Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen
Encyclopedia
Jewels In The Crown is a duets compilation album by American Soul singer Aretha Franklin
. It was released in 2007 by Arista
, and comprises a combination of classic duets spanning Franklin's career, and two newly recorded duets with Fantasia
and John Legend
. It also contains two live duets, one from 1993, the other from 1998. The album concludes with a previously released rendition of "Nessun Dorma
", of which Franklin had performed a version at the Grammy Awards of 1998
, when she filled in last minute for Luciano Pavarotti
.
The first and only single, "Put You Up On Game
" featuring Fantasia, was released to radio on October 1, 2007. The single became the number one most added song on Urban AC radio the following week. However, it peaked at a disappointing #41 on Billboard
s R&B Singles chart and never charted on the Pop side.
During her career Franklin has also recorded duets with the late Ray Charles
, The Four Tops, and the late James Brown
; however, these songs are not included on the album; neither is a duet she reportedly recorded with Christina Aguilera
.
The album peaked at a moderate #54 on the Billboard main album chart and at #7 on the US R&B Album Chart, reportedly selling close to 25,000 copies during its chart run. As of 2011, the album has reportedly sold close to 75,000 copies in the United States and approximately 120,000 worldwide.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
. It was released in 2007 by Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, and comprises a combination of classic duets spanning Franklin's career, and two newly recorded duets with Fantasia
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which...
and John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
. It also contains two live duets, one from 1993, the other from 1998. The album concludes with a previously released rendition of "Nessun Dorma
Nessun dorma
Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto , who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot...
", of which Franklin had performed a version at the Grammy Awards of 1998
Grammy Awards of 1998
The 40th Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1998. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Rock icon Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, and R...
, when she filled in last minute for Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
.
The first and only single, "Put You Up On Game
Put You Up on Game
"Put You Up On Game" is a duet recorded between R&B/soul singers Aretha Franklin and Fantasia. The song is the lead and only single released from Franklin's Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With The Queen. When released as a single on U.S. Urban AC radio on October 1, 2007, the song became the...
" featuring Fantasia, was released to radio on October 1, 2007. The single became the number one most added song on Urban AC radio the following week. However, it peaked at a disappointing #41 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s R&B Singles chart and never charted on the Pop side.
During her career Franklin has also recorded duets with the late Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, The Four Tops, and the late James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
; however, these songs are not included on the album; neither is a duet she reportedly recorded with Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
.
The album peaked at a moderate #54 on the Billboard main album chart and at #7 on the US R&B Album Chart, reportedly selling close to 25,000 copies during its chart run. As of 2011, the album has reportedly sold close to 75,000 copies in the United States and approximately 120,000 worldwide.
Tracklisting
# | Title | Time | Featured performer(s) | Songwriter(s) | Producer(s) | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Jumpin' Jack Flash Jumpin' Jack Flash "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released as a single in 1968. Called "supernatural Delta blues by way of Swinging London" by Rolling Stone, the song was perceived by some as the band's return to their blues roots after the psychedelia of their preceding... " |
5:08 | Keith Richards Keith Richards Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting... , Ron Wood Ron Wood Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar.... |
Mick Jagger Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones.... , Richards |
Richards | 1986 |
2 | "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" is a hit duet recorded between British pop duo Eurythmics and American soul/R&B musician Aretha Franklin, released as a single by RCA Records in October 1985... " |
5:53 | Annie Lennox Annie Lennox Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A... |
Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart David A. Stewart David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,... |
Lennox, Stewart | 1985 |
3 | "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me) "I Knew You Were Waiting " is a song performed by Aretha Franklin and George Michael as a duet in 1987. It was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan.-Music video:... " |
4:03 | George Michael George Michael George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley... |
Simon Climie Simon Climie Simon Climie is a songwriter/producer and the former lead singer of the UK pop duo Climie Fisher, who had hits with "Love Changes " and "Rise to the Occasion".... , Dennis Morgan Dennis Morgan Dennis Morgan was an American actor-singer. Born as Earl Stanley Morner, he used the acting pseudonym Richard Stanley before adopting his professional name.... |
Michael | 1987 |
4 | "What Now My Love What Now My Love (song) "What Now, My Love?" is the English title of a popular song whose original French version, "Et Maintenant" was written in 1961 by composer Gilbert Bécaud and lyricist Pierre Delanoë... " |
3:16 | Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the... |
Gilbert Bécaud Gilbert Bécaud Gilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"... , Pierre Delanoë Pierre Delanoë Pierre Delanoë , born Pierre Leroyer, was a French songwriter/lyricist who wrote for dozens of singers such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, and Johnny Hallyday.... , Carl Sigman Carl Sigman Carl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York... |
Hank Cattaneo, Phil Ramone Phil Ramone Phil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten... |
1993 |
5 | "Put You Up on Game Put You Up on Game "Put You Up On Game" is a duet recorded between R&B/soul singers Aretha Franklin and Fantasia. The song is the lead and only single released from Franklin's Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With The Queen. When released as a single on U.S. Urban AC radio on October 1, 2007, the song became the... " |
4:16 | Fantasia Barrino Fantasia Barrino Fantasia Monique Barrino commonly known as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer, Broadway and television actress who rose to fame as the winner of the third season of the reality television series American Idol in 2004. Following her victory, she released her debut single, "I Believe", which... |
Antonio Dixon, Kaleena Harper, Larry Jackson, Harvey Mason, Jr. The Underdogs (duo) The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer... , Steve Russell, Damon Thomas The Underdogs (duo) The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer... |
The Underdogs The Underdogs (duo) The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer... |
2007 |
6 | "What Y'all Came to Do" | 3:17 | John Legend John Legend John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career... |
Paul Cho, Devon Harris Devo Springsteen Devon Harris , better known as Devo Springsteen, is a Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter. Springsteen launched the career of multi-platinum selling recording artist John Legend by signing him to Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2003... , Isaac Hayes Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the... , Legend, David Porter David Porter (musician) David Porter is an American soul musician. Porter is best known as the songwriting and production partner of Isaac Hayes at Stax Records during the 1960s... |
Legend | |
7 | "Never Gonna Break My Faith" | 4:17 | Mary J. Blige Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has... , Boys Choir of Harlem Boys Choir of Harlem The Boys Choir of Harlem was a choir located in Harlem, New York City, United States. Its last performance was in 2007 and the group folded shortly thereafter due to several controversies, a large budget deficit, and the death of its founder.Founded in 1968 by Dr... |
Bryan Adams Bryan Adams Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written... , Eliot Kennedy, Andrea Remanda |
Adams, The Underdogs | 2006 |
8 | "Through the Storm" | 4:26 | Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
Albert Hammond Albert Hammond Albert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew... , Diane Warren Diane Warren Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001... |
Narada Michael Walden Narada Michael Walden Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards... |
1989 |
9 | "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" is a duet recorded between R&B singers Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston, and appears on Franklin's 1989 album Through the Storm. It was released as a single that year, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop... " |
4:52 | Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among... |
Hammond, Warren | Walden | |
10 | "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" (live) | 4:40 | Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those... , Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially... |
Gerry Goffin Gerry Goffin Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from... , Carole King Carole King Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S... |
– | 1993 |
11 | "Doctor's Orders" | 4:34 | Luther Vandross Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times... |
Hubert Eaves III Hubert Eaves III Hubert Eaves III is a keyboardist, songwriter and record producer. He worked on all of the hits by the influential dance act D-Train in the early 1980s. He also did session work with Mtume. Eaves was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was taught piano by his father.-References:... , Vandross |
Vandross | 1991 |
12 | "Ever Changing Times" | 5:12 | Michael McDonald Michael McDonald (singer) Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan... |
Burt Bacharach Burt Bacharach Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick... , William Conti, Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech... |
Bacharach, Sager | |
13 | "Chain of Fools Chain of Fools Chain of Fools is a 2000 heist comedy/romance film about a hapless barber named Kresk .-Plot:... " (live) |
3:12 | Mariah Carey Mariah Carey Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993... |
Don Covay Don Covay Don Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994... |
– | 1998 |
14 | "Don't Waste Your Time" | 4:11 | Mary J. Blige Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has... |
Denise Rich, Josh Ruben | Babyface | 1999 |
15 | "Love All the Hurt Away" | 4:21 | George Benson George Benson George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist.... |
Sam Dees Sam Dees Sam Dees is a soul singer, songwriter and producer.Dees was born into a large family and quickly distinguished himself with his voice. At the age of 9, already champion of several singing contests, he founded his own vocal group, the "Bossanovians"... |
Arif Mardin Arif Mardin Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country... |
1981 |
16 | "Nessun Dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto , who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot... " (live) |
3:20 | – | Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire... |
– | 1998 |