Timeless Journey

Last updated
Timeless Journey
Timeless-journey.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 4, 2004
Length50:11
Label
Producer
Patti LaBelle chronology
When a Woman Loves
(2000)
Timeless Journey
(2004)
Classic Moments
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [2]
People Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]

Timeless Journey is a studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. Her first release with Def Soul Classics (an R&B magnet of Def Jam Recordings), 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".

Contents

Background

By 2002, Patti LaBelle had been with MCA Records for seventeen years. The label had helped to increase LaBelle's popularity with both pop and R&B audiences resulting in 2 platinum album and four subsequent gold-selling follow-ups. However, LaBelle's last album with the label, 2000's solemnly-produced When a Woman Loves failed to generate a hit record or even go gold. In 2003, MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records. As a result, LaBelle signed with The Island Def Jam Music Group's Def Soul Classics division, joining The Isley Brothers as the two first acts on Antonio "L.A." Reid's new Def Jam imprint. LaBelle went to work on her new album in 2003 and by 2004, LaBelle and Def Jam released Timeless Journey. By the end of the year the album went gold with sales shipping past the 500,000 mark.

Release

Fueled by the release of LaBelle's first hit single in seven years, "New Day", the album eventually did well on the pop and R&B charts reaching number 18 on the former and number 5 on the latter. However, LaBelle and Def Jam fell into problems immediately after its release. Shortly after releasing 2005's Classic Moments, LaBelle told reporters that she was "unceremoniously" kicked out of the label by Reid. After a public spat, Reid renegotiated a new contract with LaBelle in 2007 releasing a Christmas album. Though the album did go gold, it did receive some popularity. Five years later, the ballad "2 Steps Away", written by Philadelphia songwriter and friend Jon DeLise, was featured on Dancing with the Stars . Two Steps Away also aired multiple times on "So you think you can dance" among other network shows and was re-released on the Care for Haiti compilation with notable artists such as Wycleaf Jean and Natasha Beddingfield. The success of the song eventually helped it reach Billboard's Digital Singles chart, her first charted single on that chart. "New Day" topped the Billboard Hot Dance Songs chart in 2004.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."More Than Material"
PAJAM 3:54
2."It's Time"
  • Bingham
  • Kendrixx
  • Smith
3:07
3."New Day"
  • LaBelle
  • Pierre Medor
  • Dwayne Nesmith
  • Tiffany Palmer
  • Carlos Ricketts
  • Jason Rome
  • Rome
  • The Corner Boys
3:19
4."Something More"
  • Chambers
  • Taylor
3:12
5."Sometimes Love" Babyface Babyface3:48
6."Hear My Cry" (featuring Floetry)
  • Henson
  • Pelzer
4:29
7."Good Lovin'"
  • Tanesha Blacks Jackson
  • Myia Davis
  • Shanell Irving
  • Trey Neverson
  • Taylor
Taylor3:34
8."Mm Mm Mm"
  • Mary Brown
  • Sheldon Goode
  • LaBelle
  • Sami McKinney
  • Francci Richard
  • McKinney
  • Goode
3:48
9."Not Right But Real"
  • Goode
  • LaBelle
  • McKinney
  • Omari Dlamini
  • Babyface
  • McKinney
  • Goode
4:55
10."2 Steps Away"
  • David Ivory
  • Jonathan DeLise
  • LaBelle
  • Ivory
  • Delise
4:30
11."Finally Got the Nerve" (featuring Miri Ben-Ari)
  • Sigler
  • McCarrin
3:57
12."Unpredictable"
  • Bingham
  • Kendrixx
  • Smith
3:04
13."When You Smile" (featuring Carlos Santana, Sheila E., Andy Vargas & La India)
  • LaBelle
  • McKinney
  • K.C. Porter
  • Andrew Snook
  • Omari Dlamini
  • Porter
  • McKinney
4:34
Total length:50:11

Charts

Related Research Articles

New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, new jack swing was most popular from the late 1980s to early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Island Def Jam Music Group</span> American record label group formed in 1998

The Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) was an American recording music unit, formed on New Year's Eve 1998 by Universal Music Group. It consisted of labels created under the operations of Island Records and Def Jam Recordings. On April 1, 2014, Universal Music Group publicly announced the disbandment of the Island Def Jam Music Group, leaving IDJMG and its affiliated subsidiaries as separate sister labels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Def Soul</span> Contemporary R&B division of Def Jam Records

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Def Jam Recordings</span> American record label

Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Asked Me To</span> 1989 single by Patti LaBelle

"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.

<i>Hot & Wet</i> 2003 studio album by 112

Hot & Wet is the fourth studio album by American R&B group 112. It was released by Bad Boy Records and Def Soul on December 9, 2003 in the United States. The album followed the successful Part III album, with the club tracks "Na Na Na Na" and "Hot & Wet" which was produced by Stevie J. It was also their first album not exclusively associated with Bad Boy, signaling the groups' eventual departure from the label in 2004.

<i>Baby Makin Music</i> 2006 studio album by The Isley Brothers

Baby Makin' Music is the thirtieth studio album by the American Ohio musical soul group, the Isley Brothers. It was released under the short-lived Def Soul Classics imprint on May 9, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Attitude (song)</span> 1984 single by Patti LaBelle

"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 launch 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.

<i>The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle</i> 2006 studio album by Patti LaBelle

The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle is the first gospel album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released on November 21, 2006 through music executive Jheryl Busby's indie label Umbrella Recordings and Bungalo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Day (Patti LaBelle song)</span> 2004 single by Patti LaBelle

"New Day" is a song recorded by America singer Patti LaBelle. It was written by LaBelle along with Pierre Medor, Dwayne Nesmith, Tiffany Palmer, Carlos Ricketts, and Jason Rome for her 2004 studio album Timeless Journey, while production was helmed by Rome along with The Corner Boys. Released as the first single from the album, it became a minor hit for the singer, reaching number 36 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking LaBelle's first appearance on the Hot 100 since 1997. An EP of dance remixes titled New Day Club Mixes, was released to support the song in dance clubs, and was remixed by a variety of dance producers such as Louis Vega, Quentin Harris, Kryia & Velez, and Darryl James. It reached number eleven on the Hot Dance Club Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All This Love (DeBarge song)</span> 1982 single by DeBarge

"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.

<i>Gems</i> (Patti LaBelle album) Album by Patti LaBelle

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Right Kinda Lover</span> 1994 single by Patti LaBelle

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Release (The Tension)</span> 1980 single by Patti LaBelle

"Release " is a song recorded and released by singer Patti LaBelle as a single on the Epic label in 1980. The title track of LaBelle's fourth solo album, Released. It was written and produced by renowned New Orleans funk musician Allen Toussaint. LaBelle recorded the song in mid-range as the song produced a post-disco dance groove. The single failed to hit the Billboard Hot 100 and barely hit the R&B charts where it peaked at number 61 while it peaked at number 48 on the dance singles chart. It had some bigger success internationally reaching the top 20 on the Dutch charts. As a result of that success, LaBelle promoted the song on Dutch TV in the fall of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patti LaBelle discography</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Talk About Love</span> 1997 single by Patti LaBelle

"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.

<i>When a Woman Loves</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Patti LaBelle

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.

<i>Classic Moments</i> 2005 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Classic Moments is a studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was her second full-length release with Island Def Jam's Def Soul Classics imprint and released on June 21, 2005 in the United States. The album features LaBelle's renditions of modern pop, soul and R&B songs, mostly ballads, including her versions of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", "She's Out of My Life", "Didn't I " and "I'll Stand by You".

<i>Miss Pattis Christmas</i> 2007 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Miss Patti's Christmas is a studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. Her second holiday album, it was released by Def Soul Classics on October 9, 2007 in the United States. Chiefly produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, it marked LaBelle's first Def Jam recording since abruptly leaving the label in 2006 over a dispute with then-president Antonio "L.A." Reid. Miss Patti's Christmas peaked at number 22 on the US Top Holiday Albums.

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Feliciano, Kristina (May 7, 2004). "Reviews of Timeless Journey and Lionel Richie's Just for You". Entertainment Weekly : 84. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  3. People review
  4. USA Today review
  5. "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  6. "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  7. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2020.