464: NIGHTBIRDS | LABELLE

Nightbirds is an album by the all-female singing group Labelle, released in 1974 on the Epic label. The album features the group's biggest hit, the number-one song "Lady Marmalade", and it became their most successful album to date.

Labelle was a group in search of a hit. Despite creative control - member Nona Hendryx began composing most of the group's material - the group hadn't had commercial success with their first three albums - Labelle, Moon Shadow and Pressure Cookin', all albums had flirted with elements of rock music mixed with the group's soul/gospel roots from their days as Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Despite this, the group became a draw as opening acts for The Who, Laura Nyro and The Rolling Stones. Following their opening act on the Stones' 1973 U.S. tour, Epic Records signed the act to its roster.

The group was assigned to notable New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint and the group was sent to Toussaint's hometown of New Orleans to work on the record that would eventually be released as Nightbirds. The album was recorded in two months. Along with their adaptation of glam rock-styled outfits during their live performances, the group incorporated elements of funk music, something they started to include in their last album, Pressure Cookin on the song, "Goin' On a Holiday". The funk direction continued with songs such as "Are You Lonely", "Somebody, Somewhere", "Space Children" and their famous hit, "Lady Marmalade". More experimental glam rockers such as "Nightbirds" and "It Took a Long Time" showed the group's range while the album closer, "You Turn Me On" was a sexy R&B slow jam, which shocked past listeners of the Bluebelles' material.