Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedThink
See all Aretha Franklin in the catalogue →
Soul1960s110BPM
F♯ majKey
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The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Officially co-credited to Franklin and Ted White, no formal rights dispute found. Two things are presented factually, not sensationalized: an unresolved question over whether White genuinely co-wrote it, and White’s documented history of abuse toward Franklin during their marriage.
Quick Facts
Released1968
AlbumAretha Now
GenreSoul, R&B
LabelAtlantic Records
ProducerJerry Wexler
Recorded atMuscle Shoals
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Aretha Franklin & Ted White (per official credit)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Atlantic; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A soul standard; performed in “The Blues Brothers” (1980), helping pave Franklin’s 1980s resurgence (which “Freeway of Love,” this batch, cemented).
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record per credit and no formal rights dispute.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Her 1980s resurgence, which this helped begin (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Aretha Franklin & Ted White (per official credit)
An honest, unresolved authorship questionFranklin and Ted White are officially co-credited, but some in Franklin’s own circle have claimed White had no real involvement in writing it. There is no definitive way to confirm or deny this — presented honestly as a real, documented but unresolved question, not asserted either way.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Documented context about co-writer Ted White, stated factually
Ted White was Franklin’s first husband and manager (married 1961 when she was 19 and he 30; divorced 1969). He has been publicly documented as abusive toward Franklin during their marriage, including one well-documented public incident, with other accounts indicating it was not isolated. Stated briefly and factually.
Wikipedia (Ted White) · read it →
A career-revival moment
Franklin performed the song in 1980’s “The Blues Brothers” at a career low point — an appearance that helped pave the way for her 1980s commercial resurgence.
Songfacts · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
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Times sampled
Featured in “The Blues Brothers” (1980)
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
TH
Aretha Franklin (estate) & Ted White
The credited songwriters (see the honest authorship note)
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 10)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass