''Back to Now'' is the seventh and latest studio album by American female vocal group Labelle, released on October 21, 2008. The album is the group's first in over thirty years though they had sung on songs together on occasion. Labelle member Nona Hendryx explained the album's title to noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of ''Blues & Soul'': "It basically stemmed from two of the songs on this album being songs I'd specifically written for what would have been the next Labelle album back in 1977. So the title 'Back To Now" is really signifying that this record represents us really getting back to where we were. It's basically a continuation from where we stopped off." The first single is "Roll Out", which features and is produced by

Wyclef Jean Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, a ...

which had the three Labelle members Patti LaBelle,

Nona Hendryx Nona Bernis Hendryx (born October 9, 1944) is an American vocalist, record producer, songwriter, musician, and author. Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady ...

and

Sarah Dash Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021) was an American singer and actress. She first appeared on the music scene as a member of Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. Dash was later a member of Labelle, and worked as a singer, sess ...

singing in

autotune Auto-Tune (or autotune) is an audio processor introduced in 1996 by American company Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances. Auto-T ...

. The album is also notable for the modest R&B charted ballad, "Superlover". Except for "The Truth Will Set You Free", originally recorded by

Mother's Finest Mother's Finest is an American rock band founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by the vocal duo of Joyce "Baby Jean" Kennedy and Glenn "Doc" Murdock in 1970 when the pair met up with guitarist Gary "Moses Mo" Moore and bassist Jerry "Wyzard" Seay. Thei ...

, in which Hendryx sings the lead over Lenny Kravitz's guitar and LaBelle's ad-libs in soprano and "System", which LaBelle, Hendryx and Dash each take a prominent lead vocal, the album is led as always by LaBelle, who gives a powerful vocal in the socially conscious "Tears for the World", a Hendryx composition. The album is also notable for their tribute to

civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and political life o ...

activist

Rosa Parks Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "th ...

with "Dear Rosa" and also includes their 1971 rendition of the Cole Porter standard, "

Miss Otis Regrets "Miss Otis Regrets" is a song about the lynching of a society woman after she murders her unfaithful lover. It was composed by Cole Porter in 1934, and first performed by Douglas Byng in ''Hi Diddle Diddle'', a revue that opened on October 3, 19 ...

", which was originally recorded for sessions of their Warner debut, '' Labelle'', but was cut from the album's final selection of tracks. An iTunes edition of the album features the group's cover of Sylvester's disco hit, "

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" is a 1978 song by American disco/ R&B singer Sylvester. It was written by James Wirrick and Sylvester, and released as the second single from Sylvester's fourth album, '' Step II'' (1978). The song was already ...

Track listing

# "Candlelight" (Nona Hendryx) 4:41 # "Roll Out" (featuring

) (Hendryx, Wyclef Jean,

Jerry Duplessis Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis (born 9 August 1975) is a Haitian music producer, film score composer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. His first major success was as a producer for the Fugees' 1996 album '' The Score''. He also played the bass guitar w ...

, Patti LaBelle,

) 3:51 # "Superlover" (Hendryx, LaBelle, Dash) 4:14 # "System" (Hendryx) 5:32 # "The Truth Will Set You Free" (Barry Borden, Michael Keck, Gary Moore, Joyce Kennedy, Jerry Seay, Glenn Murdock) 4:58 # "Without You in My Life" (Hendryx, Dash, LaBelle,

Kenneth Gamble Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

) 5:29 # "Tears for the World" (Gamble, LaBelle,

Leon A. Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...

) 4:33 # "Dear Rosa" (Hendryx, Roni Morgan, Michael Waters) 6:47 # "How Long" (Hendryx, LaBelle, Dash) 4:33 # "

" ( Cole Porter) 4:39 # "

" (James Wirrick, Sylvester) (4:31) (iTunes Bonus Track)

Charts

''Back to Now'' debuted at number 45 on '' Billboards album chart in the issue dated November 8, 2008. It also charted on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, debuting at number 9. ''Back to Now'' is Labelle's seventh overall, and third highest-ranked album to chart in the United States.

References

External links

''Back to Now'' on Verve Records

Labelle Official
{{DEFAULTSORT:Back To Now 2008 albums Labelle albums Albums produced by Kenneth Gamble Albums produced by Leon Huff