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Freeway of Love

"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 Franklin's 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".

"Freeway of Love"
Single by Aretha Franklin
from the album Who's Zoomin' Who?
B-side"Until You Say You Love Me"
ReleasedJune 5, 1985
Recorded1984
Genre
Length5:51 (album version)
4:10 (single version)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
"Every Girl (Wants My Guy)"
(1983) 		"Freeway of Love"
(1985) 		"Who's Zoomin' Who"
(1985)

Released as the album's lead single on June 5, 1985, by Arista Records, the song became Franklin's highest-charting single in twelve years. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while topping the Hot Black Singles chart for five weeks from July 27, 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

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The video, directed by British filmmaker Brian Grant, was filmed primarily in black and white. It was filmed at Club Tattoo on Woodbridge Avenue (which Franklin co-owned) and is mostly a performance video. Franklin's "Another Night" music video was also filmed there. "Freeway of Love" is interspersed with videos of automobiles being manufactured in the early 1970s (Ford Mustang) and a then-current Cadillac Cimarron, the exterior of the original Motown headquarters, "Hitsville U.S.A." at 2648 West Grand Blvd. in Detroit, as well as dancers in and around cars, sky shots of freeways, the Detroit skyline, and other ephemeral visuals. Portions of the "Freeway of Love" video were also filmed at Doug's Body Shop, located at 22061 Woodward Avenue, in Ferndale, Michigan. Clarence Clemons is featured in the video, and performs saxophone on the song..

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

Reception

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John Leland of Spin wrote, "While the rote mid-tempo rocker doesn't give Aretha a chance to get loose and do Niki Hokey, she still proves that she's a true national treasure, turning mere words — and bad ones at that — into powerful intimations, invitations, and sonic gyrations."[3] Armond White added, "This is also a highway of life song, proclaiming Aretha's longevity and the pleasure she's found in taking a brisk, easy pace. Aretha ends with a rousing jam that confirms her as the mother/master of much that is current. She's still the Queen of Soul."[4]

Track listing

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US 7" Single[5]
No.TitleLength
1."Freeway of Love"4:09
2."Until You Say You Love Me"4:55

Personnel

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Charts

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Cover versions

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References

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  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. ^ John Leland (September 1985). "Singles". Spin. No. 5. p. 32.
  4. ^ Armond White (October 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 6. p. 30.
  5. ^ "Freeway of Love" – US 7" single. Discogs.com. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  8. ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide 1975-present. Mississauga, Ont.: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Aretha Franklin" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  11. ^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  12. ^ "Aretha Franklin – Freeway of Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  14. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  15. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  16. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  17. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 23, 2023 – via Imgur.
  19. ^ "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. December 28, 1985. p. T-21.
  20. ^ "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  21. ^ "Pepper Mashay's "Freeway Of Love" Out Now On Capp Records". PRLog. August 6, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
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