Hear Aretha Franklin Cover Willie Nelson’s ‘Night Life’
The first side of Aretha Franklin's 1967 album Aretha Arrives concludes with a Willie Nelson cover: "Night Life." Readers can press play above to hear her version of the tune.
Nelson originally wrote "Night Life" after inspiration struck during a drive from his home in Pasadena, Texas, to Houston's Esquire Ballroom, where he was performing. Ray Price, BB King, Dottie West and more have also recorded the song.
"Night Life" isn't the only song both Franklin and Nelson have sung, however: Nelson's 1982 album Always on My Mind includes the song "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," originally recorded by Franklin in 1967. Chips Moman, who produced Nelson's Always on My Mind album co-wrote the song with Dan Penn.
Franklin, known as the "Queen of Soul," died on Thursday (Aug. 16) at her home in Detroit, Mich., according to her publicist. She was 76 and was reported to be "gravely ill" earlier in the week.
"Whether it was gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, pop or Civil Rights, Aretha Franklin was the greatest gift and the voice of a generation. She could turn any song into a hymn," Nelson wrote on Twitter after news of Franklin's death broke. "She will be greatly missed here on earth, but that band in heaven just got our Angel."
The first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Franklin charted more than 100 singles on Billboard's charts and won 18 Grammy Awards. Her iconic songs include "Respect," "Think" and many more.
Aretha Franklin: Through the Years