Song Clearance Sheet
2 sources citedWood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
Sophisti-Pop1980s113BPM
A majKey
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The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Green Gartside), no dispute found. Some sources loosely call it “the first sample” of “Rock Steady,” but it isn’t: it’s a tribute sharing the same producer (Arif Mardin), not a literal audio sample — precisely distinguished here.
Quick Facts
Released1984
AlbumCupid & Psyche 85
GenreSophisti-Pop, New Wave
LabelVirgin Records
ProducerArif Mardin
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Green Gartside
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Virgin; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Connects to “Rock Steady” (already in this catalog) — but as a shared-producer tribute, not a sample.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Connected via shared producer Arif Mardin — a tribute, NOT a literal sample (already in this catalog)
The subtitle references Franklin’s cover of this song, also produced by Mardin (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Green Gartside (credited as “Green”)
A tribute, NOT a literal sample of Rock SteadySome sources loosely call this “the first sample” of “Rock Steady” (already in this catalog) — but it is not a literal audio sample. It is a tribute to Aretha Franklin sharing the same producer, Arif Mardin (who co-produced Rock Steady); the subtitle references her biggest UK hit, “I Say a Little Prayer,” also produced by Mardin. The real connection is producer/tribute, not a sample.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
What Aretha meant to the songwriter
Gartside described Franklin’s singing as coming as close to a hymn or prayer as he — a committed materialist interested in language and politics — could personally get, explaining the song’s core conceit. No lyrics reproduced.
oneweekoneband (citing NME) · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A tribute to Aretha Franklin (shared producer Arif Mardin)
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
WB
Green Gartside (Virgin)
The confirmed songwriter 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