Always thought 'Ghost Love' was the best cut on that album...strange ambient reggae soul/funk...a Bill Laswell production in a nutshell...
― sonnyboy, Wednesday, 17 November 2010 14:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
Was surprised to notice that Nona gets six of eight songwriting credits on Labelle's 1976 Chameleon LP. Other two songs are credited to outside writers. Not sure if that was business as usual for Labelle albums or not. (It's the only one I own.) Two of her songs, "Who's Watching The Watcher" and "A Man In The Trenchcoat (Voodoo)" start out teasing you into thinking they're going to sound like the hard funk rock of her debut solo album from a year later, but after a half-minute or so both wind up being more piano (think Billy Preston style maybe) than guitar oriented, which is disappointing though I kind of like them (especially the trenchcoat one) anyway. "Gypsy Moths" is sort of salsa, and the rest of the album very gospel-oriented. No songs even a tenth as catchy or memorable as "Lady Marmalade" (from '74's Nightbirds); now curious if Labelle ever did any other songs that were. (Christgau gave Chameleon a B-, Nightbirds an A-; I'll pick up the latter if I ever see it for a buck.)
― xhuxk, Sunday, 19 December 2010 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Other than "Bustin' Out" and Whitney Houston on on "Memories," I find One Down pretty stale; the funk sounds so damn constricted.
― Gus Van Sotosyn (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 December 2010 19:36 (2 years ago) Permalink
BBR reissued her solo debut last year. Hopefully they'll go on to reissue "Nona" as well.
― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 19 December 2010 19:46 (2 years ago) Permalink
xp And "One Down" wasn't even on the album as originally issued in 1982.
Actually, I do own one other Labelle album, just not on vinyl -- their 2008 comeback Back To Now, which is actually better than Chameleon. Two Nona-alone songwriting credits, and she collaborates on others, including the Wyclef Jean feature. Favorite tracks, last time I listened, were "The Truth Will Set You Free," "How Long," and the Cole Porter cover "Miss Otis Regets."
― xhuxk, Sunday, 19 December 2010 19:58 (2 years ago) Permalink
Oops, I meant to say "Bustin' Out" wasn't on the album as originally issued in 1982.
― xhuxk, Sunday, 19 December 2010 20:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
so you consider her first solo album her best?
― Gus Van Sotosyn (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 December 2010 20:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
Didn't know that the "Winning" on her first album is the same one with which Santana scored a hit in the early eighties.
― Gus Van Sotosyn (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 19 December 2010 20:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
you consider her first solo album her best?
Yeah, but remember, I'm hard rock guy! Your mileage may etc.
― xhuxk, Sunday, 19 December 2010 22:47 (2 years ago) Permalink
The second album is surely the one I miss. But the debut is interesting because it is so different from what you'd expect from an ex-Labelle member.
― You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Monday, 20 December 2010 17:10 (2 years ago) Permalink
All her solo albums getting reissued.
― lumber up, limbaugh down (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 15 January 2012 01:48 (1 year ago) Permalink
!!!
― Display Name (this cannot be changed):, Sunday, 15 January 2012 15:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
wau -- no one bought'em?
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 7 May 2012 22:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
How do you know?
― Stars on 45 Fell on Alabama (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 May 2012 23:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
no trees in this forest
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 03:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
i reviewed her 1977 debut in MOJO last year, it's a solid 3/5.
― It was you. Miming to Tenacious D. (stevie), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 08:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
Nona is shit-hot.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 12 May 2012 15:59 (1 year ago) Permalink
Reason I bumped this, though: Somehow didn't realize til yesterday (listening to Ze's /A Christmas Record/) to what extent Madonna's "Holiday" was a blatant rewrite if not ripoff of Nona's 1981 "It's A Holiday" with Material. (Wouldn't be at all surprised if Madonna was listening to Ze stuff in the early '80s, either.)
Just listened on Spotify to the version on the Bustin' Out EP -- and I gotta say: I don't hear it at all.
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 12 May 2012 22:49 (1 year ago) Permalink