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Nightbirds by  ReleasedSeptember 13, 1974Recorded1974Studio, , , Length36:40 chronology
(1973)Nightbirds
(1974)
(1975) from Nightbirds ""
Released: November 5, 1974 (U.S.)
November 22, 1974 (U.K.)

Nightbirds is an album by the all-female singing group , released in 1974 on the  label. The album features the group's biggest hit, the number-one song "", and it became their most successful album to date.

Background

Labelle was a group in search of a hit. Despite creative control - member  began composing most of the group's material - the group hadn't had commercial success with their first three albums - ,  and , all albums had flirted with elements of  mixed with the group's soul/gospel roots from their days as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Despite this, the group became a draw as opening acts for ,  and . Following their opening act on the Stones' 1973 U.S. tour, Epic Records signed the act to its roster.

The group was assigned to notable New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint and the group was sent to Toussaint's hometown of New Orleans to work on the record that would eventually be released as Nightbirds. The album was recorded in two months. Along with their adaptation of -styled outfits during their live performances, the group incorporated elements of  music, something they started to include in their last album, Pressure Cookin on the song, "Goin' On a Holiday". The funk direction continued with songs such as "Are You Lonely", "Somebody, Somewhere", "Space Children" and their famous hit, "Lady Marmalade". More experimental glam rockers such as "Nightbirds" and "It Took a Long Time" showed the group's range while the album closer, "You Turn Me On" was a sexy R&B slow jam, which shocked past listeners of the Bluebelles' material.

Reception Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingA–

The album became their most successful to date, becoming their first album to hit both the pop and R&B charts - neither of their previous albums charted - peaking at number seven on the latter chart, thanks to the phenomenal success of the funk single, "Lady Marmalade", one of the few songs not written by Nona Hendryx. The group's only other hit single, "What Can I Do For You", was written by Queens, New York musicians Edward Batts and James Ellison, who would continue to work for Patti LaBelle following the split of the group. The other members of their touring band, Jeffrey Shannon, drums, Hector Seda, bass, and Leslie "Chuggy" Carter, percussionist, where all responsible for their individual instrumental arrangements, of which, many were used on the Nightbird album and on all live performances.

The album remains their most successful album, certified platinum in the U.S. for selling over a million copies. Due to this success, Labelle landed on the cover of .

Legacy

With Nightbirds, Labelle were praised for mixing their / sound with elements of  and . The success of the album's two singles also helped to pioneer the  movement, which peaked in the late 1970s and influenced dance music for three decades. In 2003, the album was ranked number 272 on 's magazine's list of , and 274 in a 2012 revised list. That same year, the album's leading hit track, "Lady Marmalade", was inducted to the . Several acts have covered "Lady Marmalade" into international successes on their own including covers by  and the quartet collaboration between singers , ,  and . "It Took a Long Time" was featured during the final scene and ending credits to the motion picture .

Release history

In addition the standard 2 channel  version the album was also released by Epic in a 4 channel  edition on  and . The quad LP was encoded using the  matrix format.

The album was reissued by Audio Fidelity on the  format in 2015. This version contains the complete stereo and quad mixes.

Track listing

All tracks are written by , except where noted.

Side oneNo.TitleWriter(s)Length1."", 3:562."Somebody Somewhere" 3:253."Are You Lonely?" 3:124."It Took a Long Time"Raymond Bloodworth, , Bob Crewe4:035."Don't Bring Me Down"2:48Side twoNo.TitleWriter(s)Length6.""Edward Batts, James Budd Ellison4:027."Nightbird" 3:098."Space Children" 3:029."All Girl Band"Allen Toussaint3:5010."You Turn Me On" 4:37