Freeway of Love: Difference between revisions

"Freeway of Love"
"Freeway of Love"
Single by Aretha Franklin
from the album Who's Zoomin' Who?
B-side	"Until You Say You Love Me"
Released	June 5, 1985
Recorded	1984
Genre	R&B; dance-pop; synth-pop;
Length	5:51 (album version) ; 4:10 (single version)
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Jeffrey Cohen; Narada Michael Walden;
Producer(s)	Narada Michael Walden
Aretha Franklin singles chronology

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"Freeway of Love" is a song by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written by Jeffrey Cohen and Narada Michael Walden and produced by the latter for her thirtieth studio album Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985). The song features a notable contribution from Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’'s E Street Band. Sylvester, Martha Wash, and Jeanie Tracy provided backup vocals on "Freeway of Love".

Released as the album's leading single on June 5, 1985, by Arista Records, it became Franklin's highest-charting single in twelve years. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five weeks from July 27, 1985, to August 24, 1985 (her milestone twentieth number-one hit on the chart).^[1] In a remixed "rock" version, the song also topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.^[2] The accompanying promotional music video was filmed entirely in the Detroit, Michigan area, and became one of the most popular videos of the year. "Freeway of Love" earned Franklin her 12th Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Owing to the pink Cadillac appearing on the cover art and several times in the lyrics, more than 100 pink Cadillacs accompanied Franklin in her funeral procession in August 2018.

Music video

The video was filmed primarily in black and white and shows videos of automobiles being manufactured in the early 1970s (Ford Mustang) and a then-current Cadillac Cimarron. Franklin co-owned Detroit's Club Taboo on Woodbridge, where her "Another Night" music video was filmed. Portions of the "Freeway of Love" video were filmed at Doug's Body Shop, at 22061 Woodward, in Ferndale, Michigan. Clarence Clemons, who performs the saxophone during the song, is featured in the video, as well.

Although the video is set to the original version of the song, the tempo of the song is noticeably faster in the video.

Track listing

US 7" Single^[3]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Freeway of Love"	4:09
2.	"Until You Say You Love Me"	4:55

Personnel

Aretha Franklin: lead vocals
Narada Michael Walden: drums and percussion
Randy "The King" Jackson: synth bass
Walter "Baby Love" Afanasieff: keyboards
Preston "Tiger Head" Glass: keyboards and keyboard vibes, backing vocals
Corrado Rustici: guitar
Greg "Gigi" Gonaway: tambourine
The Santana Rhythm Section: percussion
Clarence Clemons: saxophone, guest appearance (courtesy of Columbia Records)
Karen "Kitty Beethoven" Brewington, Carolyn Franklin, Jim Gilstrap, Sylvester, Vicki Randle, Jeanie Tracy, Martha Wash, Laundon Von Hendricks: backing vocals
Mingo Lewis: congas, percussion

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985-1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	27
Canada (The Record)^[6]	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[7]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[9]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	27
UK Singles (OCC)^[10]	51
US Billboard Hot 100^[11]	3
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[12]	11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[13]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[14]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)	Position
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[15]	43
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs^[16]	7

Cover versions

In 1986, "Weird Al" Yankovic covered the song as part of his polka medley "Polka Party!".
The song was covered in 2009 by house music/dance singer Pepper Mashay.^[17]
A version by jazz musician Lea DeLaria appears in and on the soundtrack of the 2017 Pixar movie Cars 3.

References

^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 216.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 103.
^ "Freeway of Love" – US 7" single. Discogs.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ ^a ^b "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 1975-present. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
^ "Pepper Mashay's "Freeway Of Love" Out Now On Capp Records". PRLog. August 6, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2017.

This 1980s R&B/soul music song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 216.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 103.

[3] "Freeway of Love" – US 7" single. Discogs.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[4] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Flanders_Aretha_Franklin-5] "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[6] Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 1975-present. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.

[sc_New_Zealand_Aretha_Franklin-7] "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_Aretha_Franklin-8] "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[sc_Sweden_Aretha_Franklin-9] "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[sc_UK_-10] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Aretha_Franklin-11] "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Aretha_Franklin-12] "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.

[sc_Billboarddanceclubplay_Aretha_Franklin-13] "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Aretha_Franklin-14] "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.

[15] "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.

[year-end-16] "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.

[17] "Pepper Mashay's "Freeway Of Love" Out Now On Capp Records". PRLog. August 6, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2017.

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 [[Category:Dance-pop songs]]
 [[Category:Synth-pop songs]]
-[[Category:Songs about cars]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Narada Michael Walden]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Jeffrey E. Cohen]]

v t e Aretha Franklin
Studio albums	Aretha (1961) The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962) The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962) Laughing on the Outside (1963) Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964) Runnin' Out of Fools (1964) Yeah!!! (1965) Songs of Faith (1965) Soul Sister (1966) Take It Like You Give It (1967) I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) Aretha Arrives (1967) Lady Soul (1968) Aretha Now (1968) Soul '69 (1969) Soft and Beautiful (1969) This Girl's in Love with You (1970) Spirit in the Dark (1970) Young, Gifted and Black (1972) Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) (1973) Let Me in Your Life (1974) With Everything I Feel in Me (1974) You (1975) Sparkle (1976) Sweet Passion (1977) Almighty Fire (1978) La Diva (1979) Aretha (1980) Love All the Hurt Away (1981) Jump to It (1982) Get It Right (1983) Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) Aretha (1986) Through the Storm (1989) What You See Is What You Sweat (1991) A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998) So Damn Happy (2003) This Christmas, Aretha (2008) A Woman Falling Out of Love (2011) Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics (2014)
Live albums	Aretha in Paris (1968) Aretha Live at Fillmore West (1971) Amazing Grace (1972) One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (1987) Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972 (2007)
Compilation albums	Take a Look (1967) Aretha's Gold (1969) Aretha's Greatest Hits (1971) The Best of Aretha Franklin (1973) Aretha Sings the Blues (1980) 30 Greatest Hits (1985) Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings (1992/2014) Greatest Hits: 1980–1994 (1994) The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 (1994) Greatest Hits (1998) Aretha's Best (2001) Respect: The Very Best of Aretha Franklin (2002) The Queen in Waiting: The Columbia Years (1960–1965) (2002) Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul (2007) Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen (2007) A Brand New Me (2017) The Atlantic Singles Collection 1967–1970 (2018)
Singles	"Precious Lord (Part 1)" (1959) "Today I Sing the Blues" (1960) "Won't Be Long" (1960) "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (1961) "Operation Heartbreak" (1961) "I Surrender, Dear" (1962) "Try a Little Tenderness" (1962) "Say It Isn't So" (1963) "Skylark" (1963) "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1964) "One Step Ahead" (1965) "You Made Me Love You" (1965) "Mockingbird" (1967) "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967) "Respect" (1967) "Baby I Love You" (1967) "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967) "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" "Chain of Fools" (1967) "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1968) "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (1968) "Think" (1968) "You Send Me" (1968) "The House That Jack Built" (1968) "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968) "See Saw" (1968) "My Song" (1968) "The Weight" (1969) "Tracks of My Tears" (1969) "I Can't See Myself Leaving You" (1969) "Gentle on My Mind" (1969) "Share Your Love with Me" (1969) "Eleanor Rigby" (1969) "Call Me" (1970) "Son of a Preacher Man" (1970) "Spirit in the Dark" (1970) "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970) "Don't Play That Song" (1970) "Border Song (Holy Moses)" (1970) "You're All I Need to Get By" (1971) "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1971) "Spanish Harlem" (1971) "Rock Steady" (1971) "Day Dreaming" (1972) "Angel" (1973) "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (1973) "I'm in Love" (1974) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1974) "Something He Can Feel" (1976) "Break It to Me Gently" (1977) "What a Fool Believes" (1981) "It's My Turn" (1981) "Jump to It" (1982) "Get It Right" (1983) "Freeway of Love" (1985) "Who's Zoomin' Who" (1985) "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (1985) "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986) "Jimmy Lee" (1986) "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) "Rock-A-Lott" (1987) "Oh Happy Day" (1988) "Gimme Your Love" (1989) "Through the Storm" (1989) "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (1989) "Everyday People" (1991) "Someday We'll All Be Free" (1992) "Ever Changing Times" (1992) "A Deeper Love" (1993) "Willing to Forgive" (1994) "A Rose Is Still a Rose" (1998) "Here We Go Again" (1998) "Put You Up on Game" (2007) "Angels We Have Heard on High" (2009) "Rolling in the Deep (The Aretha Version)" (2014)
Related	Awards and nominations Discography "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" Amazing Grace (2018 film) Genius (2021 television series) Respect (2021 film) Ted White
Category

v t e Pixar music
Albums	Toy Story A Bug's Life Toy Story 2 Monsters, Inc. Finding Nemo The Incredibles Cars Ratatouille WALL-E Up Toy Story 3 Cars 2 Brave Monsters University Inside Out The Good Dinosaur Cars 3 Coco Incredibles 2 Toy Story 4 Onward Soul Luca Turning Red Lightyear Elemental Inside Out 2
Songs	"You've Got a Friend in Me" "When She Loved Me" "If I Didn't Have You" "Real Gone" "Our Town" "Down to Earth" "We Belong Together" "Ride" "Remember Me" "The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" "Nobody Like U" "Steal the Show"
Other albums	Woody's Roundup: A Rootin' Tootin' Collection of Woody's Favorite Songs Monsters, Inc. Scream Factory Favorites