Labelle: Labelle (1971)

Released in 1971, this self-titled LP was the first album that Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash recorded under the name Labelle. Never again would they use the name Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, and that's just as well; since the group had a new sound and a new image, it made sense to have a new name. And make no mistake: Labelle was determined to forge ahead in 1971. While pop considerations were a high priority for Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, soul considerations define Labelle: a tough, gritty, gospel-drenched effort with Muscle Shoals-influenced arrangements. Produced by Vicki Wickham (the group's manager) and Kit Lambert, this LP includes outside material and self-penned songs by all three members. 'Morning Much Better' is a slow funk/rocker where Patti gives one of her gutsiest vocals with powerful refrains by Sarah & Nona. ‘Shades of Difference’, the only song co-written by Patti & Nona that the group ever did, tells of historic racial stereotypes. ‘Time’ was written by Patti and husband Armstead Edwards and has a funky bass line that just propels the song along in one of her most blues & rock oriented vocals ever. Wild stuff, not least of which is their version of The Rolling Stones' ‘Wild Horses’ or Laura Nyro's gospel-ish ‘Time And Love’, with vocal background assistance courtesy of The Sweet Inspirations and Judy Clay. And don't forget Sarah Dash's ‘Baby's Out of Sight’, a torrid performance from Patti, Sarah & Nona all about the blues a woman has when her man is gone. The closer, ‘When The Sun Comes Shining Through (The Ladder)’, written by Michael D'Abo from Manfred Mann, is a concise tight-knit arrangement of a beautiful socially aware message song that would have made a great single and possibly the most commercially sounding song on here. These are just some of the highlights on this amazing debut album. For Labelle combining R&B with white pop/rock was revolutionary, and this album has some of the best songs and performances that they ever created. http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.allmusic.com/

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