Def Soul Records was an R&B-based division of American multinational record label Def Jam Recordings. It was formed in 1996 by Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles to expand R&B and soul music through Def Jam's said genre-related roster following the successes of Montell Jordan and Case.
"On My Own" is a duet by American singers Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald. It was written and produced by Burt Bacharach and his then-wife Carole Bayer Sager and originally recorded by singer Dionne Warwick for inclusion on her album Friends (1985). The song was eventually recorded by LaBelle and McDonald for her eighth studio album, Winner in You (1986). It was released as the album's lead single on March 22, 1986, by MCA Records. Lyrically, "On My Own" was based on a relationship that had reached its end with both parties going their separate ways in a melancholy state with the occasional option of coming back together again one day.
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.
"Oh, People" is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written by Andy Goldmark and Bruce Roberts for her eighth studio album Winner in You (1986), while production was helmed by Richard Perry. Issued as the album's second single, it was released by MCA Records on June 30, 1986 in the United States. The song is a socially conscious anthem with lyrics pleading to individuals to unite and "build the world we want together."
"If You Asked Me To" is a song written by American songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Stewart Levine and Aaron Zigman. It was originally recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle for her ninth studio album, Be Yourself (1989), and also for the soundtrack to the James Bond film Licence to Kill. The song was released as the soundtrack's second single on June 12, 1989 by MCA Records. The lyrics are from the point of view of a woman who pleads to her significant other: "If you asked me to, I just might change my mind, and let you in my life forever". Three years later, Canadian singer Celine Dion covered the song for her 1992 self-titled second English-language studio album. Released as the album's second single, Dion's version topped the Canadian charts and peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Love of My Life " is a song recorded by American singer Erykah Badu for the Brown Sugar soundtrack (2002). It features American rapper Common, who co-wrote the song alongside Badu, Madukwu Chinwah, Robert Ozuma, James Poyser, Rashad Smith, Glen Standridge and the song's sole producer Raphael Saadiq. The song follows the film and its soundtrack's common lyrical theme of personifying hip hop. It was released as the lead single from Brown Sugar on August 5, 2002, by MCA Records.
"New Attitude" is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written by Sharon Robinson, Jon Gilutin, and Bunny Hull and recorded by LaBelle for the motion picture soundtrack album to the 1984 action comedy film Beverly Hills Cop, while production was helmed by Rick Chudacoff, Howie Rice, and Peter Burnetta. Released as a single in December 1984, it helped launching LaBelle's solo career as a pop music singer after the singer had spent seven years without a crossover pop hit following the break-up of her band Labelle.
"All This Love" is a single by DeBarge, released on October 17, 1982. The song was released as the third and final single from their second studio album of the same title on the Gordy label. The single would help DeBarge rise to R&B stardom. A cover version of the song was recorded by Patti LaBelle on her 1994 gold album Gems. A video for her version was also filmed.
Gems is the twelfth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 7, 1994, in the United States. The album features a hip-hop-esque remake of DeBarge's 1983 hit, "All This Love", produced by Teddy Riley. Gems peaked at number forty-eight on the US Billboard 200 and went gold with sales shipping past the 500,000 mark. The album is notable for the single "The Right Kinda Lover", which brought LaBelle a new legion of fans thanks to its production by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and its video which had LaBelle performing a seductress who chooses "the right mate" through a machine and if one man rubbed her the wrong way, she'd use a button to get rid of them.
"The Right Kinda Lover" is a song by American singer and actress Patti LaBelle. It was written by Ann Bennett-Nesby, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, and James "Big Jim" Wright, while production was helmed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Wright as co-producing. The song was released as the first single from her LaBelle's 12th album, Gems (1994), and appeared on the soundtrack to the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop III, starring Eddie Murphy.
American R&B singer Patti LaBelle has released eighteen studio albums, three live albums, fourteen compilation albums, and forty-seven singles. To date, LaBelle has sold 50 million records worldwide. According to RIAA, she has attained six gold and one platinum album in the United States. LaBelle has also charted forty-two hits on Billboard's Hot/R&B Hip-Hop Songs, 13 of which reached the Top 10.
"When You Talk About Love" is a song recorded by American singer and actress Patti LaBelle. It was written by Ann Nesby, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, and James "Big Jim" Wright for her thirteenth studio album, Flame (1997). Production was helmed by Harris and Lewis, with Wright credited as co-producer. Released as the album's lead single, it became one of the LaBelle's most popular hit singles in the 1990s, reaching number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A dance remix of the song helped to bring the song to number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making it the fourth number-one dance single in LaBelle's career. The accompanying music video featured LaBelle playing a teacher giving a "class" about love.
"Yo Mister" is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written and produced by Prince for her 1989 album, Be Yourself. Prince features on various instruments and background vocals on the song which was released as a single in July 1989. It became a top ten hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs when it peaked at number six, becoming one of LaBelle's biggest R&B hits. "Yo Mister"'s single mix and corresponding video version was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge.
"Feels Like Another One" is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written by LaBelle along with Sharon Barnes, James R. "Budd" Ellison, and Michael Stokes for her eleventh studio album Burnin (1991), while production was helmed by Stokes. The new jack swing-styled track served as the album's leading single and featured a rap from rapper Big Daddy Kane. The song became successful on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as it ended up peaking at number three. The video for the song was shot at the Apollo Theater and also featured Kane, who appeared at LaBelle's show wearing a tux.
"Somebody Loves You Baby " is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was written and produced by Bunny Sigler and Eugene "Lambchops" Curry for her 1991 studio album, Burnin'. The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in early 1992. Like her previous single "Feels Like Another", "Somebody Loves You..." was also shot at the Apollo Theater.
When a Woman Loves is the fourteenth studio album released by American singer Patti LaBelle. Her sixth ever on the MCA Records label, it was released on October 24, 2000, in the United States.
Timeless Journey is a studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. Her first release with Def Soul Classics, it was released on May 4, 2004 in the United States. One of her most commercially successful albums, it reached number five on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, also hitting the top 20 on the Billboard 200. Timeless Journey produced the singles "New Day" and "2 Steps Away".
"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.
Beverly Hills Cop III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1994 film of the same name. It was released on May 10, 1994, by MCA Records and consisted mostly of R&B music with some rock and hip hop. Like the film, the soundtrack was not well received and only made it to 158 on the Billboard 200 and 66 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Three singles found minor success on the charts, "The Right Kinda Lover" by Patti LaBelle, "Luv 4 Dem Gangsta'z" by Eazy-E, and "The Place Where You Belong" by Shai. The song "Mood" which is performed by Chanté Moore also appears on her second album A Love Supreme. Nile Rodgers also covered Harold Faltermeyer's "Axel F" in a breakbeat hardcore version.
"Kiss Away the Pain" is a song by American singer Patti LaBelle featuring saxophonist George Howard. It was written by Alex Brown and Ron Kersey and recorded by LaBelle for her eighth studio album, Winner in You (1986), with production helmed by Kersey and James R. "Budd" Ellison. The song was released as a single in 1986 and peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, staying on the chart for 16 weeks. "Kiss Away the Pain" was originally recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips for their 1983 album Visions but not included until that album was re-issued as an expanded edition in 2014.
