Released as the album's lead single on June 5, 1985, byArista Records, the song became Franklin's highest-charting single in twelve years. It reached number three on theBillboardHot 100 chart, while topping theHot Black Singles chart for five weeks from July 27, to August 24, 1985 (her milestone twentieth number-one hit on the chart).[1] In a remixed "rock" version, the song also topped theHot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[2] The accompanying promotional music video was filmed entirely in theDetroit, Michigan area, and became one of the most popular videos of the year. "Freeway of Love" earned Franklin her 12thGrammy Award forBest Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Owing to the pinkCadillac appearing on thecover art and several times in the lyrics, more than 100 pink Cadillacs accompanied Franklin in herfuneral procession in August 2018.
The video, directed by British filmmaker Brian Grant, was filmed primarily in black and white. It was filmed at Club Tattoo on Woodbridge Avenue (which Franklin co-owned) and is mostly a performance video. Franklin's "Another Night" music video was also filmed there. "Freeway of Love" is interspersed with videos of automobiles being manufactured in the early 1970s (Ford Mustang) and a then-currentCadillac Cimarron, the exterior of the original Motown headquarters, "Hitsville U.S.A." at 2648 West Grand Blvd. in Detroit, as well as dancers in and around cars, sky shots of freeways, the Detroit skyline, and other ephemeral visuals. Portions of the "Freeway of Love" video were also filmed at Doug's Body Shop, located at 22061 Woodward Avenue, inFerndale, Michigan.Clarence Clemons is featured in the video, and performs saxophone on the song.
Although the video is set to the original version of the song, the tempo of the song is noticeably faster in the video.
John Leland ofSpin wrote, "While the rote mid-tempo rocker doesn't give Aretha a chance to get loose and do Niki Hokey, she still proves that she's a true national treasure, turning mere words — and bad ones at that — into powerful intimations, invitations, and sonic gyrations."[3]Armond White added, "This is also a highway of life song, proclaiming Aretha's longevity and the pleasure she's found in taking a brisk, easy pace. Aretha ends with a rousing jam that confirms her as the mother/master of much that is current. She's still the Queen of Soul."[4]
