Through the Storm is the thirty-fifth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on Arista Records in the spring of 1989.
Despite the number 16 Billboard Hot 100 hit title track (a duet with Elton John), the album was not a commercial success; it reached number 55 on the Billboard 200. Selling approximately 225,000 copies in the United States, it was taken swiftly out of print shortly. The follow-up single, “It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be”, a duet with Whitney Houston, failed to make the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 41. Other guest artists included James Brown, The Four Tops and Kenny G.
The album was remastered and re-released as an “Expanded Edition” in December 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, with bonus tracks and a second CD of material.
Tracks
1 Gimme Your Love (Jeffrey Cohen; Narada Michael Walden) 05:19
2 Mercy (Glen Ballard; Siedah Garrett) 04:08
3 He’s The Boy (Aretha Franklin) 04:07
4 It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be (Albert Hammond; Diane Warren) 05:39
5 Through The Storm (Albert Hammond; Diane Warren) 04:24
6 Think (1989) (Aretha Franklin; Ted White) 03:38
7 Come To Me (Willard Eugene Price) 03:43
8 If Ever A Love There Was (Pamela Phillips Oland; Todd Cerney) 04:46
Musicians
1 Gimme Your Love
| Bass (synthesizer) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Drums (programming) | Bob Smith |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Keyboards | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | Ren Klyce |
| Synthesizer | Narada Michael Walden |
| Sax | Marc Russo |
| Background Vocals | Liz Jackson |
| Background Vocals | Skyler Jett |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
2 Mercy
| Bass (synthesizer) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Drums (programming) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | Narada Michael Walden |
| Synthesizer | Ren Klyce |
| Sax | Marc Russo |
| Percussion | Greg Gonaway |
| Background Vocals | Siedah Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
3 He’s The Boy
| Bass | Louis Johnson |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Steve Khan |
| Guitar | William Powell |
| Piano | Aretha Franklin |
| Synthesizer | Robbie Kondor |
| Percussion | Steve Kroon |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
4 It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be
| Bass (synthesizer) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Drums (programming) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Keyboards | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | Ren Klyce |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Background Vocals | Melisa Kary |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
| Vocals | Whitney Houston |
5 Through The Storm
| Bass (synthesizer) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Drums (programming) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Keyboards | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | Ren Klyce |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Background Vocals | Claytoven Richardson |
| Background Vocals | Skyler Jett |
| Background Vocals | Melisa Kary |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
| Vocals | Elton John |
6 Think (1989)
| Guitar | Reggie Griffin |
| Piano | Robbie Kondor |
| Synthesizer | Robbie Kondor |
| Programming | Joe Mardin |
| Sax | Andy Snitzer |
| Sax | Kenneth Hitchcock |
| Trombone | Mike Davis |
| Trumpet | Chris Botti |
| Trumpet | Kent Smith |
| Percussion | Sammy Merendino |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Corbett |
| Background Vocals | Margaret Branch |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
7 Come To Me
| Bass | Louis Johnson |
| Drums | Jeffrey Porcaro |
| Piano | David Paich |
| Piano | David Foster |
| Synthesizer | David Foster |
| Percussion | George Devens |
| Background Vocals | Edie Lahmann |
| Background Vocals | Marty McCall |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
8 If Ever A Love There Was
| Bass | Jerry Knight |
| Drums | JR Robinson |
| Keyboards | Aaron Zigman |
| Sax | Kenny G. |
| Vocals | The Four Tops |
Liner Notes
Producer – Narada Michael Walden (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5)
Producer – Aretha Franklin (Tracks 3)
Producer – Arif Mardin (Tracks 6, 7)
Producer – Joe Mardin (Tracks 6)
Producer – Aaron Zigman, Jerry Knight (Tracks 8)
Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5)
Arranged By – Arif Mardin (Tracks 6, 7)
Artwork – Peter Max
Photography – Norman Parkinson
Phonographic Copyright Arista Records Inc
Copyright Arista Records Inc
Through the Storm is the thirty-fifth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on Arista Records in the spring of 1989.