Aretha
Studio album by
Aretha Franklin
ReleasedOctober 27, 1986
Recorded1986
Studio
Various
  • Tarpan Recording Studios (San Rafael, CA)
    The Plant Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
    The Automatt (San Francisco, CA)
    Studio "D" (Sausalito, CA)
    Motown Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA)
    Sigma Sound Studios (New York, NY)
    Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY)
    United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre
Length45:26
LabelArista
Producer
Aretha Franklin chronology
Who's Zoomin' Who?
(1985)		 Aretha
(1986)		 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
(1987)
Singles from Aretha
  1. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
    Released: September 1986
  2. "Jimmy Lee"
    Released: November 1986
  3. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
    Released: January 1987
  4. "Rock-A-Lott"
    Released: June 1987
  5. "If You Need My Love Tonight"
    Released: 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB−[2]

Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986, by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.

Background

As with Franklin's previous album, Who's Zoomin' Who?, Aretha was produced mainly by Narada Michael Walden and includes her duet with George Michael, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", which became Franklin's first #1 Pop single since "Respect" in 1967, and would also be her last. The album also yielded three other hit singles: "Jimmy Lee", "Rock-A-Lott" and a hard rock cover of The Rolling Stones' classic, "Jumpin' Jack Flash". All music videos were extremely popular on MTV, BET and other video outlets.[3]

Franklin's vocal from "Rock-A-Lott" was sampled extensively in the 49ers' 1990 hit "Touch Me", while her version of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was the title song for the comedy film of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg. All four of the singles were shot as music videos that received extensive play.

The album cover was Andy Warhol's final work before his death in early 1987.[4]

The album was remastered and re-released as an "Expanded Edition" in December 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, with bonus tracks and a second CD of material.[5]

Commercial performance

Following Franklin's first-ever Platinum record, Who's Zoomin' Who?, Aretha was certified Gold by the RIAA, after only several weeks on the market, with no additional certification added.

This marked Franklin's seventh Gold album.

Track listing

Aretha track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Jimmy Lee"
N.M. Walden5:47
2."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)
N.M. Walden4:01
3."Do You Still Remember"
N.M. Walden5:10
4."Jumpin' Jack Flash"
Richards5:10
5."Rock-A-Lott"
  • N.M. Walden
  • Joe Johnson
  • P. Glass
N.M. Walden6:21
6."An Angel Cries"
  • Climie
  • Morgan
N.M. Walden4:59
7."He'll Come Along"Aretha FranklinFranklin4:11
8."If You Need My Love Tonight" (with Larry Graham)
  • N.M. Walden
  • P. Glass
  • Alan Glass
N.M. Walden4:30
9."Look to the Rainbow"
Franklin5:14
2014 "Expanded Edition" CD1 bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."Rock-A-Lott" (Single Mix)4:41
11."Rock-A-Lott" (Radio Edit)5:32
12."Rock-A-Lott" (Street Mix)9:26
13."Rock-A-Lott" (Dub)6:40
14."Rock-A-Lott" (Acapella)6:59
2014 "Expanded Edition" CD2
No.TitleLength
1."If You Need My Love Tonight" (mislabeled as "An Angel Cries" 7" mix)4:34
2."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Instrumental)4:03
3."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Edited Remix)5:31
4."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Percapella)5:17
5."I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Extended Remix)7:27
6."Jimmy Lee" (Extended Version)7:19
7."Jimmy Lee" (Dub Version)6:14
8."Jumpin' Jack Flash" (7" Mix)4:30
9."Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Street Mix)6:11
10."Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Edited Street Mix)4:40
11."Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Master Dub Mix)4:36
12."Jumpin' Jack Flash" (Beat Dub Mix)4:13
13."Aretha Megamix" (Who's Zoomin' Who / Another Night / Integrity / Freeway of Love)7:48

Personnel

Musicians

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano (4)
  • George Michael – lead vocals (2)
  • Larry Graham – lead vocals (8)
  • Walter Afanasieff – acoustic piano (1), synthesizers (1-3, 5, 6), Moog synth bass (2), programming (2, 3), keyboards (8)
  • David Sancious – synthesizers (1), harp (3), synth horns (5)
  • Chuck Leavell – keyboards (4)
  • Nick Johnson – keyboards (7)
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards (9)
  • Corrado Rustici – Charvel MIDI guitar synthesizer (1, 2, 5), guitar (8)
  • Keith Richards – lead guitar (4)
  • Allen Rogan – guitar (4)
  • Ronnie Wood – guitar (4)
  • Vernon "Ice" Black – guitar (6)
  • Teddy White – rhythm guitar (6)
  • Greg Porée – guitar (7)
  • David T. Walker – guitar (7)
  • Doc Powell – guitar (9)
  • Randy Jackson – acoustic bass (1), bass guitar (2-4, 6, 8), Moog bass (5)
  • James Jamerson, Jr. – bass guitar (7)
  • Francisco Centeno – bass guitar (9)
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums (1-3, 5, 6, 8), acoustic piano intro (1), programming (6), percussion (8)
  • Steve Jordan – drums (4)
  • James Gadson – drums (7)
  • Yogi Horton – drums (9)
  • Preston Glass – drum programming (2), percussion (2), bells (3), keyboards (8)
  • Gigi Gonaway – tambourine (2), percussion (2, 5), timbales (5), backing vocals (5)
  • Jason Martin – cymbal (5)
  • Paul Rekow – congas (6), shekere (6)
  • Orestes Vilato – timbales (6), cowbell (6)
  • Daryl "Munyungo" Jackson – percussion (7)
  • Kenny G – tenor saxophone (1)
  • Marc Russo – alto saxophone (1)
  • Eddie Mininfield – tenor saxophone (5)
  • David Wallace – trombone (1)
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet (1), horn arrangement (1), string arrangement (2, 3, 6, 8)
  • Ernie Fields, Jr. – horns (7)
  • Charles Veal – strings (7)
  • Sanford Allen – strings (9)
  • Gil Askey – horn, rhythm and string arrangements (7); conductor (7)
  • Paul Riser – horn, rhythm and string arrangements (9)
  • Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals (2, 5, 6)
  • Kevin Dorsey – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6)
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6)
  • Jennifer Hall – backing vocals (2, 3, 5, 6)
  • Myrna Matthews – backing vocals (2, 3, 6)
  • Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (2, 5)
  • Jeanie Tracy – backing vocals (2, 3, 6)
  • Ortheia Barnds – backing vocals (4)
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals (4, 7)
  • Brenda Corbett – backing vocals (4, 7)
  • Dana Joe Chappelle – backing vocals (5)
  • Janice Lee – backing vocals (5)
  • Cynthia Shiloh – backing vocals (5)
  • Anukampa Walden – backing vocals (5)
  • Liz Jackson – backing vocals (6)
  • Esther Ridgeway – backing vocals (7)
  • Gloria Ridgeway – backing vocals (7)

Production

  • Producers – Narada Michael Walden (tracks 1-3, 5 & 6); Keith Richards (track 4); Aretha Franklin (tracks 7 & 9).
  • Recording engineers – David Frazier (tracks 1-3, 5 & 6); Steve Lillywhite (track 4); Russ Terrana (track 7); Jim Dougherty (track 9).
  • Assistant engineer – Dana Jon Chappelle
  • Additional assistant engineers – Maureen Droney, Mike Iacopelli, Gordon Lyon, Jim "Watts" Vereecke and Lenette Viegas.
  • Additional engineers – Dana Jon Chappelle (track 2 & 5); Maureen Droney (track 2); Gordon Lyon (track 3); Mike Iacopelli (track 4); Mark Roule (track 9).
  • Mixing – David Frazier (tracks 1-6 & 8); Mike Iacopelli (track 7 & 9).
  • Vocal engineer (track 7 & 9) – Mike Iacopelli
  • Recording studios – Tarpan Recording Studios (San Rafael, CA); The Plant Studios (Los Angeles, CA); The Automatt (San Francisco, CA); Studio "D" (Sausalito, CA); Motown Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA); Sigma Sound Studios (New York, NY); Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY); United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan).

Artwork

  • Art direction – Steven Shmerler
  • Design and layout – Maude Gilman
  • Photography – John Pinderhughes
  • Front cover art and line drawings – Andy Warhol

Charts and certifications

Chart performance for Aretha
Chart (1986–1987) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] 33
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] 56
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[8] 60
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 45
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[10] 20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[11] 12
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 23
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 51
US Billboard 200[15] 32
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 7

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "AllMusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Aretha review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  3. ↑ "Artist Chart History: Aretha Franklin". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  4. ↑ Bego, Mark (2001). Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul. Da Capo Press. p. 250. ISBN 0-306-80935-4. OCLC 46488152. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Aretha (2 CD Deluxe Edition)". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0758". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Aretha Franklin – Aretha" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Aretha Franklin – Aretha" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Charts.nz – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Music Canada. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ "American album certifications – Aretha Franklin – Aretha". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
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