Friday Flashback (A Bit Late) :: Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It"
Well, I'm a touch late with the Flashback, and heard it via email and IM from interested readers. Sorry folks, it was too damn hot, even to type!
Anyway, a bit late, but never missing a beat, here is today's flashback cut: Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It."
Produced by long-time musical collaborators Marcus Miller and the late, great Luther Vandross -- yeah, that Luther! -- "Jump To It" was a return to more energetic stylings by Ms. Franklin. Apparently, the story goes that Luther was enthralled with Aretha's string of 17 #1 hits during her Atlantic Records time, and he was quoted as saying that he wanted to produce a song for her. Well, Clive Davis got wind of Luther's desire, and passed word onto Aretha, who was immediately on-board.
After some mutual ego-stroking, Vandross introduced Aretha to the tune he and Miller had been working on (conceived in a hallway at NBC's New York studios, as Vandross and Miller were preparing to appear on "Saturday Night Live"). Franklin gave the thumbs-up, and the rest is musical history.
"Jump to It" stayed at number one R&B for four weeks (her first Number One of the 80's) while going to number 24 pop in late 1981. The eponymous LP also yielded the Top 30 R&B hits "Love Me Right" and "This Is for Real."
There's a surprising familiarity that one feels instantly when hearing this song. It reminds me (at least) of some of Luther's better 80's work, post-Change, days, like "Never Too Much" for example. All I know is that "Jump..." is one of the better examples of ReRe's work during the 80s...
Aretha Franklin :: "Jump To It"
Album: Jump To It
Released: 1982
Billboard peak: #1 R&B Singles
Play the Track: Jump To It (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
Anyway, a bit late, but never missing a beat, here is today's flashback cut: Aretha Franklin's "Jump To It."
Produced by long-time musical collaborators Marcus Miller and the late, great Luther Vandross -- yeah, that Luther! -- "Jump To It" was a return to more energetic stylings by Ms. Franklin. Apparently, the story goes that Luther was enthralled with Aretha's string of 17 #1 hits during her Atlantic Records time, and he was quoted as saying that he wanted to produce a song for her. Well, Clive Davis got wind of Luther's desire, and passed word onto Aretha, who was immediately on-board.
After some mutual ego-stroking, Vandross introduced Aretha to the tune he and Miller had been working on (conceived in a hallway at NBC's New York studios, as Vandross and Miller were preparing to appear on "Saturday Night Live"). Franklin gave the thumbs-up, and the rest is musical history.
"Jump to It" stayed at number one R&B for four weeks (her first Number One of the 80's) while going to number 24 pop in late 1981. The eponymous LP also yielded the Top 30 R&B hits "Love Me Right" and "This Is for Real."
There's a surprising familiarity that one feels instantly when hearing this song. It reminds me (at least) of some of Luther's better 80's work, post-Change, days, like "Never Too Much" for example. All I know is that "Jump..." is one of the better examples of ReRe's work during the 80s...
Aretha Franklin :: "Jump To It"Album: Jump To It
Released: 1982
Billboard peak: #1 R&B Singles
Play the Track: Jump To It (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
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wonderful commentary on this song and very accurate! you know anything about my lutha makes me smile!
I figured you'd enjoy the Lutha tie-in... I remain amazed at Luther's versatility, even in his absence...
OK. Not my favorite song by a long shot. Not a favorite Aretha Song, Not a favorite Big Lu obscura, not a favorite 80's song...
Still, the song has a jovial nature that one can't help but to relate. Like Stevie, the stars of our youth, Soul vanguards, really struggled in the eighties with the advent of synthesizers and drum machines. Luther survived triumphant by keeping old songs fresh (he remade a long list of recordings), and keeping the baby making classics coming. Unfortuantely, Aretha is Diva cautionary tale, having eaten her way out of the century and refusing to upgrade her wardrobe to her current dimensions. Still, her historical record of beautiful Soul and Gospel is a lasting legacy that allows us to forgive and remember her fondly.