They refashioned "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens into a gospel stomp and opened for the Who -- "Back to Now" includes one cut from the vaults, a cover of Cole Porter's "Miss Otis Regrets" featuring Keith Moon on drums. They recorded an album with Laura Nyro and followed Bette Midler's famous engagement at New York's gay mecca the Continental Baths.
"It wasn't really accepted that black girls could sing these songs," said Wickham, who also managed Dusty Springfield, from New York. "A lot of Nona's songs had double entendres, it wasn't like radio was going to jump on it. The time really wasn't right, but I also think that we were so big on doing it live and having great audiences that nobody really said, 'Hang on a second, you need to have something that goes on radio.' "
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, October 12, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 33 words Type of Material: Correction
Labelle: An article in today's Arts & Books section about the vocal group Labelle said its new album, "Back to Now," is being released on the Vanguard label. Verve is releasing the album.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, October 19, 2008 Home Edition Sunday Calendar Part E Page 2 Calendar Desk 1 inches; 29 words Type of Material: Correction
Labelle: An article last Sunday about the vocal group Labelle said its new album, "Back to Now," was being released on the Vanguard label. Verve is releasing the album.
The Labelle legacy
"Nightbirds," Labelle's masterpiece, was recorded in New Orleans by that city's maestro, Allen Toussaint. "Lady Marmalade" is its signature tune, and remains a touchstone for young singers. The group's practice of sharing lead vocals was taken up by later female groups such as En Vogue and Destiny's Child, and solo artists including Fantasia and Christina Aguilera cite Patti LaBelle as an influence.
But the legacy of Labelle, the band, might be coming to the fore only now, as category-defining artists such as Gnarls Barkley and Santogold revive the legacy of black rock. Lenny Kravitz, an early adapter of that sound, produced several tracks on "Back to Now."
"In America more than other places, when you don't put something in a nice, neat box and label it and put a ribbon on it, it's hard for people to grasp," Kravitz said by phone from Paris, where he lives part time. "All the years I was trying to get a record deal I kept hearing, 'It's not black enough' or 'It's not white enough.' That's the same thing with Labelle.
Kravitz had planned to helm the whole project, but his touring schedule interfered. So the group turned to other producers, including Wyclef Jean (whose "Roll Out" is a cheerful attempt to adjust the Labelle sound for the auto-tuned era) and Patti's childhood friend Kenneth Gamble, who, with his partner Leon Huff, originated the forward-thinking Philly soul sound embodied by artists like the O'Jays. Their "Tears for the World" provided Labelle with a 21st century anthem -- and Patti with the album's most stunning vocal high note.
