Tag Archives: Patti Labelle

Laura Nyro: Gonna Take A Miracle

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On November 17, 1971, “Columbia” label released “Gonna Take a Miracle”, the fifth Laura Nyro studio album. It was recorded May – June 1971, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – vocals, piano
  • Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash – vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Jim Helmer – drums
  • Vincent Montana Jr. – percussion
  • Larry Washington – bongos
  • Nydia “Liberty” Mata – congas
  • Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula, Thom Bell – string and horn arrangements
  • Tim Geelan – engineer
  • Gary Burden – art direction, design
  • Stephen Paley – front cover photography

Track listing:

  1. I Met Him on a Sunday – Doris Jackson, Addie Harris McPherson, Beverly Lee, Shirley Alston Reeves
  2. The Bells – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, Elgie Stover
  3. Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street – Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. Désiree – L.Z. Cooper, Danny Johnson
  5. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  7. Jimmy Mack – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  8. The Wind – Devora Brown, Bob Edwards, Nolan Strong
  9. Nowhere to Run – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  10. It’s Gonna Take a Miracle – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Lou Stallman

Patti LaBelle: Patti

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On July 3, 1985, “Philadelphia International” label released “Patti”, the seventh Patti LaBelle studio album. It was recorded in 1985, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Kenny Gamble, Reggie Griffin, Leon Huff, Joseph Jefferson, Bunny Sigler, James Sigler, Dexter Wansel and Cecil Womack.

Personnel:

  • Patti LaBelle – lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Herb Smith – guitar, backing vocals
  • Cecil Womack – guitar, arrangements
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Joel Bryant – acoustic piano
  • James Budd Ellison – acoustic piano, keyboards, arrangements, musical director, orchestra conductor
  • Philip Woo – acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers
  • Dexter Wansel – keyboards, arrangements
  • Joseph Jefferson – keyboards, arrangements
  • Cecil Du Valle – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Leon Huff – keyboards
  • Reggie Griffin – guitar, bass, keyboards, Minimoog, synthesizers, drum programming, arrangements 
  • James Sigler – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • William Jolly – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Bunny Sigler – keyboards
  • Jimmy Williams – bass
  • Steve Green – bass
  • Darryl Jones – bass
  • Quinton Joseph – drums
  • John Ingram – drums, backing vocals
  • Charles Collins – drums
  • Clifford “Pete” Rudd – drums
  • Miguel Fuentes – percussion
  • Don Renaldo – horns and strings
  • Sam Peake – saxophone
  • Andrea Jackson – backing vocals
  • Donna Natson – backing vocals
  • Veronica Underwood – backing vocals
  • Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals
  • Terri Wells – backing vocals
  • Edward Batts – backing vocals
  • Peter Humphreys, King Shameek, Arthur Stoppe, Joseph Tarsia – engineer
  • Randy Abrams, Tom Caine, Marin Conaty, Scott MacMillan, Glenn McKee, Adam Silverman, Vince Warsavage – engineer assistant
  • Stephen Byram – art direction
  • Diane Best – illustration
  • Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff – executive producers

Track listing:

  1. Love Symphony – Linda Womack, Cecil Womack
  2. Living Double – Bunny Sigler, James Sigler
  3. Where I Wanna Be – Cecil Womack, Kenny Gamble
  4. Shy – Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble
  5. Look to the Rainbow – Burton Lane, E.Y. “Yip” Harburg
  6. I Can’t Forget You – James Herbert Smith, Terri Wells
  7. What Can I Do for You – Charles Simmons, Richard Roebuck, Joseph Jefferson
  8. If You Don’t Know Me By Now (live) – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff

Labelle: Pressure Cookin’

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On August 7, 1973, “RCA” label released “Pressure Cookin’”, the third Labelle studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “RCA Studio D” in New York City, and was produced by Vicki Vickham and Stevie Wonder.

Personnel:

  • Patti LaBelle – vocals
  • Nona Hendryx – vocals
  • Sarah Dash – vocals
  • Buzz Feiten, Eddie Martinez, Hank Redd – guitars
  • Leroi Conley – guitars, percussion 
  • Andre Lewis – organ, electric piano, clavinet, bass guitar, drums, percussion, arrangements
  • Luther Eaddy – organ
  • Carmine Rojas – bass guitar
  • Larry Davis, Emry Thomas – drums
  • Daniel Ben Zebulon – percussion
  • Mike Moran, Tom Brown – engineer
  • Roger Williams – artwork, design
  • Bob Gruen – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Nona Hendryx, except where noted.

  1. Pressure Cookin’
  2. Medley: Something in the Air / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Speedy Keen / Gil-Scott Heron
  3. Sunshine (Woke Me Up This Morning)
  4. (Can I Speak Before You Go To) Hollywood
  5. Mr. Music Man
  6. Goin’ On a Holiday
  7. Let Me See You in the Light
  8. Open Up Your Heart – Stevie Wonder
  9. Last Dance

Labelle: Moon Shadow

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On June 10, 1972, “Warner Bros” label released “Moon Shadow”, the second Labelle studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Record Plant Studio” in Los Angeles and New York City, and was produced by Jack Adams and Vicki Wickham.

Personnel:

  • Patti LaBelle – vocals
  • Nona Hendryx – vocals
  • Sarah Dash – vocals
  • David Spinozza, Marlo Henderson, Dick Frank – guitar
  • Kenny Ascher, Leon Pendarvis, Maxayn Lewis, Michael Powell – piano
  • Andre “Mandre” Lewis – organ
  • Kenny Ascher, Andre “Mandre” Lewis – clavinet
  • Chuck Rainey, Russell George – bass guitar
  • Kenneth “Spider Webb” Rice, Rick Marotta – drums
  • Maurice Saunders, Rick Marotta – congas
  • Harold Vick – soprano saxophone
  • Buzzy Linhart – vibraphone
  • Larry Fallon – string arrangement

Track listing:

All tracks by Nona Hendryx except where noted.

  1. Won’t Get Fooled Again – Pete Townshend
  2. Sunday’s News
  3. If I Can’t Have You
  4. Ain’t It Sad It’s All Over
  5. Peace With Yourself – Sarah Dash
  6. Moonshadow – Cat Stevens
  7. Touch Me All Over
  8. I Believe That I’ve Finally Made It Home
  9. People Say They’re Changing

Leon Ndugu Chancler

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On February 3, 2018, Leon “Ndugu” Chancler died aged 65. He was musician (drums, percussion), composer, music producer and university professor. He recorded and performed with numerous famous artists including Mile Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson,  Eddie Harris, Patti LaBelle, John Lee Hooker, Donna Summer, George Benson, Robbie Robertson, Syreeta Wright, Hampton Hawes, Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, George Duke, Sheena Easton, Peabo Bryson, Joe Henderson, Lionel Richie, Cheryl Lynn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tina Turner, Patrice Rushen, Jennifer Holliday, Harold Land, Minnie Riperton, Azar Lawrence, Santana, Lalo Schifrin, Julian Priester, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Hancock.

Fourplay: Same

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On September 17, 1991, “Warner Bros” label released the self-titled, debut Fourplay album. It was recorded 1990 – 1991, at “Ocean Way Recording”, “Sunset Sound” in Hollywood, “Pyramid Studios” in Los Angeles, “Starlight Studios” in Malibu, California, and was produced by Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason.

Personnel:

  • Bob James– Yamaha C7 MIDI grand piano, keyboards, synthesizers, programming, executive producer
  • Lee Ritenour– electric guitars, classical guitars, guitar synthesizer
  • Nathan East– 5-string bass, 6-string bass, backing vocals
  • Harvey Mason– drums
  • Harvey Mason Jr.– synthesizer programming, computer programming
  • El DeBarge– lead and backing vocals
  • Darryl DeBarge – backing vocals
  • Patti LaBelle– backing vocals, BGV arrangements
  • Philip Bailey– backing vocals
  • Don Murray – recording, mixing
  • Geoff Gillette – additional recording
  • Khaliq Glover – additional recording
  • Femi Jiya – additional recording
  • Mike Kloster – engineer assistant
  • Paul May – engineer assistant
  • Clif Norrell– engineer assistant
  • Harvey Mason Jr. – technical assistance
  • Robert Vosgien – digital editing
  • Wally Traugott – mastering
  • Kim Champagne – art direction
  • Leslie Wintner – design
  • Stuart Watson – photography
  • O’Brien and Schridde – band photography
  • Debra Johnson – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Bali Run – Lee Ritenour, Bob James
  2. 101 Eastbound – Nathan East, Marcel East
  3. Fourplay – Lee Ritenour
  4. Moonjogger – Bob James
  5. Max-O-Man – Harvey Mason Sr, Michael Lang
  6. After the Dance – Marvin Gaye, T-Boy Ross, Leon Ware
  7. Quadrille – Bob James
  8. Midnight Stroll – Harvey Mason
  9. October Morning – Lee Ritenour
  10. Wish You Were Here – Lee Ritenour
  11. Rain Forest – Bob James

Bob Crewe

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On September 11, 2014, Bob Crewe died aged 83. He was songwriter, singer, manager, and music producer, owner of the record label “DynoVoice Records”. He recorded by the name Bob Crewe Generation, and had hit recordings with  the Rays, Diane Renay, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Freddy Cannon, Lesley Gore, Oliver, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle and Barry Manilow.

Labelle: Phoenix

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On August 19, 1975, “Epic” label released “Phoenix” is the fifth Labelle album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Allen Toussaint.

Personnel:

  • Nona Hendryx, Patti Labelle, Sarah Dash- vocals
  • Edward Batts – electric and acoustic guitar
  • Leo Nocentelli, Steve Hughes, Teddy Royal- guitar
  • James Ellison – keyboards
  • Allen Toussaint- Fender Rhodes, arrangements
  • James Booker– organ
  • Carmine “Pee Wee” Rojas- bass
  • George Porter, Jr.– bass
  • Herman Ernest III – drums
  • Larry Davis – drums
  • Jeffrey Shannon – percussion
  • Jim Moore – alto and tenor axophone, flute
  • Lon Price – tenor saxophone
  • Carl Blouin – baritone saxophone
  • John Longo – trumpet
  • Steve Howard – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Lester Caliste – trombone
  • Don Puluse, Ken Laxton – engineer
  • Tom Huetis – photography
  • Vicki Wickham- executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Nona Hendryx; except where noted.

  1. Phoenix (The Amazing Flight of a Lone Star)
  2. Slow Burn
  3. Black Holes in the Sky
  4. Good Intentions
  5. Far As We Felt Like Goin’ – Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan
  6. Messin’ with My Mind
  7. Chances Go Round – Nona Hendryx, Edward Levone Batts, James Budd Ellison
  8. Cosmic Dancer
  9. Take the Night Off
  10. Action Time – Edward Levone Batts, James Ellison; with additional lyrics by Nona Hendryx

Grover Washington

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On December 17, 1999, Grover Washington, Jr. died aged 56. He was musician (saxophone), composer and arranger, considered to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre. Some of his most popular works feature his own compositions and covers of “Mister Magic”, “Take Five”, “Soulful Strut”, “Reed Seed”, “Black Frost”, “Winelight”, “Inner City Blues” and “The Best is Yet to Come”.  In his career he has performed and recorded with many famous musicians, including Kathleen Battle, Kenny Burrell, Hank Crawford, Charles Earland, Dexter Gordon, Urbie Green, Eddie Henderson, Masaru Imada, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Idris Muhammad, Gerry Mulligan, Don Sebesky, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, Melvin Sparks, Leon Spencer, Mal Waldron, Randy Weston, Bill Withers and Patti LaBelle.

Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa

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NMT

On April 16, 1990, concert named “Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa” was held at Wembley Stadium, London. It was held two months after Nelson Mandela was released from prison and was broadcasted in 60 countries. The concert artist line-up included: Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Tracy Chapman, Stetsasonic, André A. Jackson, Aswad, Ben Elton, Caiphus Semenya, Daniel Lanois, Denzel Washington, Dudu Pukwana, Geoffrey Oreyama, George Duke, Jerry Dammers, Johnny Clegg, Jonas Gwangwa, Jungle Brothers, Lenny Henry, Letta Mbulu, Little Steven, Manhattan Brothers, Mica Paris, Neneh Cherry, Neville Brothers, Patti Labelle, Shikisha, Steven Van Zandt,Terence Trent D’Arby and Youssou N’Dour.