Totally new to this record, one that I don't think I've noticed before. For me the name "LaBelle" equals seventies quality disco, but this is far from that. As I'm learning now the original quartet here - Pattti LaBelle, Cindy Birdsong (earlier in the Ordettes) plus Nona Hendryx and Sara Dash (formerly The Del Capris) - had a very different direction in the sixties and after Cindy Birdsong left to join The Supremes the remaining trio changed both name and aim. This is as far from disco as you can get. Languishing heavily orchestrated ballads, carefully arranged and produced. It could be tagged "lounge music"...if it weren't for the singing. I hear here two worlds clashing - music a posh milieu at upper Manhattan, vocals street-smart ghetto. Starting with "Over The Rainbow" where Patti's shouting, howling and wining the vocals over soft strings...and then going on till the last track with more or less unbridled vocals from the girls, all the time to tidy and well organized arrangements. The guy who sold it to me said it was boring, but I don't agree at all. To my ears the meeting between elegant and unruly here instead makes it exciting and very good listening. Add to that both stereo mixes and audio are smashing and I got me a true keeper. Beautiful. Premiere US on Atlantic (SD/8119). Don't know of any other issues. First UK had label as shown here and thin laminated cover. (FÄV*) (ÄTHP*)
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