Before Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash morphed into the futuristic soul trio known as Labelle and became one of the greatest girl groups of the 70s, all three women - along with Cindy Birdsong - were members of one of the greatest girl groups of the 60s, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles.
Originally based in Philadelphia, the quartet enjoyed a modicum of chart recognition and sales during a two-year period (1962-64) with Newtown Records and then Parkway Records.
After an appearance on a 1964 Atlantic LP, Saturday Night at the Uptown, the quartet signed with the label and recorded over thirty tracks for the label over a four-year period.
Among the sides were two albums: Over the Rainbow (1965), a Top 20 R&B LP produced by Bert Berns, whose title track was also a Top 20 R&B hit single along with "All or Nothing," which also charted; and Dreamer (1967), which contained the R&B-charting singles "I'm Still Waiting" (produced by Curtis Mayfield) and "Take Me for a Little While."
In 1967, with the departure of Cindy Birdsong (who joined the Supremes), the remaining trio recorded a number of singles between 1967 and 1969, with production by Jerry Williams Jr., Memphis songwriters Chips Moman & Dan Penn, Bob Gallo, Don Davis and others; however, none achieved any chart success and in 1969, the group left Atlantic.
This 2-CD anthology from Real Gone Music, produced and annotated by soul music historian David Nathan/SoulMusic Records and remastered by Alan Wilson at Western Star Studio (and featuring some great photos), contains all 35 sides released by Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles on Atlantic along with four previously unissued tracks recorded in 1969.
A treasure trove for any fan of 60s girl groups and soul!
This 2 CD set is a must for any Patti LaBelle, and Labelle fan! Every known song that Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles recorded for Atlantic Records for from 1966-1969 is here.
This set illustrates not only Patti's vocal range, but also the range of styles that the group did. Disc 1 is mainly comprised of the 2 albums that they recorded for Atlantic- OVER THE RAINBOW and DREAMER, with a handful of previously released live songs.
The first Atlantic singles " ALL OR NOTHING " and " I'M STILL WAITING " are my favorites among the original songs here, as well as the uptempo b-side " FAMILY MAN ". The group excels on Soul inflected Pop material like ' A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE " and " YOU FORGOT HOW TO LOVE ".
Back in 1966, the label wanted the group to do ballads and standards in the hopes of attracting adult audiences.
This is where Patti's first version of " OVER THE RAINBOW " was recorded, and of course, it would go on to greater heights as one of the anthems in her solo career in the 80's until today. T
Disc 1
1. Danny Boy (Live) - 3:18
2. That's How Many Heartaches Are Made (Live) - 2:24
3. Down the Aisle (Live) [Japan 2012 Remaster] - 4:33
4. One Phone Call (Live) [Japan 2012 Remaster] - 3:30
5. Where Are You (Live) - 3:42
6. Patti's Prayer - 2:21
7. Groovy Kind of Love - 2:11
8. All or Nothing - 2:26
9. Who Can I Turn To - 3:07
10. You Forgot How to Love - By Patti Labelle & The Bluebells - 2:24
11. Unchained Melody - 3:38
12. Ebb Tide - 2:19
13. He - 2:43
14. Try to Remember - 3:14
15. People - 4:31
16. Yesterday - 2:!3
17. More - 2:11
18. Over the Rainbow - 2:54
19. I'm Still Waiting - 3:24
20. Family Man - 3:04
Disc: 2
1. Always Something There to Remind Me - 2:36
2. I Don't Want to Go on Without You - 2:41
3. Take Me for a Little While - 2:39
4. Tender Words - 2:29
5. Dreamer - 2:23
6. Oh My Love - 2:57
7. I Need Your Love - 2:13
8. He's My Man - 2:26
9. Wonderful - 3:07
10. How Can You Throw My Love Away - 2:29
11. Dance to the Rhythm of Love - 2:56
12. Pride's No Match for Love - 2:37
13. He's Gone - 2:56
14. (1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days - 2:42
15. Forget It - 2:24
16. Never for Me - 2:49
17. Loving Rules - 2:28
18. Suffer - 2:26
19. When Joe Touches Me - 2:29
20. Trustin' in You - 2:26
Companies, etc.
- Remastered At – Western Star
- Manufactured By – Rhino Custom Products
Notes
Format: 2x CD, Compilation, Remastered
Released: 014
Genre: Funk / Soul
Length: 1:52:20
Label: Real Gone Music
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