| Nightbirds | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Labelle |
| Cover: | Labelle-Nightbirds (album cover).jpg |
| Released: | September 13, 1974 |
| Recorded: | 1974 |
| Studio: | Sea Saint, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Length: | 36:40 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Allen Toussaint |
| Prev Title: | Pressure Cookin' |
| Prev Year: | 1973 |
| Next Title: | Phoenix |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
Nightbirds is an album by the all-female singing group Labelle, released in 1974 on Epic Records. The album features the group's biggest hit, "Lady Marmalade". It became their best-selling album.
Nona Hendryx became the primary songwriter for the group. Their first three albums—Labelle, Moon Shadow, and Pressure Cookin'—had seen limited commercial success. These albums blended elements of rock music with the group's soul/gospel roots from their days as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Despite limited chart success, the group gained recognition as an opening act for artists such as The Who, Laura Nyro, and The Rolling Stones. After touring with the Rolling Stones in 1973, Labelle signed with Epic Records.
Producer Allen Toussaint was assigned to the group, and they traveled to Toussaint's hometown of New Orleans to record Nightbirds. The album was completed in two months. Reflecting their glam rock-inspired stage costumes, the group incorporated elements of funk, a style they had explored on their previous album, Pressure Cookin, with the song "Goin' On a Holiday." This funk influence is prominent in songs like "Are You Lonely," "Somebody, Somewhere", "Space Children," and "Lady Marmalade". Other tracks, such as "Nightbirds" and "It Took a Long Time," showcase the group's range, while "You Turn Me On" offered a departure from the Bluebelles' earlier material.
Nightbirds became Labelle's most successful album, reaching the pop and R&B charts. It peaked at number seven on the R&B chart, driven by the success of "Lady Marmalade," one of the few songs not written by Nona Hendryx. "What Can I Do For You," their other hit single from the album, was written by Edward Batts and James Ellison. Touring band members Jeffrey Shannon (drums), Hector Seda (bass), and Leslie "Chuggy" Carter (percussion) contributed instrumental arrangements to the album and live performances. The album was certified platinum in the U.S. for sales exceeding one million copies, and Labelle was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Nightbirds garnered praise for its fusion of R&B, soul, rock, and funk. The success of its singles contributed to the rise of disco. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked the album number 272 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, later revising its position to 274 in 2012.[1] "Lady Marmalade" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including All Saints and a quartet featuring Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim, and Pink. "It Took a Long Time" was featured in the film .
In addition to the standard stereo version, Nightbirds was released in quadraphonic format on LP record and 8-track tape, using the SQ matrix system. Audio Fidelity reissued the album on Super Audio CD in 2015, including both the stereo and quadraphonic mixes.
Technical
| Chart (1975) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[2] | 15 | |
| US Billboard 200[3] | 7 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] | 4 |
| Chart (1975) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[5] | 45 | |
| US Billboard 200[6] | 67 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] | 22 |