LaBelle - Pressure Cookin '1973 [2014]

Tracks list

Originally the quartet Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles (Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx
and Cindy Birdsong – before Birdsong’s departure made it a trio),
the transformation from bouffant wigs and the reworking on standards such as
“Over The Rainbow” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
to a futuristic, space-age-clad trio of high-powered vocalists finally took hold
with the 1973 release of Labelle’s sole album for RCA Records, PRESSURE
COOKIN.’
The transition from ‘60s girl group to ‘70s
funk’n’soul sisters had been masterminded by former British TV
producer Vicki Wickham who oversaw the production of the production of
Labelle’s recordings for Track Records and two albums for Warner Brothers
(a self-titled 1971 set and 1972’s “Moonshadow”). PRESSURE
COOKIN’ boasted seven compositions by Hendryx including the now-classic
“(Can I Speak To You Before You Go To) Hollywood?” which became a
staple of the trio’s dynamic live performances.
Stevie Wonder penned the album’s lone single, “Open Up Your
Heart” as well as co-producing the track and “Going On A
Holiday” (although uncredited for contractual reasons on both cuts).
PRESSURE COOKIN’ also included an inspiring medley of Thunderclap
Newman’s “Something In The Air” and Gil Scott-Heron’s
timeless “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”
Originally reissued in the US in 2010, the CD has been generally unavailable for
the last few years and includes notes by renowned US writer A. Scott Galloway,
edited from the original 2010 essay with quotes from Vicki Wickham, Nona Hendryx
and Sarah Dash.


Tracks:

1 Pressure Cookin
2 Medley: Something in the Air / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
3 Sunshine (Woke Me up This Morning
4 (Can I Speak to You Before You Go To) Hollywood
5 Mr. Music Man
6 Goin on a Holiday
7 Let Me See You in the Light
8 Open up Your Heart
9 Last Dance

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