''Patti'' is the seventh studio album released by American singer
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman.
LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul".
She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...
. It was released by
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was an American record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff along with their longtime collaborator Thom Bell. ...
on July 3, 1985 in the United States.
Background
After seven years of modest success, Patti LaBelle finally became a mainstream solo star following the late 1983 release of the album, ''
I'm in Love Again
''I'm In Love Again'' is the sixth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle in 1983. It was released by Philadelphia International Records and Sony Music Entertainment on November 25, 1983, in the United States. LaBelle's commercial breakth ...
'', and its hit singles, "
If Only You Knew
"If Only You Knew" was a single written and produced primarily by Dexter Wansel and Cynthia Biggs for American singer Patti LaBelle's sixth solo album, ''I'm in Love Again''. It was released as the album's official first single in 1983, spendi ...
" and "
Love, Need and Want You
"Love, Need and Want You" is a song recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle from her sixth studio album, ''I'm in Love Again'' (1983). The mid-tempo R&B song was written and produced for LaBelle by Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble, and was rele ...
" and the 1984 soundtrack singles "
New Attitude" and "
Stir It Up
"Stir It Up" is a song composed by Bob Marley in 1967 and first recorded by the group Bob Marley and the Wailers that year and issued as a single. It was later covered by American singer Johnny Nash on his 1972 album ''I Can See Clearly Now' ...
", the latter two were featured on the soundtrack to the
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He rose to fame on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', for which he was a regular cast member from 1980 to 1984. Murphy has als ...
film, ''
Beverly Hills Cop
''Beverly Hills Cop'' is a 1984 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Martin Brest, screenplay by Daniel Petrie Jr., story by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr., and starring Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit cop ...
'', and launched LaBelle into pop stardom. By July of the year, LaBelle received new notoriety by being a standout performer on that month's ''
Live Aid
Live Aid was a multi-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 fami ...
'' concert in her hometown of Philadelphia. In December 1984, LaBelle signed a new contract with
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...
and began work on her first MCA album, ''
Winner in You
''Winner in You'' is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter 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 sev ...
''. In the interim, Philadelphia International was left with a bunch of leftover LaBelle recordings culled from 1983-1984 recording sessions, including a live cover of "
If You Don't Know Me By Now
"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit after being released as a single in September 1972, toppi ...
" by
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American soul and R&B vocal group. One of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s, the group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco. Founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in ...
.
The album included "Look to the Rainbow", which became the name of her live concert video culled from a 1985 show in New York, and the aforementioned cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which, along with the R&B ballad "I Can't Forget You", hit the R&B charts. "If You Don't Know Me By Now" became a concert staple for LaBelle following the album's release. LaBelle's last contractual album with Philadelphia International, it was also her last album under a CBS-recorded label after an 11-year association. In addition, it was also the last PIR album to be distributed under the original deal with
CBS Records CBS Records may refer to:
* CBS Records or CBS/Sony, former name of Sony Music, a global record company
* CBS Records International, label for Columbia Records recordings released outside North America from 1962 to 1990
* CBS Records (2006), founde ...
before the label switched distribution to
Manhattan Records
Manhattan Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group and operates as a branch of Capitol Music Group.
Company history
Manhattan Records was formed in 1984 by Bruce Lundvall and was later renamed EMI Manhattan Records af ...
.
Track listing
Personnel
* Patti LaBelle – lead and harmony vocals, backing vocals (6)
* Cecil Du Valle – keyboards (1), synthesizers (1)
*
Leon 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 ...
– keyboards (1)
* Reggie Griffin – synthesizers (1, 2, 4), guitar (1), drum programming (2, 4), arrangements (2, 4),
Minimoog
The Minimoog is an analog synthesizer first manufactured by Moog Music between 1970 and 1981. Designed as a more affordable, portable version of the modular Moog synthesizer, it was the first synthesizer sold in retail stores. It was first popul ...
(4), keyboards (4), bass (4)
* James Sigler – keyboards (2), synthesizers (2, 4), arrangements (2, 4, 5)
* William Jolly – keyboards (3), synthesizers (3), backing vocals (3), arrangements (3)
* Joel Bryant – acoustic piano (3)
* Lenny Pakula – organ (3)
*
Bunny Sigler
Walter "Bunny" Sigler (March 27, 1941 – October 6, 2017) was an American R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer who did extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and was instrumental in creating th ...
– keyboards (4)
* James Budd Ellison – acoustic piano (5), keyboards (8), arrangements (8), musical director (8), orchestra conductor (8)
* Philip Woo – acoustic piano (5), keyboards (8), synthesizers (8)
*
Dexter Wansel
Dexter Gilman Wansel (born August 22, 1950) is an American R&B/jazz fusion singer, arranger, musician, composer, conductor, synthesist and A&R director.
Early life
Dexter Wansel began as an errand boy backstage at the Uptown Theater in Philade ...
– keyboards (6), arrangements (6)
* Joseph Jefferson – keyboards (7), arrangements (7)
* Herb Smith – guitar (1, 5, 6, 8), backing vocals (6, 8)
*
Cecil Womack
Cecil Dale Womack (September 25, 1947 – January 25, 2013) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was one of the musical Womack brothers, and had success both as a songwriter and recording artist, notably with his wife Linda ...
– guitar (1, 3), arrangements (1, 3)
*
Dennis Harris – guitar (2, 4, 7)
* Jimmy Williams – bass (1-3, 5, 7)
* Steve Green – bass (6)
*
Darryl Jones
Darryl Jones (born December 11, 1961) is an American bass guitarist. He has been recording and touring with the Rolling Stones since 1993. He has also played in bands with Miles Davis and Sting, among others.
Career
Darryl Jones was born on ...
– bass (8)
* Quinton Joseph – drums (1-3)
* John Ingram – drums (5, 8), backing vocals (8)
* Charles Collins – drums (7)
* Clifford "Pete" Rudd – drums (6)
* Miguel Fuentes – percussion (6)
* Don Renaldo – horns and strings (2-4, 6)
* Sam Peake – saxophone (7), sax solo (8)
* Andrea Jackson – backing vocals (3)
* Donna Natson – backing vocals (3)
* Veronica Underwood – backing vocals (3)
*
Cynthia Biggs
Cynthia Biggs, lawfully known as Cynthia Biggs El, is an American songwriter, producer, publisher and vocalist who wrote music and lyrics for the Philadelphia International Records label. Her main collaborations were with composers Dexter Wansel ...
– backing vocals (6)
* Terri Wells – backing vocals (6)
* Edward Batts – backing vocals (8)
Production
* Producers – Reggie Griffin (Tracks 1, 2 & 4); Cecil Womack (Tracks 1 & 3); Kenny Gamble (Tracks 2-5 & 8); Bunny Sigler (Tracks 2 & 4); James Sigler (Track 5); Dexter Wansel (Track 6); Joseph Jefferson (Track 7); Leon Huff (Track 8).
* Executive Producers – Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
* Engineers – Peter Humphreys, King Shameek, Arthur Stoppe and
Joseph Tarsia
Joseph Dominick Tarsia (September 23, 1934 – November 1, 2022) was an American recording studio owner and engineer from Philadelphia who was credited on many classic pop music tracks, earning him over 150 gold and platinum record awards. He was ...
.
* Assistant Engineers – Randy Abrams, Tom Caine, Marin Conaty, Scott MacMillan, Glenn McKee, Adam Silverman and Vince Warsavage.
* Tracks #1-7 recorded at
Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios was a recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.. It was founded in 1968 by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia.
Located at 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was one of the first studios in the United States to ...
(Philadelphia, PA).
* Track 9 recorded live at Convention Hall (Washington, D.C.). Remote unit provided by Fanta Sound Studios (Nashville, TN).
* Art Direction – Stephen Byram
* Illustration – Diane Best
Charts
Album chart usages for Billboard200
Album chart usages for BillboardRandBHipHop
References
{{Authority control
1985 albums
Patti LaBelle albums
Albums produced by Leon Huff
Albums produced by Kenneth Gamble
Albums recorded at Sigma Sound Studios
Philadelphia International Records albums