Aretha Franklin & James Brown (October 30, 1989) – Gimme Your Love Single UK: 7" / 12"
Released in the UK on October 30, 1989, Gimme Your Love was a duet by Aretha Franklin and James Brown and the third and final single associated with Franklin's Through The Storm album.
The original album recording was written by Narada Michael Walden and Jeffrey Cohen and did not involve Prince. His connection came specifically through the single campaign, when he contributed a remix of the track. Those remixes subsequently appeared in several edits and configurations across the different single formats. The Prince-related versions therefore occupy an unusual place in his catalogue: he was neither the featured artist nor writer of the original song, but his remix work became an important part of the single's release history.
RECORDING
The original album version of Gimme Your Love contained no Prince involvement.
Prince subsequently remixed the recording for the single release, resulting in several distinct versions:
• Gimme Your Love (Edit Purple Mix) – 4:49
• Gimme Your Love (Extended Remix) – 10:43
• Gimme Your Love (Part One) (Purple Mix) – 5:51
• Gimme Your Love (Part Two) (Purple Mix) – 3:07
The Prince-related mixes were not included on an album at the time of their original release. They were subsequently incorporated into the 2014 Expanded Edition of Through The Storm.
STYLE & THEMES
The single brought together the contrasting vocal styles of Aretha Franklin and James Brown, while Prince's contribution was centred on reworking the existing recording for the singles market.
The various Purple Mix editions allowed his remix to be presented both as a complete extended version and as shorter edits suited to individual formats.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
GIMME YOUR LOVE
• Edit Purple Mix (4:49) – Edited presentation of Prince's Purple Mix.
• Extended Remix (10:43) – Full extended remix.
• Part One (Purple Mix) (5:51) – First section of the Purple Mix.
• Part Two (Purple Mix) (3:07) – Second section of the Purple Mix.
Other configurations of the single included the album or single version alongside He's The Boy, Think (1989) and promotional interview material.
RELEASE HISTORY
The UK single was released on October 30, 1989 through Arista Records.
Multiple configurations were subsequently available across 7", 12", CD and promotional formats, with the Prince remixes distributed differently according to edition and territory.
The Prince-related remix material was eventually incorporated into the 2014 Expanded Edition of Through The Storm.
CHARTS
Country | Chart | Entry Date | Peak | Weeks |
USA | Billboard Black Singles | October 14, 1989 | 48 | 8 |
UK | Gallup Singles Chart | November 5, 1989 | 79 | 2 |
PERSONNEL
Aretha Franklin – vocals
James Brown – vocals
Prince – remix
Narada Michael Walden – songwriter
Jeffrey Cohen – songwriter
PRODUCTION
Artist: Aretha Franklin & James Brown
Title: Gimme Your Love
Label: Arista Records
UK Release Date: October 30, 1989
Related Album: Through The Storm
Prince Contribution: Remix
RELATED RELEASES
• Aretha Franklin (1989) – Through The Storm Album
• Aretha Franklin (2014) – Through The Storm: Expanded Edition
NOTES
• Released in the UK on October 30, 1989.
• Credited jointly to Aretha Franklin and James Brown.
• The song was issued as the third and final single from Through The Storm.
• The original album recording contained no input from Prince.
• Prince's involvement relates specifically to remixing the song for its single release.
• Several edits and configurations of the Prince remix were issued.
• The Extended Remix runs for 10:43.
• The Purple Mix was also divided into Part One and Part Two.
• The Prince-related versions were non-album tracks at the time of their original release.
• The remixes were subsequently included on the 2014 Expanded Edition of Through The Storm.
• The single reached No. 48 on Billboard's Black Singles chart and remained there for eight weeks.
• In Britain, the single reached No. 79 on the Gallup Singles Chart and remained on the chart for two weeks.
• The release did not enter the US Billboard Pop Chart
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
UK VARIANTS
Country | Format | Catalogue Number | Notes |
UK | 7" | 112 727 | Gimme Your Love / He's The Boy |
UK | 7" | 112 728 | Part One / Part Two Purple Mix |
UK | 7" Promo | 112 727DJ | Edit Purple Mix / Edit Original Mix |
UK | 12" | 612 727 | Parts One & Two Purple Mix / Album Version / He's The Boy |
INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS
Country | Format | Catalogue Number | Notes |
Germany | 7" | 112682 | Gimme Your Love / He's The Boy |
Germany | 12" | 612 682 | Extended Remix / Single Version / He's The Boy |
Germany | 12" Promo | 612 709 | Extended Remix on both sides |
Germany | 5" CD | 662 682 | Extended Remix / Single Version / He's The Boy |
Japan | 3" CD | A10D-139 | Gimme Your Love / Think |
New Zealand | 7" | AS1-9884 | Gimme Your Love / Think (1989) |
USA | 12" | ADI-9885 | Extended Remix / Album Version / Think (1989) |
USA | 12" Promo | ADP-9906 | Interviews / Single Edit / Extended Remix |
USA | Promo CD | ASCD9906 | Interviews / Single Edit / Extended Remix |
TRACKLIST TABLE (PRINCE-RELATED FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue Number | Tracklisting |
UK 7" | 112 728 | Side One • Gimme Your Love (Part One) (Purple Mix) – 5:51 Side Two • Gimme Your Love (Part Two) (Purple Mix) – 3:07 |
UK 7" Promo | 112 727DJ | Side One • Gimme Your Love (Edit Purple Mix) – 4:49 Side Two • Gimme Your Love (Edit Original Mix) |
UK 12" | 612 727 | Side One • Gimme Your Love (Parts One & Two) (Purple Mix) – 10:43 Side Two • Gimme Your Love (Album Version) • He's The Boy |
Germany 12" | 612 682 | Side One • Gimme Your Love (Extended Remix) – 10:43 Side Two • Gimme Your Love (Single Version) • He's The Boy |
USA 12" | ADI-9885 | Side One • Gimme Your Love (Extended Remix) – 10:43 Side Two • Gimme Your Love (Album Version) • Think (1989) |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Purple Mix | Prince remix configuration |
Edit Purple Mix | 4:49 edit |
Extended Remix | 10:43 version |
Part One Purple Mix | 5:51 |
Part Two Purple Mix | 3:07 |
Promotional Editions | Includes interview and remix configurations |
SOURCES Prince Vault, Sleevographia2, Discogs.
All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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