Search - Patti & Labelle :: Lady Marmalade: Best of Patti & Labelle

Forget about those other all-female groups...

Ms. YoMo | 06/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"because Sarah Dash, Nona Hendrix, Cindy Birdsong (who later became a Supreme), and Patti LaBelle puts them all to shame! And this CD highlights the best of their work as well as Patti's early solo work. Although most will know them for Lady Marmalade, that song doesn't even come close to showing the true talent of these ladies. And this CD can read like a soundtrack of someone's like. Isn't It A Shame - a poignant tale of love not always going like expected. You Turn Me On, so soulful and sensuous. Get You Somebody New - puts a man in his place much better than En Vogue's Never Gonna Get It. This CD even features some lesser known earlier work by Patti like the inspiration Quiet Time and the funky Me Gusta Tu Baille. This CD is a REQUIREMENT for anyone who is a fan of Patti and/or LaBelle."

A must for Labelle fans

d_stevie@hotmail.com | new york city | 01/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"if you do not own a labelle cd or have never heard of them, and you would like to, then this is the cd for you. The voices of these three women swoops and soars like eagles. Patti herself with the multi octave voice. As to correct the last reviewer, BKA KOWTOWN,the labell verson of you are my friend is the original written by patti labelle's husband armstead edwards. sylvester's record is the remake of the song"

Half Labelle , Half Patti

gassy goon | 11/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When Epic released this CD as the first ever collection on the group Labelle, I thought it shortchanged the contributions of the group. One way you look at it, it is a strong collection of half the group's songs, and half of Patti's late 70's solo work. But it does irk me that Epic did it this way because the group made so many inroads as a black female group writing their own songs & blending so many genres of music together. They deserve their OWN full CD , and if they really put more thought into it, it should be done this way.



The 8 Labelle songs are brash and boldly sung - pushed to the limits defying a category of either r&b/rock/dance/gospel , because the group easily combined all these influences. I would have liked to have seen some rarities, and with the songs coming from their last 3 Epic albums, the rarities are the footstompin' MESSIN' WITH MY MIND and the gutbucket soul of TAKE THE NIGHT OFF - both written by Nona Hendryx, and not on any other CD. That's because Sony/Epic has not released their 1975 album PHOENIX on CD to this day. Another Labelle compilation SOMETHING SILVER on Warner Brothers is more properly done to showcase songs from the group's first three albums , plus includes the massive hit LADY MARMALADE.



Patti's 8 songs come from her first four Epic solo albums from 1977-1980. Not knocking the Patti solo stuff, 'cause I love the songs here, especially the latin based funk of TEACH ME TONIGHT and one of her signature songs YOU ARE MY FRIEND. This CD is strong, but half group, half solo was not the way to go, as it's the only collection to contain songs from the group's Epic era, their most noted & commercially successful recordings & they limited it to 8 songs. Sony/BMG needs to release a proper collection on Labelle, as well as their 3rd & 5th albums that are not on CD yet: PRESSURE COOKIN' and PHOENIX."