"Lean on Me" - Franklin, Kirk

Single

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Full Track Listing:
Lean on Me (Album Version) (5:58)
Lean on Me (Instrumental Version) (5:07)
Love (Remix)

Background Information

The commercial single for “Lean on Me” was released in Europe in September of 1998 to promote the new album by Kirk Franklin called “The Nu Nation Project”. The song “Lean on Me” was recorded in the summer of 1998, and featured a number of big performers on vocals including Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Crystal Lewis and Bono. Bono was not present for the actual recording of the song, and his vocals were recorded remotely, and mixed in with the other recordings. However in the spring of 1999, when this song was performed at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Bono was on hand to sing this song live.

The commercial single features the “Album Version” of “Lean on Me”, or at least that is how it is labelled. The version on the actual album is 5:08 in length, and the version included here is 5:56 in length instead. So the so called “Album Version” found here on the single, is indeed a different mix from the version found on the album.

A promotional single was also issued for this single, with yet another slightly different mix, the “Video Version” at 5:10 in length.

Liner Notes

Lean on Me (Album Version):
Written by Kirk Franklin. Co-Produced by Dan Shea. Vocals co-produced by Kevin Bond for Bonded Music. Recorded at Andora Studios, Burbank, CA; Paramount Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Wallyworld Studios, San Rafael, CA; by Dave Rideau, Bobby Fernandez, David Gleeson, and Dan Shea. Assisted by Luis Quine and Paul Westheimer. Recorded at Dallas Sound Lab, Dallas, TX; Enterprise Studios, Burbank, CA; by “Bassy” Bob Brockman, Kevin Bond, and Chris Bell. Assisted by James Murray and Phil Green. Recorded at Chicago Trax, Chicago, IL. Assistant engineer: Anthony Kilhosser. Recorded at Westland Studios, Dublin, Ireland. Mixed at Barking Doctor Studios, Mt. Kisco, NY by Mick Guzauski. Assisted by Tom Bender. Production coordinated by Lexy Shroyer. Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York, NY by Tom Coins. Lead Vocals: R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, Bono, Tamela Mann, and Dalon Collins. Background Vocals: The Family. Additional background vocals: Nu Nation. Piano: Kirk Franklin. Piano, keyboards and Rhythm Programming: Dan Shea. Organ: Jerome Harmon. Guitar: Michael Landau. Bass: Nathan East. Drums: Ricky Lawson. Percussion: Len Barrett. Strings arranged & conducted by: Bill Ross.

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