Next month, Patti LaBelle will release Timeless Journey, the soul legend's first CD of the new century and the premiere release for a new Def Jam subsidiary. "They were going to start their new label with Patti LaBelle and Barry White," she says. "Barry White lost his fight. So, I am the first artist being released on Def Soul Classics. So I hope everybody loves the album."
LaBelle describes Timeless Journey as a departure from her earlier solo efforts. "It is a different journey for me. I did demos for the first time and I took my time. I had time to live with the music before I recorded it, and I wrote most of the songs with everyone. I am involved and sitting in the studio with the producers and writers and making it all Patti-ized. These are songs I am so proud of."
LaBelle says that while the material on her new album is "age appropriate," she still listens to what young singers are up to. "One of my favorite songs right now is 'Toxic.' I just love it."
Of course, young singers have paid attention to Patti, too, as when Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Pink and Mya performed her hit, "Lady Marmalade," from the Moulin Rouge sound track.
"When the song came out for Moulin Rogue people wanted to know what I thought about it, thinking that I was going to be a catty heifer and say I hated it, she says. "I loved the way they did it."
In fact, a couple of years ago, LaBelle joined Aguilera and company to perform the song at the Grammy Awards. Patti stole the show. "I had my 15 seconds of fame, but I worked that little 15 seconds, because I felt so proud that these little kids are doing my song. What a compliment."
One reason Patti LaBelle works so well with other female singers is that, even before her solo career, she spent much of the '70s in the genre-bending and influential girl group, LaBelle, with fellow singers Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Hendryx went onto record with hipsters like The Talking Heads and Bill Laswell. Dash, of course, wound up backing the Rolling Stones and Keith Richards.
As for LaBelle, her solo career was the most successful of all, featuring hits like "New Attitude" and "On My Own." Asked if she has been in touch with her former band mates, Patti LaBelle offers a surprising bit of information: "I spoke to them last week, and we plan on doing a reunion next year. It is long overdue."
In the meantime, Patti has the new album and a co-headlining appearance here at this year's VH1 Divas, with flavor-of-the-month Jessica Simpson. Other performers include Joss Stone, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Ashanti and Gladys Knight. "It's going to be a beautiful night of chicks," LaBelle says.