- Title: USA: Soul diva Patti LaBelle discovers new treasures in old recordings
- Date: 18th June 2008
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) LABELLE SAYING: "I'm on stage three days out of the week. I'm touring some place, I roll on the floor. I kick my shoes off, I cry, I laugh I hug. I make sure people end up you know, leaving all thinking the same way. Peace, respect and love. When you come to a Patti LaBelle concert you can be black white gay or straight. With eight billion dollars or eight dollars you are going to all leave touched by an angel."
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAB288LTD8YD5Y147406F0OZ045
- Story Text: After dazzling fans for decades, Grammy-winning soul diva Patti LaBelle has just released two records. The first CD, "Live In Washington D.C." a 1982 concert was discovered in vaults by old friends and producers.
Featuring some of LaBelle's earliest live solo-recordings to date, including 'If you Don't Know Me By Now,' 'The Spirit's In It,' and her famous hit, 'Lady Marmalade,' the album is produced with fellow Philadelphians, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
So how did an entire recording go undiscovered for over 26 years?
"Kenny is one of those stashers. He had that stuff and had plans for it - probably the night we recorded it. He said 'In about 20 years I'm going to put this album out on Patti,' said LaBelle.
"I know he had a plan until he called me and said 'Its a smash you have to hear it.'"
Along with the release of the 'Live' CD comes a new double-CD, which covers Patti's entire career from the 1960's to the 00's. 'The Essential Patti LaBelle' is a 30-song collection that includes Blue Belles' "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman"; LaBelle's "Moon Shadow," and solo hit "Joy To Have Your Love,"
A prolific artist, Patti's already back in the recording studios working on projects that include Missy Elliot, Lenny Kravitz and Wyclef Jean.
"We are recording a new LaBelle CD right now and I'm going in the studio right now for another solo project with Def Jam so I have a solo project that I have to do and God is good and its time for all this Patti LaBelle music to come out. Why not? I'm sixty four and fierce," said LaBelle.
LaBelle has a busy tour packed with North American tour dates and a long-awaited reunion with her R&B trio, LaBelle.
"I'm on stage three days out of the week. I'm touring some place, I roll on the floor. I kick my shoes off, I cry, I laugh, I hug. I make sure people end up you know, leaving all thinking the same way. Peace, respect and love. When you come to a Patti LaBelle concert you can be black, white, gay or straight. With eight billion dollars or eight dollars, you are going to all leave touched by an angel."
Meanwhile, LaBelle's been in the recording studio with her former band mates, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, working on their first full-length album in more than 33 years.
The album is being produced by singer Lenny Kravitz and Ken Gamble.
Not one to stay idle for a second, Patti's also working on a new solo album all on her own. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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