 NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Verve Records) - Three decades after the release of their last album, the formidable group Labelle (Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti LaBelle) returns in full form with 'Back To Now' (Oct 21, Verve). The anticipated new full-length album is well worth the thirty-year wait for loyal and new fans alike, featuring original songs with the vocal firepower, lush harmonies, sassy lyrics, and funky melodies true to Labelle's genre-defying legacy. From the politically tinged "System," to the potent "Tears For The World," to the soaring ballad and ode to the group's own re-ignition "Without You," Labelle's new music shimmers as brightly as ever. Working with different producers gives 'Back to Now' the rich variety one expects from Labelle, and a contemporary feel that resonates with both a new generation of fans, and those who fell in love with the trio during the "Lady Marmalade"-era. Wyclef Jean brings infectious dance music to "Roll Out," Lenny Kravitz injects a retro funk sound to "Candlelight," while the Masters of Philly Soul Kenneth Gamble & Leon A. Huff leave their mark on four of the album's most riveting tracks. Like Labelle's chart-toping 1974 album 'Nightbirds,' Hendryx had a heavy hand in writing the songs for this album, which convey messages of empowerment and passion. The album encore is the epic live recording of a Cole Porter-written song 'Miss Otis Regrets,' produced by Kit Lambert for Track Records in 1970 with pianist Nicky Hopkins and The Who's inimitable drummer Keith Moon. Pulled from the vault, this is the first time this heartbreaking song is available on CD. From their formation in 1961 at the dawn of the girl-group era, through their pioneering years fusing rock, soul, and funk, Labelle's innovation has set them apart in a genre all their own. Opening up for rock icons such as The Who and the Rolling Stones, the group continually pushed gender boundaries in music of black origin as they revolutionized the roles women played in R&B, rock 'n' roll, and even fashion.
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