Flashback Friday – Patti LaBelle – I’m In Love Again
I’m in love again
This I mean it
In love again
So in love again
What lies between us is discovering
This time it’s for real
Wow, how many times have we heard ourselves or our friends say that? My personal joy about doing these flashbacks is that I get to pull out some of my old vinyl and blow the dust off of them. In my early 20’s, going to a Patti LaBelle concert was an event. I had a friend who always had to have the best seats for her concerts so we would go to the ticket brokers and pay a little extra for the good seats. From 1983-86, we never missed her when she came to town. I was not one of those people that went running up on stage when she asked for people to come dance with her during “Lady Marmalade” but I did have my trusty Kodak Disc camera with the telephoto lense so I got some good photos. Come on now, I know I was not the only one who brought a camera to a concert trying to get that one good shot. Thank God for time and wisdom. She always had fierce gowns and her hair was a creation of its own. She came to sing you into the heavens and that is exactly what she did. You could never really capture on record the magnitude of her live shows. She loved her audience and she let us know throughout the evening. She also made us feel like we were part of her family as she shared stories about her loved ones. My favorite part of her concerts was when Patti would kick off her shoes roll across the floor on “Isn’t It A Shame.” Toss in Patti singing “You Are My Friend” and I would just melt. Her background singers, The Sweeties, were sparrows in their own right and kept up with Patti every step of the way which was no easy task. I also got to see Patti in the gospel musical, “Your Arms Too Short To Box With God” and she was spectacular.
As I listen to “I’m in Love Again”, “Lover Man”, “Love, Need, and Want You” and “If Only You Knew” from her I’m in Love Again album (1983), I am filled with memories of sharing good music with good friends. This was definitely a side A album and I can remember playing it over and over again. Side B was more uptempo and less memorable but side A was for lovers or at least it made you wish you were in love again and again.
I dedicated this flashback to all my friends and family near and far and wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Don’t worry, I will post again before turkey day!
Patti was cool. Going to clubs and seeing impersonation shows had me hiding in the back of the clubs while seeing it, but the songs themselves? Absolute classics.
we talked about this and you know i love this album….i may have to pull it out and give it a good listen all over again….talk to you.
patti labelle a great singer.
are you cooking for thanksgiving or visiting house to house? *lol*
Gee… thanks James… you just reminded me I want to get the Patti Christmas cd… Amazon.com thanks you…. hahahahah.
i’ve never been big into patti. i do acknowledge her as one of the greatest voices of all times. but i just feel like she always had bad writers. they didn’t capture her truly.
imma listen to this to see if i can feel it like others do.
Happy turkey day, James…My first Patti concert was at the Park West. Front row center. I was with my significant other, but Patti was singing to me. She sold out every show. Aside from Gladys and Aretha, Patti is my favorite, with Anita Baker holding her own. Patti’s concerts always seem so personal. She is always so gracious and so down to earth. I will follow her anywhere. Keep doing the great job that you do,
Love you!! 😉
I never had this album, but I played the heck out of “If Only You Knew” on the jukebox at the sandwich shop that used to be at the corner of Euclid Street and Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C., just up the street from my high school, during my freshman and sophomore year.