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Sweet Passion
Studio album by Aretha Franklin
Released	May 19, 1977
Recorded	1976–1977
Genre	R&B soul
Length	45:30
Label	Atlantic (#19102)
Producer	Aretha Franklin,Lamont Dozier,Marvin Hamlisch,Carole Bayer Sager
Aretha Franklin chronology
Sparkle (1976) Sweet Passion (1977) Almighty Fire (1978)
Singles from Sweet Passion
"Break It To Me Gently" Released: April 1977

Sweet Passion is the twenty-thirdstudio album byAmerican singerAretha Franklin. It was released on May 19, 1977, byAtlantic Records. Following Franklin'sGold-certified 1976 soundtrack album,Sparkle, she paired up withMotown producerLamont Dozier to produceSweet Passion. It was, however, a commercial and critical failure.

The album's lead single, "Break It To Me Gently", topped theBillboard R&B chart but peaked at No. 85 on theHot 100 and dropped off the chart after two weeks.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]

TheBay State Banner noted that "her voice seems to free itself, even during the most stilted and contrived show tunes, stronger and lots weightier than Natalie Cole's cheery mimicry."^[4]

1. "Break It To Me Gently" (Marvin Hamlisch,Carole Bayer Sager) - 3:21
2. "When I Think About You" (Aretha Franklin) - 4:46
3. "What I Did for Love" (Marvin Hamlisch,Edward Kleban) - 5:17
4. "No One Could Ever Love You More" (Lamont Dozier) - 3:36
5. "A Tender Touch" (Aretha Franklin) - 3:58

1. "Touch Me Up" (Lamont Dozier)- 4:38
2. "Sunshine Will Never Be The Same" (Lamont Dozier) - 3:36
3. "Meadows of Springtime" (Aretha Franklin) - 5:26
4. "Mumbles /I've Got the Music in Me" (Clark Terry, Aretha Franklin,Bias Boshell) - 3:40
5. "Sweet Passion" (Aretha Franklin) - 7:12

• Aretha Franklin – vocals, keyboards (5, 9, 10)
• H. B. Barnum – rhythm arrangements (2, 3, 5, 8–10), horn arrangements (2, 3, 5, 8–10), string arrangements (2, 3, 5, 8, 10), keyboards (5)
• Ray Brown – bass guitar (3, 8, 9)
• Sonny Burke – keyboards (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
• Joe Clayton – congas (1), percussion (5)
• Gary Coleman – percussion (2, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• Ronald Coleman – keyboards (2, 4, 6, 7)
• Lamont Dozier – rhythm arrangements (4, 7)
• Scott Edwards – bass guitar (2, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• James Gadson – drums (2, 4, 6, 7, 10)
• McKinley Jackson – rhythm arrangements (4, 6, 7), horn arrangements (6)
• Harold Mason – drums (1, 3, 5, 8, 9)
• Craig McMillian – guitar (3, 8, 9)
• Mike Morgan – guitar (3, 8, 9)
• Gene Page – horn and string arrangements (4, 7)
• David Paich – keyboards (1)
• Ray Parker Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
• Chuck Rainey – bass guitar (1, 5)
• Lee Ritenour – guitar (1, 4–6, 10)
• Sylvester Rivers – keyboards (1, 3, 8, 9)
• Bob Zimmitti – percussion (3, 8, 9)

• Producers – Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager (Track 1); Lamont Dozier and Aretha Franklin (Tracks 2–10).
• Co-Producers on Track 1 – David Paich andMarty Paich.
• Engineers – Frank Kemjar (Tracks 1, 5 & 10); Reginald Dozier (Tracks 2, 4, 6–8); Barney Perkins (3, 6 & 9).
• Mixing – Reginald Dozier (Tracks 2–10); Barney Perkins (Track 6).
• Recorded and Mixed atABC Recording Studios (Los Angeles, CA) and Whitney Recording Studios (Glendale, CA).
• Track 1 mixed at Studio 55 (Los Angeles, CA).
• Mastered by Dennis King atAtlantic Studios (New York, NY).
• Art Direction – Bob Defrin
• Photography – David Alexander

• 1977 albums
• Aretha Franklin albums
• Albums arranged by Gene Page
• Albums arranged by H. B. Barnum
• Albums produced by Lamont Dozier
• Atlantic Records albums

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