Released June 1985 Label Arista | Genre Dance-pop | |
B-side "Until You Say You Love Me" Length 4:09 (single edit)
5:52 (album version) Writer(s) Jeffrey Cohen, Narada Michael Walden | ||
"Freeway of Love" is a Grammy Award-winning hit song released as the first single from Aretha Franklin's Platinum-certified 1985 album Who's Zoomin' Who? produced by Narada Michael Walden. It was one of 1985's biggest hits in the United States, reaching the #3 position of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and topping the Hot R&B Singles chart for five weeks (from July 27, 1985 to August 24, 1985).
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The accompanying promotional music video was filmed entirely in Detroit, Michigan, and was one of the most popular videos of the year. In a remixed "rock" version, the song also topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, as well. This single became Aretha's fifteenth Top 10 pop hit in the United States and earned her 12th Grammy Award, for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
The song features a notable contribution from Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. Sylvester and Jeanie Tracy provided backup vocals.
Music video
The video was filmed primarily in black and white and shows videos of automobiles being manufactured from 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.
Personnel
Versions
Notably, Prince guitarist Dez Dickerson was featured on lead guitar on the Rock Mix
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.