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 | ||||
| Length | 5:52 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Narada Michael Walden | |||
| Aretha Franklin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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 album cover 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 seventies (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" | 5:49 |
| 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
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
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.
External links
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