It's Alright with Me is the third studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle, released in 1979 via Epic Records.[5] Produced by Skip Scarborough, the album was a success due to the popularity of the songs "Come What May" and "Music is My Way of Life", the latter finding success on the dance chart.
| It's Alright with Me | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 2, 1979 | |||
| Studio | Total Experience Recording Studios (Hollywood, California) Alpha International Studios (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Skip Scarborough[1] | |||
| Patti LaBelle chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | [4] |
Critical reception
editRolling Stone wrote that the "sleek arrangements are too tight to allow the aimless vocal overkill that marred so many earlier performances, yet they're flexible enough to avoid formulas."[1] The Bay State Banner thought that "sometimes [Labelle's] shrill yells and cries can wear on the ears, but the bulk of this album presents her most effectively, joining the past cosmic aura of the group Labelle with today's more earthy atmosphere."[6]
Track listing
editAll tracks produced by Skip Scarborough.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Alright with Me" | Skip Scarborough | 4:16 |
| 2. | "My Best Was Good Enough" | Scarborough | 2:47 |
| 3. | "What Cha Doin' to Me?" | Scarborough | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Love Is Just a Touch Away" |
| 3:54 |
| 5. | "Love and Learn" | Scarborough | 5:34 |
| 6. | "Deliver the Funk" |
| 4:10 |
| 7. | "Come What May" | 4:05 | |
| 8. | "You And Me" |
| 3:50 |
| 9. | "Music Is My Way of Life" |
| 8:12 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "It's Alright with Me" (Single Version) | Scarborough | 2:47 |
| 11. | "Music is My Way of Life" (Single Version) |
| 2:47 |
| 12. | "Music is My Way of Life" (Instrumental) |
| 2:47 |
Personnel
edit- Patti LaBelle – lead vocals
- Michael Stanton – acoustic piano (1, 5, 9), Fender Rhodes (2-4, 8), clavinet (9)
- Ernest Straughter – Fender Rhodes (1, 5, 6, 9), acoustic piano (2-4, 8)
- Felton Pilate – synthesizers (6, 9)
- Wayne Vaughn – synthesizers (6)
- Skip Scarborough – acoustic piano (7), Fender Rhodes (7), horn and string arrangements
- Johnny Graham – guitar (1, 3, 8)
- John Rowin – guitar (1-6, 8, 9)
- Louis Russell – guitar (2), acoustic guitar (7)
- Spencer Bean – guitar (4, 6, 9)
- Wayne Douglas – bass (1, 3, 4, 7, 8)
- Robert Russell – bass (2, 6, 9)
- Nate Neblett – drums
- Miguel Fuentes – glockenspiel (1, 3, 4, 8), triangle (1, 8), xylophone (1, 3, 8), percussion (2, 7), vibraphone (5)
- Munyungo Jackson – percussion (1-6, 8, 9)
- David Crawford – orchestra arrangements and conductor
- George Bohanon – horn contractor
- Charles Veal – string contractor
- Emma Coleman – additional backing vocals (1)
- The Waters [Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters] – backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7-9)
- Scherrie Payne – backing vocals (3, 6)
- The Wright Combination [Dianne and Michael Wright] – backing vocals (3, 6)
Production
edit- James Budd Ellison – assistant producer
- Don Cody – recording, mixing
- Steve MacMillan – assistant engineer
- Jerry Williamson – assistant engineer
- Steve Mantoani – technical advisor
- Stacy Baird – technical assistant
- Ben O'Brien – technical assistant
- Stuart J. Romaine – mastering
- Sigidi Abdullah – music copyist
- Yvonne Brooks – production coordinator
- Janet Perr – art direction, design
- Paula Scher – art direction, design
- Bill King – photography
- Mixed at Different Fur Studios (San Francisco, California).
- Mastered at CBS Studios (New York City, New York).
Charts
edit
Chart (1979)edit |
Peak
position | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[7] | 145 | ||||||||||||
| US Billboard Top R&B Albums[8] | 33 | ||||||||||||
| US Cashbox Top 75 R&B Albums[9] | 23 | ||||||||||||
| US Cashbox Top 100 Albums[10] | 76 | ||||||||||||
| US Record World R&B LP Charts[11] | 26 | ||||||||||||
| US Record World Album Chart[12] | 56 | ||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b "RollingStone.com: Recordings: Patti LaBelle, It's Alright with Me". Rolling Stone. May 12, 2001. Archived from the original on 2001-05-12.
- ^ "It's Alright with Me - Patti LaBelle | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 55.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 286.
- ^ "Patti LaBelle | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Lane, George (12 Apr 1979). "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner. p. 16.
- ^ "Patti LaBelle Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Patti LaBelle Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Cashbox Magazine" (PDF). 1979-04-21.
- ^ "Cashbox Magazine" (PDF). 1979-04-28.
- ^ "Record World Magazine" (PDF). 1979-04-14.
- ^ "Record World Magazine" (PDF). 1979-04-21.