Walden's Celebrated Way With Women

NEW YORK - Name the superstar female pop/R&B singers of today and chances are that hit producer Narada Michael Walden has worked with them. His production and/or songwriting magic has meant top-charting hits for Mariah Carey ("Vision Of Love," "I Don't Wanna Cry"), Lisa Fischer ("How Can I Ease The Pain"), Aretha Franklin ("Freeway Of Love," "Who's Zoomin' Who," and "I Knew You Were Waiting" with George Michael), Regina Belle ("Baby Come To Me"), and Whitney Houston ("So Emotional," "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," "I Want To Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)").

Walden's stamp is also on new product. He produced Franklin's current single, "Everyday People," a remake make of the Sly Stone classic that leads off Franklin's upcoming album, "What You See Is What You Sweat," on Arista. Soon to come is product by Shanice Wilson on Motown, including the likely first single "I Love Your Smile." He has also begun work on tracks for Qwest's Tevin Campbell.

GIRL CRAZY?

Arista president Clive Davis says, "We've always worked great together. Narada personally brought out the best in our artists that he's worked with, particularly Whitney and Aretha. He has tremendous energy and spirit, the artists feel very comfortable with him. Basically he's able to take material - even material he hasn't written - and breathe spectacular life and freshness and energy into it."

Franklin is no less enthusiastic in her praise of the producer who has netted her top pop and R&B hits. "Narada is a tremendous, well-rounded, multifaceted producer, the consummate producer," she says. "He is a fabulous human being, a humanitarian. He's full of fun in the studio, and wonderful to work with."

Though Walden has worked with male artists as well - note the current success of "Emotionally Yours" by the O'Jays (EMI) - he is matter-of-fact about his success with females. "I like women. I did some work with Johnny Gill on the duet album with Stacy [Lattisaw],...