Search - Patti Labelle :: Anthology

Incomplete LaBelle

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 03/13/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are just so many ways you can make a decent greatest hits record. It can make, or mostly break a reflection of any artist who has defined a legendary career. Yet for so many acts, there are very few that have achieved that as a whole. For Patti LaBelle, she has been one of those few artists that has not only defined that for nearly 45 years, but has kept the beats going on and ageism in just pure dust. Yet, she has had some very well put hits collections out, but there are just very few of them that don't hit that mark very well in the long term. This collection is unfortunately one of them.



Patti LaBelle: Anthology is a double album that reflects Patti on her own as a solo act, with LaBelle, and when she started with The Blubelles. The double-album is scattered all around, mainly focusing in on her reign during her time Philadelphia International during the late 70's and early 80's. The collection includes some great classics such as I'm In Love Again, the soulful If Only You Knew, On My Own with Michael McDonald, her remake of the classic Over The Rainbow, and many other songs. Yet, while there is so much to choose from, the collection also has some very surprising downsides. The album overlooks a few great classics Patti recorded including the Beverly Hills Cop track New Attitude, Oh People, Yo Mister, and other great sonnets that may discourage some longtime LaBelle followers.



All in all, the 2004 Patti LaBelle anthology is fair, but not a well released collection of her material. Instead, I strongly suggest you pick up another Patti LaBelle hits collection such as her 1996 Greatest Hits instead of this compilation. This one, that doesn't feel like another one, just is one that misses the mark quite a bit and without the new attitude.



Album Cover: B-



Mastering: B



Songs: C-



Price: D+



Overall: C-"

Excellent Performances; Incomplete Package

Eclectic Revisited | Arizona | 12/22/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"And it's the compilers with whom I have a problem. I own a number of anthologies and while they all don't necessarily present a singer's songs in the order in which they appeared, they are anthologies! ALL of the artist's work is presented with occasional exceptions for lesser hits, favored album cuts and the like. Patti soars on the songs here but where is "I Don't Go Shopping", "Little Girls" and "Down the Aisle" from the days when Cindy Birdsong, a future Supreme, was a backup singer? The former Patricia Holt does not let you down, but where do the packagers of "Anthology" get off representing this as a complete compilation of the great lady's work? Greedmerchants."