''Almighty Fire'' is the twenty-fourth
studio album by
American singer
Aretha Franklin, released on April 13, 1978, by
Atlantic Records. By the time of the album's release, Franklin was going through a commercial slump, due in part to the widespread popularity of
disco.
Franklin was reunited with
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. after their earlier success together with the ''Sparkle'' soundtrack.
The title single reached at #12 on the ''Billboard'' R&B Singles Chart and the follow-up single, "More Than Just a Joy", peaked at #51.
The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 1979 Grammy Awards.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Curtis Mayfield, except where noted.
Side one
#"Almighty Fire (Woman of the Future)" – 4:36
#"Lady, Lady" – 2:45
#"More Than Just a Joy" – 3:03
#"Keep On Loving You" – 3:12
#"I Needed You Baby" – 4:38
Side two
#"Close to You" – 4:22
#"No Matter Who You Love" – 4:01
#"This You Can Believe" – 4:46
#"I'm Your Speed" (Aretha Franklin,
Glynn Turman
Glynn Russell Turman (born January 31, 1947) is an American actor, writer, director, and producer. Turman is known for his roles as Lew Miles on the prime-time soap opera '' Peyton Place'' (1968–1969), high school student Leroy "Preach" Jackson ...
) – 3:40
Personnel
* Aretha Franklin – vocals
*
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. – guitar
* Gary Thompson – guitar
*
Joseph "Lucky" Scott
Joseph "Lucky" Scott was an American bassist, and musical director. He is most recognized for his work with Curtis Mayfield, in particular the '' Super Fly'' album. While Lucky was predominantly the bassist and musical director for Curtis Mayf ...
– bass guitar
* Donnell Hagan – drums
*
Henry Gibson
Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor and poet. His best-known roles include his time as a cast member of the TV sketch-comedy series ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' from 1968 to 19 ...
–
congas
* Rich Tufo – keyboards, arrangements
* Lenard Druss – horns contractor
* Sol Bobrov – strings contractor
* Alfonzo Surrett – background vocals
* Mattie Butler – background vocals
* Ricki Linton – background vocals
* Denese Heard and
the Jones Girls
The Jones Girls were an American R&B vocal trio of sisters from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Consisting of Brenda, Shirley and Valorie Jones, the Jones Girls first signed and recorded for GM Records in 1970. The trio were best known for th ...
– background vocals
Production
* Producer – Curtis Mayfield
* Engineers – Roger Anfinsen and Fred Breitberg
* Remix – Roger Anfinsen
* Mastered by Dennis King at
Atlantic Studios
Atlantic Studios was the recording studio of Atlantic Records. Although this recording studio was located at 1841 Broadway (at the corner of 60th Street), in New York City, Atlantic Recording Studios was initially located at 234 West 56th Street fr ...
(New York City).
* Album cover concept – Aretha Franklin
References
External links
Almighty Fire (Woman of the Future)
1978 albums
Aretha Franklin albums
Albums produced by Curtis Mayfield
Atlantic Records albums
{{1970s-R&B-album-stub