| La Diva | |
| Type: | Studio Album |
| Artist: | Aretha Franklin |
| Cover: | ArethaLaDiva.jpg |
| Released: | September 6, 1979 |
| Recorded: | February–May, 1979 |
| Studio: | Penny Lane Studios (New York City, New York) Record Plant (Los Angeles, California) |
| Genre: | Disco, R&B, pop |
| Label: | Atlantic (#19248) |
| Producer: | Aretha Franklin, Charles Kipps, Skip Scarborough, Van McCoy |
| Prev Title: | Almighty Fire |
| Prev Year: | 1978 |
| Next Title: | Aretha |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
La Diva is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on September 6, 1979, by Atlantic Records. The album marked the end of her 12-year tenure with Atlantic and a run of 19 original albums. The album was a commercial flop as the singer attempted to make a comeback by recording a disco-oriented project with producer Van McCoy. It was McCoy's final work as he died in June of that year; the record was released as disco was running its course.
It stands as the lowest charting and poorest selling album of Franklin's entire Atlantic Records catalogue. "Ladies Only" reached number 33 on Billboards R&B singles chart while the follow-up, "Half A Love", stalled at number 65.[1] This album was recorded at Franklin's vocal peak and features three of her own compositions, as well as a song by her eldest son Clarence Franklin.
Although remembered as Franklin's failed disco LP, La Diva also includes substantial funk and R&B tracks such as The Emotions' "Reasons Why", Zulema's "Half a Love" and scorching versions of Lalomie Washburn's "It's Gonna Get A Bit Better" and her own "Honey I Need Your Love".
The Globe and Mail wrote that "the Van McCoy rhythm tracks which push along a large part of the album are generally second-rate for [disco], and tend to restrict her – she's always been best when working in a variety of styles."[2]
Musicians
Production