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Who's Zoomin' Who?

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This article is about the album. For the album's title track, see Who's Zoomin' Who.
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Who's Zoomin' Who? is a Platinum-plus album by American musician Aretha Franklin, originally released in the summer of 1985, on Arista Records. It received praising critical reviews from people such as Robert Christgau. Single "Freeway of Love" proved both a commercial hit as well as a career achievement for Franklin, earning her a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Album history

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Franklin said she wanted to do "a record with a younger sound to it. I'd been listening to the radio and I really liked what I heard. I figured to myself that it was time for me to do something serious."[1]

The album's lead single, "Freeway of Love", produced by Narada Michael Walden, was one of Franklin's biggest career hits. It held the #1 position on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for five consecutive weeks and also reached #3 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100. "Freeway of Love" also won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The follow-up single was the album's title track, which reached #2 on the R&B chart as well as #7 on Billboard's Hot 100. It also returned Franklin to the Top 10 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

Also in 1985, Franklin duetted with the British rock/pop duo Eurythmics on the song "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". The single was a top 10 hit in the UK, and was added to later pressings of the Who's Zoomin' Who? album.

With this album, Franklin also established herself as a star of music video. Popular videos for "Freeway of Love" filmed at Doug's Body Shop on Woodward,"Another Night" filmed at Scgroi's rock bar THE RITZ in Roseville Mi., "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" - filmed at Detroit's Club Taboo on Woodbridge which Franklin co-owned - enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV.

At the time of its release, Franklin rated it as one of her best albums ever.[1]

The album was ranked #89 in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s.

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Freeway of Love" (Jeffrey Cohen, Narada Michael Walden) - 5:52
  2. "Another Night" (Beppe Cantarelli, Roy Freeland) - 4:31
  3. "Sweet Bitter Love" (Van McCoy) - 5:11
  4. "Who's Zoomin' Who" (Aretha Franklin, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden) - 4:44
Side Two
  1. "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Eurythmics) (Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart) - 5:52
  2. "Until You Say You Love Me" (Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden) - 4:23
  3. "Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You" (Jeffrey Cohen, Narada Michael Walden) - 4:50
  4. "Push" (Duet with Peter Wolf) (Jeffrey Cohen, Narada Michael Walden) - 4:35
  5. "Integrity" (Aretha Franklin) - 4:25
2014 Funky Town Grooves Remastered CD
No.TitleLength
10."Freeway Of Love [Single Mix]" 
11."Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves [Single Mix]" 
12."Who's Zoomin' Who? [Radio Mix]" 
13."Another Night [Radio Mix]" 
14."Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You [Single Mix]" 

Disc Two:

  1. Freeway Of Love [Rock Mix]
  2. Freeway Of Love [Extended Remix]
  3. Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves [ET Mix]
  4. Who's Zoomin' Who [Dance Mix]
  5. Who's Zoomin' Who [Dub Mix]
  6. Who's Zoomin' Who [Acappella Mix]
  7. Another Night [Dance Mix]
  8. Another Night [Dub Mix]
  9. Another Night [Single Mix]
  10. Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You [Remix]
  11. Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You [Dub Mix]
  12. Ain't Nobody Ever Loved You [Percapella Mix]

Production & Personnel

  • Tracks A3 & B5 Arranged & produced by Aretha Franklin. Recorded at United Sound (Detroit; vocals & other instruments recorded by Mike Iacopelli) & The Power Station (string section recorded by Josh Abbey & arranged by Paul Riser). Robert Kandor: Synthesizers; Nat Adderley, Jr.: Keyboards; William Powell, Steve Khan: Guitars; Louis Johnson: Bass; Yogi Horton: Drums; Steve Kroon: Percussion; Dizzy Gillespie: Trumpet Solo on track B5; Sandra Feva, Margaret Branch, Corbett: Backing vocals on track B5
  • Track B1 Arranged & produced by Dave Stewart. Engineered by Adam Williams & Don Smith, with assistance by Jay Willis (for recording of All vocals & other instruments). Drums recorded by Shelly Yakus. Mixed by Dave Stewart & Don Smith.
  • All other tracks arranged & produced by Narada Michael Walden for Perfection Light Productions. Engineered & mixed by "Dr." Dave Frazer, with additional mixing by Michael Brauer. Second Engineers: Maureen "Mo-Mo" Draney, Ray Pyle, Dana Jon Chapelle, Gordon "Trix" Logan, Tim Crich, Moira Marquis, Paul Hamingson
    • Narada Michael Walden: Drums, Percussion (tracks A1-A2, B2-B4), Acoustic Piano (A4), Keyboards (B3); Randy Jackson: Electric & Synthesized Bass; Walter Afanasieff: Keyboards; Preston Glass: Keyboards & Keyboard Vibes, Backing Vocals (tracks A1-A2, A4, B2-B3); Ray Gomez: Guitar Solo (track A2); Carlos Santana: Guitar Solo, Guest Appearance (track B4) (courtesy of Columbia Records); Corrado Rustici: Guitars & Guitar Synthesizers; Greg Gonaway: Tambourine (track A1); Andy Narell: Steel Drums; Santana Rhythm Section: Percussion (tracks A1, B3); Clarence Clemons: Saxophone, Guest Appearance (track A1) (courtesy of Columbia Records); Peter Wolf: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guest Appearance (track B4) (courtesy of EMI Records); Carolyn Franklin, Sylvester (tracks A1-A2, A4, B2-B3), Jeanie Tracy, Vicki Randle (A1-A2, A4, B2-B3), Jim Gilstrap (A1-A2, A4, B2-B3), Kitty Beethoven (A1-A2, B3), Laundon Von Hendricks (A1-A2, A4, B3-B4), Nikita Germaine (A2), Randy Jackson (A4), Karen Benington (B4), Craig Thomas (B4), Aretha Franklin (B4): Backing vocals

References

  1. ^ a b Rolling Stone magazine, circa 1985 - upon the release of "Who's Zoomin' Who", "Aretha Franklin's New Wave of Pop" written by Eliza Graham, page 11.
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