Rita Coolidge: My six best albums – Aretha Franklin, Eagles, Keb’ Mo’ and more

Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Rhino)

I had just graduated and was living in Memphis with my sister Priscilla when we got hold of this album.

We played it constantly for a year.

I know every word, every note. I loved her voice and her interpretation.

Ry Cooder: Paradise And Lunch (Warner)

An amazing guitar player but he is also a bibliographer of a lot of American songs that would otherwise have been lost.

He has done a great service to the music industry.

And he is also a nice man. I loved this selection and the simple production.

Eagles: Hotel California (Rhino)

I was in living in West Hollywood when this came out and everybody I knew had it.

It paints a picture of a decade, the 1970s.

I don’t think anybody writes better story songs than Don Henley and Glenn Frey did.

Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time (EMI)

I’ve known Bonnie since she was struggling and I had my first hit record.

I did a music festival with her and knew that she was about to explode because she was so good.

She is like an old black man in a little red-headed white girl body – the way she interprets songs and plays slide guitar.

She never cared about being a star, she was happy just playing music and hanging out with the guys.

Keb’ Mo’: The Door (Sony)

I wore this out and have since collected everything he has done.

I wrote two songs with him for my new record and they’re my favourite things on it.

He’s such a positive human being and his songs reflect that.

The Bros. Landreth: Let It Lie (Slate Creek)

I have listened to this probably 500 times.

I heard it on the radio and immediately ordered it.

They’re a Canadian band who write songs with great harmonies.

Joey Landreth has reinvented slide guitar and sings like an angel. I got him for my record and it was an amazing three days of recording.