In May 1989, “Arista” label released “Through the Storm”, the thirty-fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1988, and was produced by Narada Michael Walden, Walter Afanasieff, Arif Mardin, Joe Mardin and Aretha Franklin.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin– lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, vocals engineer
- James Brown – lead vocals
- Whitney Houston– lead vocals
- Elton John– lead vocals
- Four Tops– vocals
- Reggie Griffin – guitar
- Corrado Rustici – guitar, rhythm guitar
- Steve Khan– guitar
- Narada Michael Walden– Simmons drums, synthesizer, arrangements
- Aaron Zigman– bass vocal, keyboards
- David Foster– electric piano, synthesizer
- Robbie Kondor – synthesizer, acoustic piano
- David Paich– acoustic piano
- Walter Afanasieff– keyboards, synth bass, drum programming
- Ren Klyce– Fairlight CMI programming, additional keyboards
- Louis Johnson– bass guitar
- Jerry Knight – bass guitar
- Yogi Horton– drums
- Jeff Porcaro– drums
- John Robinson– drums
- George Devens – percussion
- Steve Kroon – percussion
- Greg “Gigi” Gonaway – cymbal
- Marc Russo– saxophone solo
- Kenny G– saxophone
- Andy Snitzer – tenor saxophone
- Kenneth Hitchcock – baritone saxophone
- Chris Botti– trumpet
- Kent Smith – trumpet
- Mike Davis – trombone
- Arif Mardin– arrangements
- “Bongo” Bob Smith – drum programming
- Sammy Merendino – additional drum samples
- Joe Mardin – programming, sequencing, recording, mixing
- Claytoven Richardson– backing vocals
- Edie Lehman – backing vocals
- Siedah Garrett– backing vocals
- Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals
- Margaret Branch – backing vocals
- Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
- Liz Jackson – backing vocals
- Skyler Jett – backing vocals
- Melisa Kary – backing vocals
- Marti McCall – backing vocals
- Rod Hui – recording, mixing
- Mike Iacopelli – recording , vocal recording
- Darren Klein – engineer, mixing
- Lincoln Clapp – engineer
- David Frazer – engineer
- Marlene Cohen – art direction
- Peter Max – cover art
- Norman Parkinson – photography
Track listing:
- Gimme Your Love – Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen
- Mercy – Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard
- He’s the Boy – Aretha Franklin
- It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be – Albert Hammond, Diane Warren
- Through the Storm – Albert Hammond, Diane Warren
- Think – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
- Come to Me – Willard Eugene Price
- If Ever a Love There Was – Pamela Phillips Oland, Todd Cerney