Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedFreeway of Love
See all Aretha Franklin in the catalogue →
R&B1980s126BPM
C majKey
More around 130 BPM → · More in C major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Cohen & Walden), no dispute found — a clean case; Walden produced Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” in the same session period.
Quick Facts
Released1985
AlbumWho's Zoomin' Who?
GenreR&B, Pop, Dance
LabelArista Records
ProducerNarada Michael Walden
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Jeffrey Cohen & Narada Michael Walden
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Arista; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A career-reviving mid-80s hit; a much-loved standard.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Her 1980s resurgence (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Jeffrey Cohen & Narada Michael Walden
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A shared session with a Whitney Houston classic
Producer Narada Michael Walden nearly turned down Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” because he was busy with this song — he ultimately agreed, rewrote her demo, and recorded it during the same session period as “Freeway of Love.” No lyrics reproduced.
Songfacts · read it →
Pink Cadillacs at her funeral
Though this most famous of “driving” songs celebrates a pink-Cadillac joyride, Franklin herself reportedly did not drive — and more than 100 real pink Cadillacs accompanied her funeral procession in August 2018, echoing the song.
Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Franklin’s mid-80s comeback hit
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
FW
Cohen & Walden (Arista)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 10)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass