Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released in late 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 popular on MTV, BET and other video outlets.
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.
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.
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. It eventually moved 900,000 copies.
This marked Franklin's ninth Gold album in the United States.
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
Aretha Franklin – vocals, acoustic piano (4) Walter Afanasieff – acoustic piano (1), synthesizers (1–3, 5, 6), 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 GTM6 MIDI guitar synthesizer (1, 2, 5), guitars (8) Keith Richards – lead guitar (4) Allen Rogan – guitars (4) Ronnie Wood – guitars (4) Vernon "Ice" Black – end funk guitar (6) Teddy F. White – rhythm guitar (6) Greg Poree – guitars (7) David T. Walker – guitars (7) Doc Powell – guitars (9) Randy Jackson – acoustic bass (1), bass guitar (2, 4), 5-string bass (3, 6), Moog bass (5), bass (8) James Jamerson, Jr. – bass (7) Francisco Centeno – bass (9) Narada Michael Walden – drums (1, 2, 5, 6, 8), acoustic piano intro (1), acoustic drums (3), programming (6), percussion (8) Steve Jordan – drums (4) James Gadson – drums (7) Yogi Horton – drums (9) Preston Glass – bells (1, 3), percussion programming (2), keyboards (8) Gigi Gonaway – tambourine (2), percussion (2, 5), timbales (5) Jason Martin – cymbals (5) Raul Rekow – congas (6), shekere (6) Orestes Vilato – timbales (6), cowbell (6) Daryl "Munyungo" Jackson – percussion (7) Marc Russo – alto saxophone (1) Kenny G – tenor saxophone (1) Eddie Mininfield – tenor saxophone (5) David Wallace – trombone (1) Jerry Hey – trumpet (1) Ernie Fields Jr. – horns (7) Charles Veal – strings (7) Sanford Allen – strings (9)
Music arrangements Narada Michael Walden – arrangements (1–3, 5, 6, 8) Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (1), string arrangements (2, 3, 6, 8) Gil Askey – horn, rhythm and string arrangements (7); conductor (7) Paul Riser – horn, rhythm and string arrangements (9)
Background and Guest vocals George Michael – vocals (2) 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) Liz Jackson – backing vocals (6) Esther Ridgeway – backing vocals (7) Gloria Ridgeway – backing vocals (7) Larry Graham – vocals (8)
Rockin' Crew on "Rock-a-Lott" Dana Joe Chappelle Greg "Gigi" Gonaway Janice Lee Cynthia Shiloh Anukampa Lisa Walden
Production Narada Michael Walden – producer (1–3, 5, 6, 8) Keith Richards – producer (4) Aretha Franklin – producer (7, 9) Marion Sherrill – music supervisor (7) Sephra Herman – music contractor (9) Steven Shmerler – art direction Maude Gilman – design, layout John Pinderhughes – photography Andy Warhol – front cover art and line drawings
Technical credits David Frazier – recording (1–3, 5, 6, 8), mixing (1–3, 5, 6, 8) Steve Lillywhite – engineer (4) Michael Frondelli – mixing (4) Russ Terrana – engineer (7) Jim Dougherty – engineer (9) Dana Jon Chappelle – assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8), additional engineer (2, 5) Mark Roule – assistant engineer (9) Maureen Droney – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8), additional engineer (2) Stuart Hirotsu – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8) Mike Iacopelli – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8), assistant engineer (4), vocal engineer (7, 9), mixing (7, 9) Gordon Lyon – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8), additional engineer (3) Jim "Watts" Vereecke – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8) Lenette Viegas – additional assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8)
Charts and certifications + Chart performance for Aretha Chart (1986–1987) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 33European Albums (Music & Media)80
Certifications
References