Phoenix (Labelle album)
| Phoenix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 19, 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1975 | |||
| Genre | Funk[1] | |||
| Length | 40:49 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Allen Toussaint | |||
| Labelle chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C[3] |
| PopMatters | (favourable)[1] |
Phoenix is the fifth album by the American singing trio Labelle. The album was moderately successful, peaking at #44 on the pop charts and #10 on the R&B charts. Only one minor hit was released, "Messin With My Mind", written by Nona Hendryx. The album is most notable for drifting away from the funk style of their previous album, Nightbirds, instead taking on a rock approach.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Nona Hendryx; except where indicated
- Side A
- "Phoenix (The Amazing Flight of a Lone Star)" (6:17)
- "Slow Burn" (3:32)
- "Black Holes in the Sky" (3:21)
- "Good Intentions" (3:57)
- "Far As We Felt Like Goin'" (2:58) (Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan)
- Side B
- "Messin' with My Mind" (4:36)
- "Chances Go Round" (Nona Hendryx, Edward Levone Batts, James Budd Ellison) (2:50)
- "Cosmic Dancer" (5:49)
- "Take the Night Off" (3:38)
- "Action Time" (Edward Levone Batts, James Ellison; with additional lyrics by Nona Hendryx) (3:51)
Charts
| Year | Album | Chart positions[4] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
AUS[5] | ||
| 1975/76 | Phoenix | 42 | 10 | 52 |
Personnel
- Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash - vocals
- Edward Batts - guitar; acoustic guitar on tracks A5, B5
- Carmine Rojas - bass guitar on tracks A4, B1, B5
- James Ellison - keyboards
- Larry Davis - drums
- Jeffrey Shannon - percussion
with:
- George Porter Jr. - bass on tracks A1 to A3, A5, B2 to B4)
- Herman Ernest III - drums
- Leo Nocentelli (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1 to B5), Steve Hughes (tracks: A4, B1, B5), Teddy Royal (tracks: A2, A5) - guitar
- Allen Toussaint - Fender Rhodes, arrangements
- James Booker - organ
- Carl Blouin - baritone saxophone
- Jim Moore - tenor & alto saxophone, flute
- Lon Price - tenor saxophone
- Lester Caliste - trombone
- John Longo - trumpet
- Steve Howard - trumpet, flugelhorn
- Vicki Wickham - executive producer
- Don Puluse, Ken Laxton - engineers
- Tom Huetis - photography
References
- ^ a b John Wikane, Christian (February 25, 2010). "Labelle: Nightbirds / Phoenix / Chameleon". popmatters.com. Popmatters.
- ^ "Labelle: Chameleon". allmusic.com. AllMusic.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ "Labelle US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 172. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.