Patti LaBelle (album)

Last updated
Patti LaBelle
PattiLPdebut.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 19, 1977 [1]
Studio
Length59:02
Label Epic
Producer David Rubinson
Patti LaBelle chronology
Patti LaBelle
(1977)
Tasty
(1978)
Singles from Patti LaBelle
  1. "Joy To Have Your Love"
    Released: 1978
  2. "You Are My Friend"
    Released: 1978
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [3]

Patti LaBelle is the debut solo album by American singer Patti LaBelle, released in 1977. The first album LaBelle recorded after sixteen years fronting the band Labelle (formerly Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles), it is notable for the dance hit, "Joy to Have Your Love", the classic gospel-inspiring ballad, "You Are My Friend" and the Angelo "Funky Knuckles" Nocentelli mid-tempo number, "I Think About You".

Contents

Background and release

Prior to recording the album, LaBelle initially thought of retiring from the music industry after nearly twenty years as the lead singer of the hugely successful girl group Labelle. Following the group's March 1977 split, brought on by months of growing tension, LaBelle and her husband of then eight years, Armstead Edwards, went to see a shrink over emotional distress in their marriage, which was partially due to the singer's fright over continuing a career without her group members. After further evaluation, LaBelle and her husband sorted out their differences. Edwards was then hired by his wife to be her manager as she carefully plotted her solo career. The singer traveled to New Orleans to record her new album, with David Rubinson, producer of Labelle's final album prior to their initial breakup, Chameleon , and also famed for his work with The Pointer Sisters.

Signing a solo contract with Epic Records, Labelle's former label, the singer released her debut album in October 1977. While the debuting single, "Joy to Have Your Love", became a minor R&B hit, and the dance number, "Dan Swit Me", was popular on the dance club circuit, the album's most notable song was a ballad co-composed by LaBelle, Edwards and LaBelle's musical director, James "Budd" Ellison, initially dedicated to LaBelle's and Edwards' only biological son, Zuri (who is now LaBelle's manager), titled "You Are My Friend". While the song only scaled the high sixties on the US Billboard R&B chart, it soon became one of her famous show-stoppers while performing the song. LaBelle performed the song at her first solo concert in London, getting a standing ovation, which helped to give LaBelle motivation to continue her career. The album, when released, performed successfully, reaching number 62 on the US Billboard 200 and number 31 on the R&B albums chart, while critics hailed the album.

Track listing

  1. "Joy to Have Your Love" (Jeffrey E. Cohen, Ray Parker Jr., James Budd Ellison) - 5:44
  2. "Funky Music" (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield) - 6:24
  3. "Since I Don't Have You" (Wally Lester, Joe VerScharen, Joseph Rock, James Beaumont, Jackie Taylor) - 5:40
  4. "Dan Swit Me" (Jeffrey E. Cohen, Ray Parker, Jr., David Rubinson, Armstead Edwards) - 5:50
  5. "You Are My Friend" (Patti LaBelle, Budd Ellison, Armstead Edwards) - 4:36
  6. "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" (Willie Dixon) - 4:22
  7. "I Think About You" (Leo Nocentelli) - 4:30
  8. "Do I Stand a Chance?" (Patti LaBelle, James Budd Ellison, Armstead Edwards) - 4:21
  9. "Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" (Bob Dylan) - 6:44

2011 Remaster

10. "Joy to Have Your Love" (Single Version) - 3:15
11. "Dan Swit Me" (Single Version) - 3:59

Personnel

Brass Section

String Section

Production

Charts

Chart (1977)Peak

Position

US Top R&B Albums (Billboard) [4] 16
US Billboard 200 [5] 62
US Cashbox Top 75 R&B Albums [6] 5
US Cashbox Top 100 Albums [7] 89
US Record World LP Charts [8] 10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labelle</span> American funk rock band

Labelle was an American funk rock band that originated out of the Blue Belles, a girl group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The original group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the area around Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and Trenton, in New Jersey: the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, then later changing their name to the Blue Belles. The founding members were Patti LaBelle, Cindy Birdsong, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patti LaBelle</span> American singer and actress (born 1944)

Patricia Louise Holte, known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Godmother of Soul".

<i>Gonna Take a Miracle</i> 1971 studio album by Laura Nyro and Labelle

Gonna Take a Miracle is the fifth album by New York City-born singer, songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro, with assistance by vocal trio Labelle. It was released on Columbia Records in November 1971, one year after its predecessor Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. The album is Nyro's only all-covers album, and she interprets mainly 1950s and 1960s soul and R&B standards, using Labelle as a traditional back-up vocal group.

<i>Nightbirds</i> 1974 studio album by Labelle

Nightbirds is an album by the all-female singing group Labelle, released in 1974 on the Epic label. The album features the group's biggest hit, the song "Lady Marmalade," and it became their most successful album to date.

<i>Winner in You</i> 1986 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986, in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.

<i>Burnin</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1991 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Burnin' is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on October 1, 1991, in the United States to mixed reviews. The album features several collaborations, including duets with Gladys Knight and Michael Bolton, and a reunion track with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash from Labelle. It yielded three Billboard R&B chart hits: "Feels Like Another One", "Somebody Loves You Baby " and "When You've Been Blessed ".

<i>Chameleon</i> (Labelle album) 1976 studio album by Labelle

Chameleon is the sixth album by the American singing trio Labelle. Though Patti LaBelle's autobiography Don't Block The Blessings revealed that LaBelle planned a follow-up to Chameleon entitled Shaman, the album never materialized. The trio would not release another new recording until 2008's Back to Now. The final album was moderately successful peaking at #94 at the Pop charts and #21 on the R&B charts. Only two singles made the charts which were "Get You Somebody New" which peaked at #50 on the Pop charts and their memorable song "Isn't It A Shame" which peaked at #18 on the R&B charts. "Isn't It A Shame" was later sampled by Nelly on his 2004 hit, "My Place", which featured Jaheim.

<i>Phoenix</i> (Labelle album) 1975 studio album by Labelle

Phoenix is the fifth album by the American singing trio Labelle. The album was moderately successful, peaking at #44 on the pop charts and #10 on the R&B charts. Only one minor hit was released, "Messin With My Mind", written by Nona Hendryx.

<i>Pressure Cookin</i> 1973 studio album by Labelle

Pressure Cookin' is the third album by American singing trio Labelle, released in August 1973. This release was their first and only for RCA Records, and was critically raved due to the songs that songwriter and member Nona Hendryx composed. The album is also notable for being the first album released following lead singer Patti LaBelle giving birth to her only child, son Zuri Edwards.

<i>Labelle</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Labelle

Labelle is the debut album of American singing trio Labelle, formerly a four-girl group known as Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. This was Labelle's first release for Warner Bros. Records.

"You Are My Friend" is a ballad co-written and recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle, released as the second single off her self-titled debut album, in 1978 on the Epic label. While it only reached as high as number sixty-one on the Billboard Hot-Selling Soul Singles chart upon its initial release, it has gone on to become one of the singer's signature anthems.

<i>Tasty</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1978 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Tasty is the second solo album released by recording artist Patti LaBelle, her second solo album with Epic Records. Compared to the success of her debut album, released the previous year, the album performed only modestly well but featured the popular tunes "Eyes in the Back of My Head", which became a club hit, the Latin soul flavored "Teach Me Tonight ", the David Lasley composition "I See Home" and the ballad "Little Girls". "Eyes in the Back of My Head" became an international hit reaching the top five of the Italian singles chart. The album also featured covers of songs by Boz Scaggs, The Drifters and Roy Hamilton in addition to a couple songs co-written by LaBelle herself, including "Teach Me Tonight" and "Quiet Time".

<i>Its Alright with Me</i> Album by Patti LaBelle

It's Alright with Me is the third studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle, released in 1979 via Epic Records. Produced by Skip Scarborough, the album was a success due to the popularity of the songs "Come What May" and "Music is My Way of Life", the latter finding success on the dance chart.

<i>Released</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1980 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Released is the fourth studio album by the American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Epic Records on March 14, 1980, in the United States. The album featured the hits "I Don't Go Shopping", written by previous collaborator David Lasley and musician Peter Allen, and the title track, "Release ", which was written by Allen Toussaint, who produced the entire album. The title track found some international success upon its release while "I Don't Go Shopping" was her first top 40 R&B charted single since 1977. Along with her frequent collaborator, James "Budd" Ellison, LaBelle lyrically co-wrote the last five songs on the album.

<i>The Spirits in It</i> 1981 studio album by Patti LaBelle

The Spirit's in It is the fifth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Philadelphia International Records on August 28, 1981, in the United States, her first with the label.

<i>Patti</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Patti is the seventh studio album released by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Philadelphia International Records on July 3, 1985, in the United States.

<i>Be Yourself</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1989 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Be Yourself is the ninth solo album by American singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 26, 1989 in the United States. Her second album with the company following her 1986 platinum album Winner in You, it features the single, "If You Asked Me To" which was also featured on the soundtrack to the James Bond movie, Licence to Kill (1989), and the R&B top ten Prince-written hit "Yo Mister." The album marked LaBelle's foray into new jack swing music with the tracks "I Got It Like That", produced by Full Force, and "Love 89", another Prince contribution.

<i>Flame</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1997 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Flame is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 24, 1997, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)</span> 1992 single by Patti LaBelle

"When You've Been Blessed " is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written by LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, Nathanial Wilkie, and James "Budd" Ellison for her 1991 album Burnin', while production was overseen by the latter. The song was released as the third single off the album in the spring of 1992.

<i>Live! One Night Only</i> 1998 live album by Patti LaBelle

Live! One Night Only is a live album by Patti LaBelle, released in September 1998 through the record label MCA. The album earned LaBelle the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. The album was recorded in New York at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 2, 1998.

References

  1. WebVoyage
  2. Wynn, Ron. Patti LaBelle at AllMusic
  3. Rolling Stone review
  4. "Patti LaBelle Billboard Chart History".
  5. "Patti LaBelle Billboard Chart History".
  6. "Cashbox Magazine" (PDF). 1977-11-12.
  7. "CashBox Magazine" (PDF). 1977-10-22.
  8. "Record World Magazine" (PDF). 1977-11-19.