Patti's first solo album – recorded after splitting with the group Labelle, moving into a more sophisticated Diva soul mode that kept her strong for years to come! The album's pretty great, stepping out into the solo soul realm with terrific footing – and the best tunes have a smoothed out modern approach that's actually quite refreshing – and a bit better than some of the work by Labelle in the late years! 9 tracks in all, including "Dan Swit Me", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", "I Think About You" and "Do I Stand A Chance". LP, Vinyl record album

A real standout in the early solo years of Patti Labelle – and a great set that reunites the singer with New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint – who'd previously worked some magic with Patti and the Labelle trio! Toussaint really grounds Patti's vocals wonderfully – giving them a solid footing that moves past the pop and disco of previous records, but which also doesn't just resort to New Orleans cliches, either. Either Toussaint or Labelle wrote most of the songs on the record – and together, they find a fresh batch of material that really helps establish the singers as one of the greatest female voices in soul. The whole album's a classic – well-balanced between mellow and upbeat numbers – and titles include "Find The Love", "Get Ready", "Give It Up", "Release", "I Don't Go Shopping", "Ain't That Enough", and "Don't Make Your Angel Cry". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

A bit one for Patti Labelle in the 80s – a set that crossed over big at the time, but which still has the lady in very soulful territory! Patti seems to sparkle most here on the mellower cuts – the gentle groovers and laidback ballads that helped open her up to a whole new audience, and which really give her a different sound than her 70s Labelle years. Titles include the Bacharach/Carol Bayer Sager title "On My Own" – sung as a duet with Michael McDonald – plus "Oh People", "There's A Winner In You", "Finally We're Back Together", "Beat My Heart Like A Drum", "Kiss Away The Pain", "Something Special", and "You're Mine Tonight". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman", "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Where Are You", "Down The Aisle", "Tear After Tear", "Danny Boy", "Have I Sinned", "C'est La Vie (You Never Can Tell)", "One Phone Call", and "I Believe". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Includes "Love Symphony", "Living Double", "Look To The Rainbow", "What Can I Do For You", "If You Don't Know Me By Now", and "Where I Wanna Be". LP, Vinyl record album

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

Smooth early 80s work from Patti – a bit over the top at times, but nicely restrained at others. Despite the fact that Patti's in the hands of top Philly International talents like Gamble & Huff, and Dexter Wansel – the effort's still very much her own, in full diva mode over a range of styles, from uptempo to mellow. Titles include "Family", "Boats Against The Current", "Shoot Him On Sight", "Over The Rainbow", "The Spirit's In It", and "I Fell In Love Without A Warning". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A stone classic in the genre of bad-rapping female soul – and one of the key albums cut by the trio of Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash! The arrangements and production are handled by David Rubinson, who gives the set a nicely polished feel that gets a bit past some of the slight cliches that had been creeping into the girls work – a style that shows them equally well skilled at mellower numbers than at the funkier rockier tunes that were their more familiar stock in trade. Titles include "Come Into My Life", "A Man In A Trenchcoat (Voodoo)", "Get You Something New", "Going Down Makes Me Shiver", "Gypsy Moths", and "Who's Watching The Watcher?". LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s crossover classic, and the album the put LaBelle over the top! The mighty Allen Toussaint is at the helm for this first Epic album to feature the trio of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash – and he really helps the group find an amazing new sound after their somewhat rougher, rootsier efforts for Warner Brothers! The new groove has plenty of Toussaint's New Orleans rhythms in the mix – but the overall sound is a bit smoother too – kind of a classy, clubby take on the Crescent City sound – one that still sounds wonderful after all these years. Most tunes have a vamping rhythm and lots of great electric piano – and titles include the massive hit "Lady Marmalade", the great title track "Nightbirds" – and "Space Children", "All Girl Band", "You Turn Me On", "What Can I Do For You?", and "It Took A Long Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A half dozen great soul and dance cuts from the label that dominated commercial R&B throughout the latter half of the 70s: "Love Is The Message" and "Mysteries Of The World" by MFSB, "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays, "Breaking & Entering" by Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by People's Choice and "Music Is My Way Of Life" by Patti Labelle. LP, Vinyl record album

One of Bobby Womack's biggest albums of the 80s – part of a set that helped reintroduce him to the soul music mainstream – and which has him standing tall as the superstar he is – with guest help from George Benson, Patti Labelle, and Wilton Felder! There's a new sort of sophistication to Bobby's music – never too smooth, especially on his vocals, which retain their original raspy charm – but a different vibe than the 70s, but one that's still very different than most mainstream soul of the time! Titles include "Tryin To Get Over You", "Through The Eyes Of A Child", "Love Has Finally Come At Last", "Who's Foolin Who", and "I Wish I Had Someone To Go Home To". LP, Vinyl record album

Smooth Gladys from later years – working without The Pips, but showing the world that she's still got a heck of a lot to offer! Includes duets with Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle, and David Peaston – and a track list that includes "Men", "Meet Me In The Middle", "Mr Love", "Waiting On You", "Good Woman", "Give Me A Chance", "Superwoman", and "Where Would I Be". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest girl groups of the fifties – and one of the few who could sing with the same sort of depth as the best male lineups of the time! The Chantels really know how to hit on all burners when they get going – which they do here – and their work of the time is hardly a precursor for bubble gum pop of the 60s, and should more be seen as the start of a tradition that would include later groups like Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles, or The Sweet Inspirations. The whole thing's great – and although production has a bit of echo and electric bass, the sound is nice and raw, and hardly pop at all – and in the best End Records tradition, the vocals stay center stage throughout. Titles include "Maybe", "The Pleae", "Whoever You Are", "Every Night", "If You Try", "Sure Of Love", "Whoever You Are", "He's Gone", and "Congratulations". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice little album that continues Marlena's 70s experiments in updating her jazzy vocal style to a sweet modern soul groove. As always, Marlena shows that she can handle a wide range of styles – from uptempo dancefloor material to more tender ballads, sparkling in a way that few other singers of her time could manage. Arrangements are by Bobby Bryant and Harold Wheeler – and the album's got a full-on approach that's a bit like some of Patti Labelle's work from the time. Titles include "Touch Me In the Morning", "I'll Be Your Friend", "Haven't We Been In Love Before?", and a strange reading of "It Was A Very Good Year". LP, Vinyl record album