''Burnin'' is a studio album by American recording artist

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godmother of Soul". LaBelle began ...

. It was released by

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

on October 1, 1991, in the United States to mixed reviews. The album features several collaborations, including duets with

Gladys Knight Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins Will ...

and

Michael Bolton Michael Bolotin (born February 26, 1953), known professionally as Michael Bolton, is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton performed in the hard rock and heavy metal music genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, both on his early solo a ...

, and a reunion track with

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 Ma ...

and

Sarah Dash Sarah Dash (August 18, 1945 – September 20, 2021) was an American singer. 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, session musician, ...

from

Labelle Labelle was an American funk rock band that originated out of the Blue Belles, a girl group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The original group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the area around ...

. It yielded three Billboard R&B chart hits: "Feels Like Another One", "Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is)" and "When You've Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)". The album, released on CD, LP, and cassette, was certified Gold in April 1992 by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. It reached number 71 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number 13 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. ''Burnin'' won the

Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Award ...

at the 1992 ceremony, jointly with a single by

Lisa Fischer Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She found success with her 1991 debut album '' So Intense'', which produced the Grammy Award–winning hit single " How Can I Ease the Pain". She has been a back ...

. In 1992, LaBelle released her first solo live album, simply titled ''Live!,'' featuring several songs from ''Burnin'' as it was recorded during this album's promotional tour. Under the pseudonym "Paisley Park",

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

co-wrote the song "I Hear Your Voice" along with his vocalist collaborator

Rosie Gaines Rosie Gaines (born Rosemary Gaines; June 26, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer from Pittsburg, California. Gaines is a former band member of Prince's group the New Power Generation. She duetted with singer Prince on th ...

and her husband Francis Jules. Prince helped produce the track. The album track "Temptation", B-side of the fourth single released from the album, "When You Love Somebody (I'm Saving My Love for You)", was written by

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

n-American singer

Martika Marta Marrero (born May 18, 1969), better known by her stage name Martika ( ), is an American singer and actress. She rose to prominence as an actress, playing the role of Gloria in the television programme ''Kids Incorporated'' between 1984 ...

, who originally released it on her album '' Martika's Kitchen''.

Critical reception

Critical reviews were mixed: ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' gave it a B+, while the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' ranked it 2.5 stars out of 5, noting a reduction of LaBelle's usual intensity. Dave Obee from ''

Calgary Herald The ''Calgary Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Publication began in 1883 as ''The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate, and General Advertiser''. It is owned by the Postmedia Network. History ''The C ...

'' wrote, "Not only is she on fire, she`s lighting matches and tossing them in all directions. Many hit gravel and quickly burn out. Look out, though, for the ones that touch anything flammable. Consider the song "I Don't Do Duets", a duet - huh? - with

. Listen as two of the strongest, most soulful and experienced voices turn a fair-to-average song into a R&B masterpiece. It's no surprise that La Belle couldn't keep the heat turned up at that level for the entire disc, but the best stuff here - the Knight song and a duet with

- more than makes up for its weak moments."

Track listing

Notes * denotes co-producer * denotes associate producer *The single mix of "Feels Like Another One" features rap by

Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American Rapping, rapper, producer and actor who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influe ...

. *"Temptation" is a bonus track for CD and cassette. "Crazy Love" is a bonus track for CD and LP. As of 2012, both tracks are available for digital download.

Personnel

* Patti LaBelle – lead vocals, additional vocal arrangements (1), backing vocals (3, 4), choir arrangements (6) * Clinton Stokes III – keyboards (1, 5) * Michael Stokes – keyboards (1, 5), keyboard programming (1), drum programming (1), arrangements (1, 5), rhythm arrangements (5), horn arrangements (5), BGV arrangements (5) * David Ervin – synthesizers (1), keyboards (5), keyboard programming (5), drum programming (5) * Darren Floyd – synthesizers (1), keyboard programming (1, 5), drum programming (1, 5), keyboards (5) * Eugene Curry – keyboards (2, 7) * Nathaniel Wilkie – keyboards (3, 6, 10), synthesizer programming (3, 6, 10) * James Budd Ellison – arrangements (3, 6, 10), keyboards (6, 10), choir arrangements (6) * Vernon Fails – keyboards (4, 12) *

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists includin ...

– acoustic piano (4, 12) * David Ward – keyboard programming (4, 12), drum programming (4) *

Walter Afanasieff Walter Afanasieff (born Vladimir Nikitich Afanasyev; February 10, 1958), formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s, is an American record producer and songwriter. He was a frequent collaborator of Mariah Carey on her first six studio albums. Af ...

– keyboards (9), synthesizers (9), synth bass (9), drums (9), percussion (9) *

Louis Biancaniello Louis John Biancaniello is an American songwriter and record producer. Career Biancaniello's skills were developed while working alongside producer Narada Michael Walden with whom he produced hits for Shanice '' I Love Your Smile'', Whitney H ...

– programming (9) *

Ren Klyce Ren Klyce is a Japanese-American sound designer and sound mixer. Career He has been nominated for nine Academy Awards; six for Best Sound and three for Best Sound Editing. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with director David F ...

– programming (9) * John Anthony – samples (10) * David Hampton – technical support and cartage (11) * Robert Palmer – additional programming (11) *

Wah Wah Watson Melvin M. Ragin (December 8, 1950 – October 24, 2018), known professionally as Wah Wah Watson, was an American guitarist who was a member of the Funk Brothers, the studio band for Motown Records. He also worked extensively as a session musician ...

– guitars (1, 5) * Joe Marioni – guitars (2, 7) * Randy Bowland – guitar (3, 10), acoustic guitar (3) * Michael J. Powell – guitars (4, 12), drums (4), percussion (4, 12) * Chris Camozzi – guitars (9) * Milton "Pocket" Honroe – guitar overdubs (11) * Al Turner – bass (4) * Freddie Washington – bass overdubs (11) *

Nathan East Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass guitarist and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. East holds a Bachelor of Arts ...

– bass (12) * John Paris – drums (10) * John Robinson – drums (12) * Quinton Joseph – percussion (2, 7), drum programming (7) * Terral Santiel – percussion overdubs (11) * Ernie Fields Jr. – saxophones (1, 5) * Pamela Williams – saxophone (10) *

George Bohanon George Roland Bohanon Jr. (August 7, 1937 – November 8, 2024) was an American jazz trombonist and session musician from Detroit, Michigan. Biography In the early 1960s, he participated in Detroit's Workshop Jazz ensemble, with Johnny Griffith, ...

– trombone (1, 5) *

Raymond Lee Brown Raymond Lee Brown is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. Brown was a longtime member of the Earth, Wind & Fire Horns. Influences Brown was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. While in high school, Brown was friends with G ...

– trumpet (1, 5) * Nolan Smith – trumpet (1, 5) * Jack Faith – horn and string orchestrations (3) *

Paul Riser Paul Riser (born September 11, 1943) is an American trombonist and Motown musical arranger who was responsible for co-writing and arranging dozens of top ten hit records. His legacy as one of the " Funk Brothers" is similar to that of most of ...

– string arrangements (12) *

– rap (1) *

Dee Harvey Demetrius La Vell "Dee" Harvey (August 24, 1965 – December 1, 2012) was an American R&B singer. He was at one time signed to Motown and recorded his first album, ''Just as I Am'' with Motown in 1991. Harvey was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and ...

– backing vocals (1, 5) * Rick Nelson – backing vocals (1, 5) * Linda Stokes – backing vocals (1, 5) * Lisa Taylor – backing vocals (1, 5) * Annette Hardeman – backing vocals (2, 7) * Charlene Holloway – backing vocals (2, 7) * Paula Holloway – backing vocals (2, 7) *

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 t ...

– backing vocals (2, 7), vocal arrangements (2, 7), choir arrangements (6) *

Tawatha Agee Tawatha Agee (born November 14, 1954) is an American vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in ''The New York Times'' as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulful lead ...

– backing vocals (3) *

– backing vocals (3) * Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (3) *

Fonzi Thornton Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is an American vocalist, songwriter, producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the re ...

– backing vocals (3), vocal contractor (3) *

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA certification, RIAA-certified ...

– backing vocals (3), BGV arrangements (3) * Brenda White King – backing vocals (3) *

– lead and backing vocals (4) * Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – backing vocals (4) * Fred White – backing vocals (4) * The Wilmington/Chester Mass Choir – choir (6) * Rev. Ernest Davis Jr. – choir director (6) *

– lead vocals (9) *

LaBelle Labelle was an American funk rock band that originated out of the Blue Belles, a girl group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The original group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the area around ...

– backing vocals (10) * The Harmonettes – backing vocals (11) * Sami McKinney – vocal arrangements (11)

Production

* Patti LaBelle – executive producer * James Budd Ellison – associate producer (1), recording supervisor * Eugene Curry – co-producer (2) * Edward Leak – assistant producer (3) * Nathaniel Wilkie – associate producer (3, 6, 10), co-producer (7) * Michael Stokes – co-producer (8, 11) * Frank Byron Clark – recording (1, 5), mixing (1, 5, 8) * Jim Gallagher – recording (2, 7) * Scott MacMinn – recording (2, 7) * Ray Bardani – recording (3, 6) * Milton Chan – recording (4), assistant engineer (4, 12) * David Ward – recording (4, 12) * Michael Koppleman – recording (8) * Dana Chappelle – recording (9) * Khaliq Glover – recording (12) * Warren Wood – recording (12) * Mike Tarsia – mixing (2, 3, 6, 7, 10), recording (3, 6, 10) * Barney Perkins – mixing (4, 12), recording (12) * Michael J. Powell – mixing (4, 12) *

Mick Guzauski Nathan "Mick" Guzauski is an American multi-platinum mixing engineer and sound engineer. He has nine Grammy Awards and eleven nominations. His work spans a wide range of styles, including jazz, R&B, Latin, rock, pop, easy listening, funk and ...

– mixing (9) * Jeff Lorenzen – mixing (12) * Foley Fali – assistant engineer (1, 5, 8) * Clinton Stokes III – assistant engineer (1, 5) * Frank McNulty – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6, 7, 10) * Tom Greto – assistant engineer (3, 6, 10) * Robert H. – assistant engineer (3, 6, 10) * Paul Rinis – assistant engineer (3, 6, 10) * Brian Wittmer – assistant engineer (3, 6, 10) * Paul D. Allen – assistant engineer (4, 12) * Manny LaCarrubba – assistant engineer (9) * Devon Riteveld – assistant engineer (9) *

Bernie Grundman Bernie Grundman (born 16 December 1943, Minneapolis) is an American audio engineer. He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1984 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chr ...

– mastering * Vartan Kurjian – art direction * John Coulter – design * Marc Raboy – photography * Armstaed Edwards – direction Studios * Recorded at Blue Palm Studios (Burbank, CA); Creative Source Studios (Hollywood, CA);

Larrabee Sound Studios Larrabee Sound Studios is a recording studio complex in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, California, originally established in 1969. Facilities Located at 4162 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, Larrabee has six studios, thre ...

(North Hollywood, CA);

Record Plant The Record Plant was a recording studio established in New York City in 1968 and last operating in Los Angeles, California. Known for innovations in the recording artists' workspace, it produced highly influential albums, including the New York ...

(Sausalito, CA);

The Hit Factory The Hit Factory is a recording studio in New York City owned and operated by Troy Germano. History In 1969, songwriter Jerry Ragavoy opened a recording studio in New York City and named it ''The Hit Factory.'' On March 6, 1975, Edward Germano, ...

(New York, NY);

Sigma Sound Studios Sigma Sound Studios was an American independent recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1968 by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia. Located at 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia, Sigma Sound is closely associated with Philade ...

(Philadelphia, PA); Paisley Park Studios (Minneapolis, MN); Vanguard Studios (Detroit, MI). * Mixed at Creative Source Studios; Record Plant; Sigma Sound Studios; Elumba Studios (Los Angeles, CA); Encore Studios (Burbank, CA). * Mastered at

Bernie Grundman Mastering Bernie Grundman (born 16 December 1943, Minneapolis) is an American audio engineer. He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1984 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chri ...

(Hollywood, CA).

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1991 albums Patti LaBelle albums Albums produced by Walter Afanasieff MCA Records albums New jack swing albums