The Spirit's in It
Encyclopedia
The Spirit's in It is a 1981 album released by singer Patti LaBelle
. The album was her first release off Philadelphia International Records
after coming off a four-year contract with Epic Records
and four studio albums. Her fifth release is notable for the title track, which became a disco hit, and for her solo cover of Judy Garland
's "Over the Rainbow
", which she had recorded in the mid-1960s as a member of Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles
. LaBelle also recorded a cover of Dolly Parton
's country-pop hit, "Here You Come Again" and a modern cover of Huey "Piano" Smith's R&B classic, "Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu", which was the b-side to the title track. LaBelle ventured into pop rock
with the climatic "Shoot Him on Sight" and the song, "Family", had slight reggae
and Caribbean overtones.
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
. The album was her first release off Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
after coming off a four-year contract with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
and four studio albums. Her fifth release is notable for the title track, which became a disco hit, and for her solo cover of Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
's "Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow
"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
", which she had recorded in the mid-1960s as a member of Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles
Labelle
Labelle is an American all female singing group who were a popular vocal group of the 1960s and 1970s. The group was formed after the disbanding of two rival girl groups in the Philadelphia/Trenton areas, the Ordettes and the Del-Capris, forming as a new version of the former group, later changing...
. LaBelle also recorded a cover of Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
's country-pop hit, "Here You Come Again" and a modern cover of Huey "Piano" Smith's R&B classic, "Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu", which was the b-side to the title track. LaBelle ventured into pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
with the climatic "Shoot Him on Sight" and the song, "Family", had slight reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and Caribbean overtones.
Track listing
- "The Spirit's in It" (Womack, Kenneth Gamble) (5:50)
- "Here You Come Again" (Barry MannBarry MannBarry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
, Cynthia WeilCynthia WeilCynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
) (3:02) - "Love Lives" (Cecil WomackCecil WomackIn 1983, under the name of Womack & Womack, Cecil and Linda released a successful album, Love Wars, and continued to make albums until 1993. Their song "Love Wars" was covered by The Beautiful South for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát. Their most successful single was "Teardrops" in 1988.-Albums:*...
, Leon Huff) (2:52) - "I Fell in Love Without Warning" (Leon Huff) (3:12)
- "Boats Against the Current" (Eric Carman) (4:04)
- "Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu" (Huey "Piano" Smith) (4:25)
- "Family" (J.H. Smith) (4:22)
- "Shoot Him on Sight" (Cynthia Biggs, Dexter WanselDexter WanselDexter Gilman Wansel is an American keyboardist, raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He contributed to the development of the Philly Sound and worked with producers Gamble and Huff at Philadelphia International Records. Wansel led the musical group, Yellow Sunshine...
) (5:31) - "Over the RainbowOver the Rainbow"Over the Rainbow" is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie...
" (E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Harold ArlenHarold ArlenHarold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
) (3:46)