Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin song)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Format
  
7"

Length
  
3:15

Genre
  
Funk, soul

B-side
  
"Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)"

Released
  
February 15th, 1971 (Criteria - Master #21312) October 11th, 1971 (Atlantic #2838)

Recorded
  
unedited, undubbed master w/o horns at Criteria in Miami different edit / mix at Atlantic in Manhattan

"Rock Steady" is a song written and performed by Aretha Franklin and released in 1971, from the album Young, Gifted and Black. The single reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. It also peaked at #2 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The B-side, "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)" peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.

Contents

Personnel

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano
  • Donny Hathaway – electric piano, organ
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Richard Tee – organ
  • Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • The Sweethearts of Soul (Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith) — backing vocals
  • Robert Popwell, Dr. John – percussion
  • The Memphis Horns
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
  • Gene Paul – engineer
  • Jerry Wexler – production
  • Tom Dowd – horn arrangement, production
  • Arif Mardin – production

    • Cover versions

  • The Jackson Sisters recorded a whip-snapping cover of the song in 1976 for their sole eponymous album. Prince released a version on his 2007 live album, Indigo Nights. The song features Beverley Knight.
  • In 2008 the song was sampled by Japanese R&B singer Namie Amuro in her own song, "Rock Steady"
  • Richard Elliot also covered this song as an Instrumental in 2010 off his album, Rock Steady. Aretha's Vocals were replaced by Rich's Saxophone.
  • Dawn Robinson of the group En Vogue did a solo cover of the song on 1998's Dr. Dolittle soundtrack.
  • It used as a diegetic track in Driver: San Francisco.
  • Rap group The People Under the Stairs mention the song in their song "The Next Step II".
  • Daryl Hall and John Oates covered the song on their 2004 album Our Kind of Soul.
  • Regina Love covered the song selected in The Voice (U.S. season 9).
  • In 2012, Christine Anu covered the song on her album, Rewind: The Aretha Franklin Songbook.

    • References

    Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA