Labelle is back!! Thirty-two years after they broke up as a trio, Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash have recorded another album, Back to Now, and plan on touring. I haven’t heard any of the songs yet–have you? What do you think?
Any Laura Nyro fan worth her/his salt knows the role Labelle played in Laura’s oeuvre: They added those wild, wailing background vocals to Gonna Take A Miracle, lending real-deal Philly soul to Laura’s homage to her own teen spirit. The album still remains a favorite; in fact, Out magazine recently judged it #39 on its list of the 100 Gayest Albums of all time, just one ranking below the beloved Dusty in Memphis.
Everyone knows where Patti LaBelle went after the group busted up–top of the charts–but Nona also put out some stellar solo albums (can’t say I ever heard from Sarah in all these years). I’ve always loved Nona’s voice, and saw her perform a few times (she’s in amazing shape).
OK, here are more more roundabout connections between Labelle and Laura and Vicki Wickham (Nona’s longtime partner, and the woman who introduced Laura and Patti) and Dusty, plus my old friend Norma Tanega. Labelle’s first big hit, of course, was “Lady Marmalade,” which was written by Bob Crewe. Bob produced Norma’s one-hit wonder, “Walking My Cat Named Dog,” which was arranged by Herb Bernstein. Herb arranged Laura’s first album, More Than A New Discovery. Norma went to England to promote “Dog,” met Dusty, and ended up moving in with her. Dusty was managed, on and off, by Vicki. Vicki also managed Labelle…. and around it goes.
It’s great to see “Gonna Take a Miracle” get recognized, even though back in the day I was completely oblivious to any sexual subtext Laura was putting out. I think I was so entranced by the piano, voice, chord schemes, etc., it never occurred to me to think much about artist behind the art. Probably what she wanted, anyway.
Also, Norma Tanega actually had a very, very, very minor follow up hit! She hit the Bubbling Under chart at #129 in May, 1966 with “A Street That Rhymes at Six A.M.” It’s a pretty good song too. If you like Norma, check out Verdelle Smith, a somwhat similar obscure 60s singer who had a minor hit with a wistful tune called “Tar and Cement.”
Happy Halloween!
I don’t really hear a gay subtext in “Gonna Take A Miracle”–it’s just the sort of album that appeals to gay sensibility: It’s daring, danceable, and full of divas! As “Out” magazine described the the albums on it’s Top 100, they’re the “seminal, flamboyant, trailblazing, gender-bending, campy, theatrical, audacious, unforgettable albums that changed our lives.”
And thank you, Tony, for Verdelle Smith and “Tar and Cement”! Never heard of either–but here it is on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUmtX9w99aE. I even hear a hint of Dusty’s very unusual timbre in her voice…
By the way, Dusty recorded a few songs that Norma wrote …
No gay subtext? What about “Desiree?”
Love the new Labelle album. Picks right up where they left off, but with a NOW sensibility.
Hey Michele, didn’t know you had a website, I was wondering where you were hiding. Great to read all your posts. A new day starts today.