You is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on October 16, 1975, by Atlantic Records.
Background It was a commercial disappointment, stalling at number 83 on Billboards album chart. The album's only pop chart single, "Mr. D.J.", peaked at number 53 on Billboards Hot 100, while climbing to only number 13 R&B. The title track, issued as the follow-up, reached number 15 R&B. The album brought an end to Aretha's collaboration with Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, who signed her to the label in late 1966, and headed up production on all but one of her albums from 1967-1975.
Critical reception The Guardian named "Mr. D.J. (5 for the D.J.)" one of Franklin's "30 Greatest Songs", and called it "a horn and call-and-response vocal-laden strut that defies anyone in earshot not to dance."
Rolling Stone called the album "supper-club soul." While praising Franklin's genius as undiminished, it felt the songs were about "mush, not hurt, not pain, not joy or ecstasy or even the mystical wonderment that seemed somehow wrenched from Aretha's soul," and considered the melodies "undistinguished."
Track listing
"Mr. D.J. (5 for the D.J.)" (Aretha Franklin) - 4:25 "It Only Happens (When I Look at You)" (Ken Gold, Michael Denne) - 4:23 "I'm Not Strong Enough To Love You Again" (Frank Johnson) - 4:16 "Walk Softly" (Van McCoy) - 4:48 "You Make My Life" (Bettye Crutcher, Frederick Knight) - 4:15 "Without You" (Randy Stewart, Mack Rice) - 5:13 "The Sha-La Bandit" (Jerry Ferguson, Wade Davis) - 4:00 "You" (Jerry Butler, Marvin Yancy, Randy Stewart) - 4:40 "You Got All The Aces" (Ronnie Shannon) - 3:52 "As Long As You Are There" (Carolyn Franklin) - 3:44
Personnel Performance Aretha Franklin – lead vocals Clarence McDonald, Sylvester Rivers – keyboards Jay Graydon, Ray Parker Jr., Lee Ritenour, David T. Walker – guitar Scott Edwards, Tony Newton – bass guitar Ed Greene – drums Gary Coleman – percussion Bobbye Hall – congas Jim Horn – flute (2) Bud Brisbois – trumpet (2) Tom Scott – saxophone (6) Ernie Watts – saxophone (7) Gene Page – arrangements Harry Bluestone – concertmaster of string section Margaret Branch – backing vocals Brenda Bryant – backing vocals Cissy Houston – backing vocals Pam Vincent – backing vocals
Production Producers – Aretha Franklin and Jerry Wexler Engineer – Frank Kejmar Assistant Engineer – Steve Hall Mixing – Aretha Franklin and Dave Hassinger Mix Assistant – Jim Nipar Copyist – George Annis Cover Photo – Norman Dugger
References