La Diva (Aretha Franklin album)

La Diva
Studio album by Aretha Franklin
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
Aretha Franklin chronology
Almighty Fire (1978) La Diva (1979) Aretha (1980)
Singles from La Diva
"Ladies Only" Released: August 7, 1979 "Half A Love" Released: November 1979

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 Billboard's R&B singles chart while the follow-up, "Half A Love", stalled at number 65. 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".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	B
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

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."

Track listing

Side one

1. "Ladies Only" (Aretha Franklin) – 5:15
2. "It's Gonna Get a Bit Better" (Lalome Washburn) – 5:20
3. "What If I Should Ever Need You" (Charles H. Kipps) – 3:32
4. "Honey I Need Your Love" (Aretha Franklin) – 2:45
5. "I Was Made for You" (Clarence Franklin) – 4:03

Side two

1. "Only Star" (Aretha Franklin) – 5:04
2. "Reasons Why" (Skip Scarborough, Wanda Hutchinson, Wayne Vaughan) – 3:55
3. "You Brought Me Back to Life" (Van McCoy) – 4:24
4. "Half a Love" (Zulema Cusseaux) – 5:25
5. "The Feeling" (Van McCoy) – 4:45

Personnel

Musicians

• Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, rhythm arrangements (4)
• Van McCoy – keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements (1, 3–5, 8, 10)
• Kenneth Ascher, Richard Tee, Paul Griffin – keyboards
• Ken Bichel – synthesizer, orchestra bells
• Jack Cavari, Cornell Dupree, Tom Hanlon – guitar
• Brian Aslop, Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
• Chris Parker – drums
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett, George Devens – percussion
• Richard Gibbs – rhythm arrangements (2)
• Arthur Jenkins – rhythm arrangements (6)
• Skip Scarborough – rhythm arrangements (7)
• Gene Orloff – conductor
• Albert Bailey – backing vocals
• Sharon Brown – backing vocals
• Zulema Cusseaux – backing vocals, rhythm arrangements (9)
• Diane Destry – backing vocals
• Carolyn Franklin – backing vocals
• Richard Harris – background vocals
• Brenda Hilliard – backing vocals
• Jerome Jackson – backing vocals
• Pete Marshall – backing vocals
• Pat Williamson – backing vocals

Production

• Producers – Charles Kipps and Van McCoy (Tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–10); Aretha Franklin (Track 4); Skip Scarborough (Track 7)
• Engineers – Lee Decarlo and Alan Varner
• Assistant engineers – Rick Delana, Brian Marine and John Terrell
• Mastered by George Piros at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY)