Released in 1971, this self-titled LP was the first album that
Patti LaBelle,
Nona Hendryx, and
Sarah Dash recorded under the name
Labelle. Never again would they use the name Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, and that's just as well; since the group had a new sound and a new image, it made sense to have a new name. And make no mistake:
Labelle was determined to forge ahead in 1971. While pop considerations were a high priority for Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, soul considerations define
Labelle: a tough, gritty, gospel-drenched effort along the lines of
Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, and
Etta James. Produced by
Vicki Wickham (the group's manager) and
Kit Lambert, this decent, if uneven, LP isn't in a class with subsequent gems like 1974's
Nightbirds and 1975's Phoenix. Nonetheless,
Labelle's performances are generally enjoyable, and the group brings plenty of passion and sincerity to original material as well as covers of
Laura Nyro's "Time and Love,"
Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," and
the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." In 1971, the best was yet to come for
Labelle, both creatively and commercially. But despite its imperfections, this LP made it clear that the trio had great potential. ~ Alex Henderson