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Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Rock Steady'" is a song written and performed by Aretha Franklin and released in 1971, from the album 'Young, Gifted and Black'.[http://www.discogs.com/release/517807 Discogs - 'Young, Gifted and Black' - 1972-January-24th LP, Atlantic (SD 7213) US] 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 original A-side, a rendition of the song "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.
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) [http://www.discogs.com/artist/477801-Sweethearts-Of-Soul-The Discogs - 'the Sweethearts Of Soul' - (profile, aliases, discography)] — 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
Chart positions
Cover versions
* The first known cover of the song was in 1972 by Sweet Salvation who recorded a whip-snapping cover for their sole eponymous album.
* The Jackson Sisters recorded a cover of the song in 1976 for their eponymous album.
* In 1987, a house version of the song was recorded by singer Dalis and released on Trax Records.
* Patti Austin covered the song on her 1994 album 'That Secret Place'.
* 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, which was also titled '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.
* The song is used as a diegetic track in 'Driver: San Francisco'.
* Rap group 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 in 'The Voice (U.S. season 9)'.
* In 2012, Christine Anu covered the song on her album, 'Rewind: The Aretha Franklin Songbook'.
*Rap duo EPMD sampled the beat and Franklin's lyrics (more pronounced on the remix) for their 1989 single "I'm Housin" from their debut LP 'Strictly Business'.
*Spanish rock rap band Def Con Dos sampled the horn section of the song's chorus on their song "Promiscuidad".
Usage in media
*The song was heard in the 2017 American comedy-drama film 'The Upside'.
*The song was used as an introduction to Ellen DeGeneres' Netflix stand-up comedy special, 'Relatable'.
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