| Back to Now | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Labelle | ||||
| Released | October 21, 2008 April 20, 2009 (UK) |
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| Genre | Contemporary R&B, pop, rock | |||
| Length | 49:22 | |||
| Label | Verve, Universal | |||
| Producer | Lenny Kravitz, Wyclef Jean, Gamble & Huff | |||
| Labelle chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Back to Now | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com | [1] |
| Allmusic | [2] |
| Baltimore Sun | [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[4] |
| Village Voice | (favorable)[5] |
| Miami Herald | [6] |
Back to Now is the seventh and latest studio album by American R&B female group Labelle, released on October 21, 2008. The album is the group's first in over thirty years though they had sung on songs together on occasion.
In terms of the title, Labelle member Nona Hendrx explained to noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of 'Blues & Soul' "It basically stemmed from two of the songs on this album being songs I'd specifically written for what would have been the next Labelle album back in 1977. So the title 'Back To Now" is really signifiying that this record represents us really getting back to where we were. It's basically a continuation from where we stopped off."[7]
The first single is "Roll Out", which features and is produced by Wyclef Jean which had the three Labelle members Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash singing in autotune.
The album is also notable for the modest R&B charted ballad, "Superlover". Except for "The Truth Will Set You Free" in which Hendryx sings the lead over Lenny Kravitz's guitar and LaBelle's ad-libs in soprano and "System", which LaBelle, Hendryx and Dash each take a prominent lead vocal, the album is led as always by LaBelle, who gives a powerful vocal in the socially conscious "Tears for the World", a Hendryx composition.
The album is also notable for their tribute to civil rights activist Rosa Parks with "Dear Rosa" and also includes their 1971 rendition of the Cole Porter standard, "Miss Otis Regrets", which was originally recorded for sessions of their Warner debut, Labelle, but was cut from the album's final selection of tracks.
An iTunes edition of the album features the group's cover of Sylvester's disco hit, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)".
Contents |
Back to Now debuted at number 45 on Billboard's album chart in the issue dated November 8, 2008.[8] It also charted on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, debuting at number 9.[9] Back to Now is Labelle's seventh overall, and third highest-ranked album to chart in the United States.[9]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 45 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 9 |
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