Labelle: Nightbirds - 1974
Thought to be Labelle's best album by many critics, this is more new Orleans brassy soul than disco, but many consider it a disco album, largely because of the punchy floor-filler Lady Marmalade (which strangely did not become a single hit until the summer of 1976). Backed by various members of New Orleans funkers The Meters and produced by legendary funkman Allen Toussaint, the album is a muscular, in-your-face offering. Other highlights are the grinding funk of Are You Lonely? , Somebody Somewhere , the also gloriously funky Don't Bring Me Down and What Can I Do For You? I really like the quirky, electronic-ish Space Children too. All Girl Band has the girls telling us how they cope against their adversities and come out stronger. Girl power here - twenty and more years earlier. It is the brassy soul stompers which take one's attention, but the ballads like It Took A Long Time , the Gladys Knight-esque You Turn Me On and Nightbird are top quality too