It ultimately ranked #11 on Billboard’s year-end list for 1974, and #4 on mine.
I was a nerdy 19-year-old when the song came out, and it was love at first listen. I adore that opening piano riff, the wonderful lilting flute and exuberant, breezy melody. Franklin’s vocals are marvelous, going from a pensive croon to passionate wail as she sings of missing her man and desperately wanting him to come back to her. I bought a lot of 45 singles back then, so of course had to have this in my collection. I still have my copy 50 years later:
Though you don’t call anymore
I sit and wait in vain
I guess I’ll rap on your door (Your door)
Tap on your window pane (Tap on your window pane)
I wanna tell you, baby
Changes I’ve been going through
Missing you, listen you
‘Til you come back to me that’s what I’m gonna do
Why did you have to decide
You had to set me free?
I’m gonna swallow my pride (My pride)
I’m gonna beg you to please, baby please see me (Baby, won’t you see me?)
I’m gonna walk by myself
Just to prove that my love is true, all for you baby
‘Til you come back to me that’s what I’m gonna do
Living for you, my dear
Is like living in a world of constant fear
Hear my plea (Hear my plea)
I’ve gotta make you see (Make you see)
That our love is dying (Our love is dying)
Although your phone you ignore
Somehow I must, somehow I must, somehow I must explain
I’m gonna rap on your door (Your door)
Tap on your window pane (Tap on your window pane)
I’m gonna camp by your steps
Until I get through to you
I’ve got to change your view, baby
‘Til you come back to me that’s what I’m gonna do
‘Til you come back to me that’s what I’m gonna do
‘Til you come back to me that’s what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna rap on your door (Tap on)
Tap on your window pane (Tap on)
Open out baby, I’m gonna rap on your door (Tap on)
Tap on your, tap on your (Tap on)
Tap on your, tap on your window pane (Tap on your window pane)
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 
Here’s to nerdy nineteen-year-olds discovering great music!
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Absolutely!
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Thanks so much for the mention Jeff. You’ve picked such a great song that I need to add to my Aretha listening. Can’t believe you still have that 45!
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My pleasure Randy!
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👍👍a true vocal star.
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Yes, indeed!
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What a gorgeous tune! I remember when so many 60s divas were making comebacks in the 1980s and I cheered Aretha’s the most!
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SO many fantastic Aretha songs. This is sure one of them!!!
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It surely is!
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Sounds sweet! I don’t think I had heard this song before. Thanks for posting about it!
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Thanks for listening & commenting Christian!
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It’s hard to pick one favorite Aretha Franklin song. She does a duet with Smokey Robinson on SoulTrain that is probably my favorite. “Ooh Baby Baby.” All Aretha all day. 🙂
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She wasn’t crowned Queen of Soul for nothing!
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Amen to that!!
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I was a nerdy 16-year-old when I heard this more minor UK hit in early ’74, it’s one of her finest moments, right up there with Spanish Harlem, and only behind her greatest moment I Say A Little Prayer which I loved as a still-nerdy 10-year-old and more-so when my dad bought a various artists Hits of 1968 album which had it on! 🙂
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Nice to know there were fellow nerds enjoying her music. Thanks for stopping by popchartfreak!
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I had no idea this was an Aretha Franklin song. I heard this on season 7 of ‘American Idol.’
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There are two female singers that I like practically everything they did…that would be Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. Strong voices and they can make so-so songs sound good just because of them.
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I love this song. I really surprised that you haven’t written about Aretha Franklin. I just assumed that you had, knowing the broad scope of your music knowledge and tastes. I’m glad you got around to writing about the Queen of Soul. This particular song is fascinating to me. I’ve written (as yet unpublished) a short story around it. I’ve also speculated about the inspiration for this song. It reminds me in an odd way, perhaps of the Emily Brontë novel Wuthering Heights. It’s the desperate knocking and the repetition that the protagonist will keep on knocking until they are let in. Anyway, I’m glad you’ve written about the Queen she still reigns supreme in my heart.
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Yes, it was long overdue that I wrote about Aretha. Thanks for reading and commenting Bernadette!
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