1987 Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (US:#1 UK:#1)
“I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” is a song released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987. The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Billboard listed “I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)” as Franklin’s all-time biggest Hot 100 single. The song was Franklin’s biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number two. The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Franklin and Michael won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”.
Album
Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986, by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.
As with Franklin’s previous album, Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, Aretha was produced mainly by Narada Michael Walden and includes her duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”, which became Franklin’s first #1 Pop single since “Respect” in 1967, and would also be her last. The album also yielded three other hit singles: “Jimmy Lee”, “Rock-A-Lott” and a hard rock cover of The Rolling Stones’ classic, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”. All music videos were extremely popular on MTV, BET and other video outlets.
Franklin’s vocal from “Rock-A-Lott” was sampled extensively in the 49ers’ 1990 hit “Touch Me”, while her version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was the title song for the comedy film of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg. All four of the singles were shot as music videos that received extensive play.
The album cover was Andy Warhol’s final work before his death in early 1987.
Tracks
1 Jimmy Lee (Jeffrey Cohen; Lisa Walden; Narada Michael Walden; Preston Glass) 05:48
2 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (Dennis Morgan; Simon Climie) 04:02
3 Do You Still Remember (Jeffrey Cohen; Preston Glass; Walter Afanasieff) 05:07
4 Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Mick Jagger; Keith Richards) 05:07
5 Rock-a-Lott (Joe Johnson; Narada Michael Walden; Preston Glass) 06:22
6 An Angel Cries (Dennis Morgan; Simon Climie) 05:04
7 He’ll Come Along (Aretha Franklin) 04:13
8 If You Need My Love Tonight (Alan Glass; Narada Michael Walden; Preston Glass) 04:34
9 Look To the Rainbow (Burton Lane; EY Harburg) 05:13
Biography
Musicians
1 Jimmy Lee
| Acoustic Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Piano | Narada Michael Walden |
| Piano | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Synthesizer | David Sancious |
| Sax | Marc Russo |
| Sax | Kenny G |
| Trombone | Wayne Wallace |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Bells | Preston Glass |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
2 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Drums (programming) | Preston Glass |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Programming | Walter Afanasieff |
| Tambourine | Greg Gonaway |
| Percussion | Greg Gonaway |
| Background Vocals | Claytoven Richardson |
| Background Vocals | Jeanie Tracy |
| Background Vocals | Jennifer Hall |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Dorsey |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Background Vocals | Myrna Matthews |
| Vocals | George Michael |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
3 Do You Still Remember
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Programming | Walter Afanasieff |
| Harp | David Sancious |
| Bells | Preston Glass |
| Background Vocals | Jeanie Tracy |
| Background Vocals | Jennifer Hall |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Dorsey |
| Background Vocals | Myrna Matthews |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
4 Jumpin’ Jack Flash
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Steve Jordan |
| Guitar | Keith Richards |
| Guitar | Alan Rogan |
| Guitar | Ron Wood |
| Keyboards | Chuck Leavell |
| Piano | Aretha Franklin |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Corbett |
| Background Vocals | Margaret Branch |
| Background Vocals | Ortheia Barnes |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
5 Rock-a-Lott
| Bass (synthesizer) | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Horns (Synthesizer) | David Sancious |
| Sax | Eddie Mininfield |
| Cymbal | Jason Martin |
| Timbales | Greg Gonaway |
| Percussion | Greg Gonaway |
| Background Vocals | Claytoven Richardson |
| Background Vocals | Jennifer Hall |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Dorsey |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
6 An Angel Cries
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Guitar | Vernon Black |
| Guitar | Teddy White |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Programming | Narada Michael Walden |
| Cowbell | Orestes Vilato |
| Timbales | Orestes Vilato |
| Background Vocals | Jeanie Tracy |
| Background Vocals | Jennifer Hall |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Dorsey |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Background Vocals | Liz Jackson |
| Background Vocals | Myrna Matthews |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
7 He’ll Come Along
| Bass | James Jamerson Jr |
| Drums | James Gadson |
| Guitar | David T Walker |
| Guitar | Greg Poree |
| Keyboards | Nick Johnson |
| Horns | Ernie Fields Jr |
| Percussion | Munyungo Jackson |
| Background Vocals | Brenda Corbett |
| Background Vocals | Gloria Ridgeway |
| Background Vocals | Esther Ridgeway |
| Background Vocals | Margaret Branch |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
8 If You Need My Love Tonight
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Guitar | Corrado Rustici |
| Keyboards | Preston Glass |
| Keyboards | Walter Afanasieff |
| Percussion | Narada Michael Walden |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
9 Look To the Rainbow
| Bass | Francisco Centeno |
| Drums | Yogi Horton |
| Guitar | Doc Powell |
| Keyboards | Nat Adderley Jr |
| Strings | Sanford Allen |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
Liner Notes
Producer – Narada Michael Walden (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8)
Producer – Keith Richards (Track 4)
Producer – Aretha Franklin (Tracks 7, 9)
Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8)
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Track 1)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings, Rhythm) – Gil Askey (Track 7)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings, Rhythm) – Paul Riser (Track 9)
Arranged By (Strings) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 2, 3, 6, 8)
Conductor – Gil Askey (Track 7)
Engineer – Steve Lillywhite (Track 4)
Engineer – Russ Terrana (Track 7)
Engineer – Jim Dougherty (Track 9)
Engineer (Vocals) – Mike Iacopelli (Tracks 7, 9)
Engineer (Assistant) – Dana Jon Chappelle
Engineer (Assistant) – Mike Iacopelli (Track 4)
Engineer (Assistant) – Mark Roule (Track 9)
Engineer (Additional) – Dana Jon Chappelle (Tracks 2, 5)
Engineer (Additional) – Maureen Droney (Track 2)
Engineer (Additional) – Gordon Lyon (Track 3)
Engineer (Additional Assistant) – Gordon Lyon, Jim Veerecke, Lenete Viegas, Maureen Droney, Mike Iacopelli, Stuart Hirotsu
Mixed By – David Frazer
Mixed By – Michael Frondelli (Track 4)
Mixed By – Mike Iacopelli (Tracks 7, 9)
Recorded By – David Frazer
Art Direction – Steven Shmerler
Artwork – Andy Warhol
Design – Maude Gilman
Photography – John Pinderhughes
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Recorded At Tarpan Studios
Recorded At The Plant Studios
Recorded At Studio D, Sausalito, CA
Recorded At The Automatt
Recorded At Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios
Recorded At Sigma Sound Studios
Recorded At Electric Lady Studios
Recorded At United Sound Systems
Phonographic Copyright Arista Records Inc
Copyright Arista Records Inc
Muscians
| Bass | Randy Jackson |
| Bass (synthesizer) | Walter Afanasieff |
| Drums | Narada Michael Walden |
| Drums (Programming) | Preston Glass |
| Guitar (synthesiser) | Corrado Rustici |
| Synthesizer | Walter Afanasieff |
| Programming | Walter Afanasieff |
| Percussion | Gigi Gonaway |
| Percussion | Preston Glass |
| Background Vocals | Kitty Beethoven |
| Background Vocals | Kevin Dorsey |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Jennifer Hall |
| Background Vocals | Mynra Matthews |
| Background Vocals | Claytoven Richardson |
| Background Vocals | Jeanie Tracy |
| Vocals | George Michael |
| Vocals | Aretha Franklin |
Produced By
Narada Michael Walden
Arranged By (Strings) – Jerry Hey
Songwriters
Simon Climie
Dennis Morgan
Charts
US:# 1
UK:# 1