Aretha Franklin - "Rock-A-Lott"

[A Thug Named Slickback]

I'll be surprised if anyone knows this song.  Definitely not one of Aretha's bigger hits, but it's certainly one of the better songs that she released in the 1980s.  It was the third single from her phenomenal 1986 album Aretha (behind "Jimmy Lee" and the #1 "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)").

The song peaked at #25 R&B and #82 Urban. It flopped in the UK... I've really never understood why it didn't perform better -- especially as the follow-up to such a massive hit.

It's got a hot bassline and the track is unbelievably well produced, as were most of Narada Michael Walden's records back then.  It's far better IMO than some of her 1980s hit singles.

You can actually see a clip of the video here. Aretha's all in claymation.

[620 Soul Train]

Actually if you look at my topic for the 49ers dance hit "Touch Me", I mentioned that it samples just about 3/4 of the song above. I had the 49ers CD, and they gave zero credit to this sample. Anyway this song was absolutely had to find, as I matter fact I found this song just late last year. I remember when I was living in England I played this video on the video jukebox for only a quarter. So if anyone knows this song ask those Italian producers that created the 49ers.

[dth1971]

Did "Rock-a-Lot" flop on the Hot 100 chart of Billboard?

[Dreams]

The third single from the Queen of Soul's 1986 gold album Aretha. It reached as high as #25 on the R&B charts and #4 on Dance.

Tony Bennett appears @ 1:45 and Whitney (    )  @ 3:59 in the video. 

This song has SO much energy! I love it, I love that whole album.

[Deleted]

She had way better even in the 80's alone, but it's catchy.