Songfacts®:

• This soulful expression of unrequited love was first recorded by blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland in 1963 and went to #42 on the Hot 100. Franklin was a fan of the song and brought it to Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler who fashioned a feminine take with co-producers Arif Mardin and Tom Dowd. "I believe a man can sing a woman's lyrics and conversely," Wexler told Billboard, "because what you do is step outside of the frame, and you let the music take it. I have another theory that a lot of songs are fungible. One will work very well - if it's a great song - with another singer who you wouldn't think of it for, as long as you get the arrangement to sit comfortably."
• Franklin's version, a #1 R&B hit, featured her regular stable of performers, from the Sweet Inspirations on backing vocals to a handful of Muscle Shoals players in the rhythm section: Jimmy Johnson on guitar, David Hood on bass, Barry Beckett on electric piano, and Roger Hawkins on drums. King Curtis, who played on a number of Coasters hits, notably "Yakety Yak," and Franklin's "Baby, I Love You," brought the tenor sax.
• This was written by gospel-turned-R&B singer Al "TNT" Braggs and Deadric Malone (a pseudonym for Don Robey, owner of the Houston-based Duke/Peacock Records). Braggs, who also penned Bland's hit "Call On Me," frequently toured as his opening act.
• This earned Franklin a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
• This was also covered by The Band, Kenny Rogers, and Van Morrison.
• Franklin's version was used in the 2014 pilot episode of ABC TV series Forever.