In 1961, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash of the Del Capris joined Patricia Holt and Sandra Tucker as replacement singers for Holt's singing group, The Ordettes. When Tucker's parents made her leave the group, she was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. Patricia Holt had her name changed to Patti LaBelle after the group became The Bluebelles. Though the first single was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" (released as the Bluebelles), LaBelle relays in her memoir (Don't Block The Blessings) that the group didn't actually perform on the original track. As she tells it, the song's producer had recorded it with Starlets and renamed them the Bluebelles, but the group left upon the single's release. He quickly recruited the Ordettes to perform and promote the single using the Bluebells' moniker, and "I Sold My Heart To The Junkman" was later recut by the new group. The song was a hit, as was the new Bluebelle's 1963 follow-ups "Down the Aisle", "You'll Never Walk Alone" (1964; Rodgers & Hammerstein) and "Danny Boy" (a traditional Irish folk song). They signed with Atlantic Records in 1965, releasing "Over the Rainbow" and "Groovy Kind of Love" (later a hit for the Mindbenders and Phil Collins) with only mild success. They also contributed background vocals to Tony Kosinec's "Simple Emotion" and Wilson Pickett's hit "634-5789" in 1966. Along the line, they had extended their name to Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles.
In 1967, the group became a trio after Cindy Birdsong left to join the Supremes, replacing Florence Ballard. Three years later, the group lost their contract and hired Vicki Wickham, a British TV producer, to remake their image. She changed the name to Labelle and pushed the group to a more contemporary sound, incorporated glam influences, particularly in the spectacular spacey stage costumes that included large amounts of glitter, feathers and other acoutrements. In the early 70s, Labelle opened for the Who and lent their unmistakably powerful vocals to Laura Nyro's Gonna Take a Miracle album in 1971 (now considered a classic). Two songs from this album ("Desiree" and "Gonna Take a Miracle") were used in the 2004 Colin Farrell film A Home at the End of the World to great dramatic effect -- especially "Gonna Take a Miracle," at the end of the film. Labelle also contributed to Nikki Giovanni's "Peace Be Still".
The group released Labelle in 1971 on Warner Brothers Records. It included covers of songs by the Rolling Stones, Kenny Rogers, Carole King and Laura Nyro. The following album, Moonshadow (1972), even though it included covers of famous songs ("MoonShadow" by Cat Stevens and the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again"), gave Hendryx more freedom to write material for Labelle. The album flopped commercially, as did the third Labelle album, Pressure Cookin, (1973), released on RCA Records. By this time and until Labelle's break-up, Hendryx wrote most of Labelle's material, taking the songs in a highly experimental direction that was a far cry from the sound that the Bluebelle's (and most other "girl groups" of the era) had performed. Although the album wasn't commercially successful, Pressure Cookin' allowed her to hone her talents as a songwriter, clearly demonstrated by the moving "(Can I Speak to You Before You Go to) Hollywood," which was based on the way the ladies felt when people who had "made it" in the business no longer were interested in keeping in contact with Patti, Sarah, or Nona.
After Pressure Cookin', Labelle signed with Epic Records and recorded an album, Nightbirds, with Allen Toussaint, a famous record producer. "Lady Marmalade", a sexy, funky disco song about a New Orleans prostitute(with a come-hither French chorus, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?") became a massive hit in 1975 and one of the first mainstream disco hits (Jones and Kantonen, 1999). The success of the single also pushed the album to the top of the charts. It would be covered by numerous artists including Madchester-era indie The Happy Mondays (spliced into "Kinky Afro") and most notably Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and P!nk for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.
Labelle's commercial momentum after Nightbirds and "Lady Marmalade" decreased, in spite of several hits and the critically acclaimed experimental albums Phoenix (1975) and Chameleon (1976). When the group split up in 1976, Hendryx and LaBelle managed successful solo careers, while Sarah Dash had a few notable dance hits: "Sinner Man" (1978, which gained her much public attention), and "Lucky Tonight" (1984), with Sylvester singing background vocals. Dash also acted on television for the PBS series "Watch Your Mouth," (1978), and has performed on Broadway. Her career picked up again om the 90s when she was asked to sing with The Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels album, and even more so when she became one of Keith Richards' "X-pensive Winos," and was given solo and duet opportunities with his band (namely the (duet) ballad, "Make No Mistake," and solo "Time Is on My Side," which Richards said in his autobiography is "the best version he has ever heard").
LaBelle, Hendryx, and Dash have reunited several times including a famed 1991 reunion at the Apollo Theater 30 years after the group first stole the audience's hearts at the same venue. The concert was recorded as a live album. A brief reunion came in the form of the huge dance succes "Turn It Out," from the To Wong Foo soundtrack. They reunited again in 2001 to honor Patti on BET's "Walk of Fame," where the performed an explosive version of "What Can I Do for You," as well as "Lady Marmalade" The most recentl reunion was in 2005 during a tribute to Patti's 45th anniversary in show business. In January 2006, Labelle again reunited to record "Dear Rosa," a tribute to the late civil rights champion Rosa Parks. The release date of the single has not been set at this time. There are also plans for an entire reunion album and tour, most likely to happen in 2007. In addition, Labelle will contribute songs for the soundtrack for the upcoming film, "Preaching to the Choir."
There are other artists with the same name:
2) LaBelle (aka LaBelle Rocks) is a rock band from Madrid, Spain with strong influence from 1950s music and appearance. Their current lineup consists of Alicia Montesquiu, Pedro Herrero, Mey Alean and Carlos Mirat.
Cinema is his first album produced by filmmaker Juanma Bajo Ulloa with a first celebrated single FIRE! and the musical production by Fernando Montesinos and David Kano. His second album Accidents a very personal and enveloping work, again with the musical talent of Fernando Montesinos in production for Noisy Sound and Paco Ortega for Musigrama in one of the songs.
3) Labelle (JΓ©rΓ©my Labelle,Maloya-Electronic Composer from Reunion Island. Founder member of Eumolpe.)
"...Resolutely syncretic, the universe of Labelle unites Maloya (from RΓ©union traditional music) and electronics, colored with Indian and African touches..."
What Can I Do for You
Labelle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or nothing at all
People want sincerity
And nothing more
People need happiness as land needs rain
We need rain we need light we need love
Yes you'll find it so hard
To live without love love love
Love love love
Whoa just say yeah (oh yeah)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
People want to live (uh huh)
Not merely exist
People want to enjoy
Not suffer and fear no no no
People need understanding
Not tensions or confusion no no
Oh I wonder should the people who present us this solution talk about love love love
Love love love
Love love love
Oh yeah
Just say yeah (oh yeah)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Say yeah
Ooh yeah
We need power
We need power
We need peace
Peace
Peace
Peace
I think we'll all agree
I think we'll all agree
That's not fighting (fighting)
That's not fighting
Because this ain't war
This ain't war
This ain't war
This ain't war
I know it's not too late to love love love
Love love love
Love love love
Love love love
Love love love
What can I do for you
What can you do for me
The lyrics of Labelle's song "What Can I Do For You?" are centered around the universal human desire for happiness, peace, sincerity, and love. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as it highlights how people want genuine and authentic things, or nothing at all. The lyrics suggest that people want to live fulfilling lives and enjoy themselves, rather than just existing and suffering. The repetition of the phrase "love love love" emphasizes the importance of love in people's lives, and the need for understanding and peace rather than tension and confusion.
The song's chorus encourages listeners to say "yeah" in agreement that love and peace are what we need in our lives, and the repetition of the phrase "we need power, we need peace" reinforces this message. The lyrics also touch on the idea that we should work towards love and peace, rather than engaging in wars and conflicts. The closing lines of the song suggest that we can do something for each other by extending love to those around us.
Overall, "What Can I Do For You?" is a thought-provoking ode to the power of love and the need for understanding and sincerity in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
People want true things
People desire honesty and authenticity
Or nothing at all
Anything less than the truth is unacceptable
People want sincerity
People crave genuine emotions
And nothing more
There are no substitutes for authenticity
People need happiness as land needs rain
People require joy and contentment for sustenance
We need rain we need light we need love
We depend on the sustenance provided by nature and affection
Yes you'll find it so hard
Life is challenging
To live without love love love
Without love, life is incomplete
Whoa just say yeah (oh yeah)
Express agreement and acceptance
People want to live (uh huh)
People desire a meaningful existence
Not merely exist
Life should be more than just survival
People want to enjoy
People want pleasure and fulfillment
Not suffer and fear no no no
Avoiding pain and anxiety is essential
People need understanding
People require clarity and insight
Not tensions or confusion no no
Simplicity and harmony are desired
Oh I wonder should the people who present us this solution talk about love love love
Perhaps those offering solutions should address the importance of love
We need power
We require strength and influence
We need peace
We crave tranquility and harmony
I think we'll all agree
I believe we are all on the same page
That's not fighting (fighting)
Avoiding conflict is preferable
Because this ain't war
There is no need for hostility or aggression
I know it's not too late to love love love
It is never too late to embrace love
What can I do for you
How can I be of assistance to you?
What can you do for me
What kind of help or support can you offer me?
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@xiaothe1
In these turbulent times these lyrics still speak truth-"People want true things
Or nothing at all
People want sincerity
And nothing more
People need happiness as land needs rain
We need rain we need light we need love
Yes you'll find it so hard
To live without love love love
Love love love
Love love love" β€
Happy Birthday πPatti
πΉππΉ πΌLabelle- one of the greatest female groups ever...πΆ
@Analisa416
Read these lyrics, true in my life, but true for our times. Indeed ahead of their time.
People want truth
Or nothing at all
People want sincerity
And nothing false
People need happiness as land needs rain from above
We need rain-we need life-we need love
Most people find it so hard to live
Without love, love, love
To live without love, love, love
Oh yeah-oh yeah
People want to live
Not merely exist
People want to enjoy
Not suffer and fear
People need understanding
Not impatience nor confusion
Oh, I wonder, should we hate
Those who present us disillusion
They talk about love, love, love
And they lie about love, love, love
They talk about love, love, love
Oh yeah-oh yeah
We need power, we need power
And we need peace, peace, peace, peace
I think we all agree
Let's stop fighting, let's stop fighting
And become sis and bro, 'sis and bro'
Sis and bro', sis and bro'
And show it's not too late to love, love, love
What can i do for you? What can you do for me?
@pathfinderstravelmagazine2903
RIH Sarah. Killing it on the harmony.
@williamwashington1986
Sarah's vocals are so outstanding!! She definitely shines!! She adds such flavor to this LaBelle masterpiece! Love you Sarah! R.I.P.ππ₯°πππ
@shahcarramanne1226
Oh my I had know idea she passed away but I wanted to say I agree with you 100%. This is one of my favorite songs by them and I absolutely love hearing Sarah on this.
@williamwashington1986
@@shahcarramanne1226 I couldn't agree with you more!! For me those that strong blend of background vocals ( Sarah, Nona and Patti) makes the song amazing!! Yes Sarah passed last year and a few nights before that she and Patti were on stage together. You can look it up on YouTube. It's really brief but worth watching!! πππ
@carmenortiz3737
Yes indeed....I love da crystal on her bellybutton...sexy.
@SeanDenard
I agree plus I didnβt know she passed as well
@benjamincarter1884
Thanks for info about Sarah Dash.
Patti wasn't the only high voice in the Trio. I sure hate one them has passed.
I actually like this one better than Lady Marmalade
@blairwilliams6452
Patti, Nona Sarah Way ahead of their time.
@Dwhite4
Nona Hendryx is an awesome writer. Some of her songs have such a groove and message. Where is music like this today?
@langelo04
NO WHERE!!