| The David Nathan Pages |
| LABELLE: TOMORROW'S BRIGHTEST STARS October 1974, In person interview conducted by David Nathan in the kitchen of Vicki Wickham's apartment in midtown Manhattan Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash had been working towards mainstream recognition in the U.S. for four years after making a transition from Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles into Labelle. When David caught up with the trio, their Epic debut "Nightbirds" was already causing a stir... (c) 2007, David Nathan/SCI Enterprises, All rights reserved |
Once upon a time, just about fourteen years ago, four foxy young ladies met up and decided to embark on the path that proverbially
leads over the rainbow.
The four young ladies had the determination and everyone who heard them said they had the talent but the path to success is full of
crazy paving and no one makes it easy. Having sold their hearts to the junkman in song, the girls were told that the way to the top would
come with the help of such folk as dear Danny Boy and maybe against their own better judgment, the four young ladies decided to offer
a curious mixture of bland standards and funky fever, fiery ballads and false eyelashes. Along the road, they found many others trying
the same thing and only the distinctive gospel-based lead vocals of Lady Patti set against strong harmonies from the remaining trio
helped the four young ladies keep their name known. But the going was tough and “Sweethearts of the Apollo” they may have been, but
the chitlin and cabaret circuit can only be done so many times. Then, one of our four young ladies decided to leave for something
possibly more supreme (or was it really?) and our legendary quartet became a trio.
And still the problems. Hit records are hard to come by, And on the road that leads over the rainbow, times can get tough. And
sometimes the signposts are wrong and where do you go from there? Across the Atlantic to discover a kindly godmother who decides
that the junkman, the rainbow and even Danny are a thing of the past. They must be replaced by some of the realities of life. After all, this
was a new decade – the seventies. The seventies meant sex, revolution, space children, Hollywood and a brand new era. So, after some
struggle and fight – because a decade of Danny and the rainbow ain’t that easy to forget – Patti, Nona and Sarah emerged as bright new
silver-suited soul sisters ready to tell it. But the world wasn’t quite ready and nor were the record companies...
leads over the rainbow.
The four young ladies had the determination and everyone who heard them said they had the talent but the path to success is full of
crazy paving and no one makes it easy. Having sold their hearts to the junkman in song, the girls were told that the way to the top would
come with the help of such folk as dear Danny Boy and maybe against their own better judgment, the four young ladies decided to offer
a curious mixture of bland standards and funky fever, fiery ballads and false eyelashes. Along the road, they found many others trying
the same thing and only the distinctive gospel-based lead vocals of Lady Patti set against strong harmonies from the remaining trio
helped the four young ladies keep their name known. But the going was tough and “Sweethearts of the Apollo” they may have been, but
the chitlin and cabaret circuit can only be done so many times. Then, one of our four young ladies decided to leave for something
possibly more supreme (or was it really?) and our legendary quartet became a trio.
And still the problems. Hit records are hard to come by, And on the road that leads over the rainbow, times can get tough. And
sometimes the signposts are wrong and where do you go from there? Across the Atlantic to discover a kindly godmother who decides
that the junkman, the rainbow and even Danny are a thing of the past. They must be replaced by some of the realities of life. After all, this
was a new decade – the seventies. The seventies meant sex, revolution, space children, Hollywood and a brand new era. So, after some
struggle and fight – because a decade of Danny and the rainbow ain’t that easy to forget – Patti, Nona and Sarah emerged as bright new
silver-suited soul sisters ready to tell it. But the world wasn’t quite ready and nor were the record companies...
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| LABELLE 1974 Interview (LAB-74-2007) Conducted by David Nathan, (c) 2007, David Nathan/SCI Enterprises |
