On September 6, 1979, “Atlantic” label released “La Diva”, the twenty-fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded February – May 1979, at “Penny Lane Studios” in New York City, “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Van McCoy, Skip Scarborough and Charles Kipps.
Personnel:
- Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
- Jack Cavari, Cornell Dupree, Tom Hanlon – guitar
- Van McCoy – keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
- Kenneth Ascher, Richard Tee, Paul Griffin – keyboards
- Ken Bichel – synthesizer, orchestra bells
- Brian Aslop, Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
- Chris Parker – drums
- Errol “Crusher” Bennett, George Devens – percussion
- Richard Gibbs – rhythm arrangements
- Arthur Jenkins – rhythm arrangements
- Skip Scarborough – rhythm arrangements
- Zulema Cusseaux – rhythm arrangements, backing vocals
- Gene Orloff – conductor
- Albert Bailey – backing vocals
- Sharon Brown – backing vocals
- Diane Destry – backing vocals
- Carolyn Franklin – backing vocals
- Richard Harris – backing vocals
- Brenda Hilliard – backing vocals
- Jerome Jackson – backing vocals
- Pete Marshall – backing vocals
- Pat Williamson – backing vocals
- Lee Decarlo, Alan Varner – engineer
- Rick Delana, Brian Marine, John Terrell – engineer assistant
- George Piros – mastering
Track listing:
- Ladies Only – Aretha Franklin
- It’s Gonna Get a Bit Better – Lalome Washburn
- What If I Should Ever Need You – Charles H. Kipps
- Honey I Need Your Love – Aretha Franklin
- I Was Made for You – Clarence Franklin
- Only Star – Aretha Franklin
- Reasons Why – Skip Scarborough, Wanda Hutchinson, Wayne Vaughan
- You Brought Me Back to Life – Van McCoy
- Half a Love – Zulema Cusseaux
- The Feeling – Van McCoy
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