Pressure Cookin’ is the third album by American singing trio Labelle, released in August 1973. This release was their first and only for RCA Records, and was critically raved due to the songs that songwriter and member Nona Hendryx composed. The album is also notable for being the first album released following lead singer Patti LaBelle giving birth to her only child, son Zuri Edwards (she recorded the album while still pregnant with Zuri).
Among notable songs were “Something in the Air”/”The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, in which all three bandmates: Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash each shared a rap, the biographical “(Can I Speak to You Before You Go to) Hollywood”, which was inspired by the events following former member Cindy Birdsong ditching the group during its Blue Belles tenure to join The Supremes and which featured all three members having notable lead vocal parts, mainly from Dash, while Hendryx sung in the beginning and Patti LaBelle sang the following verses, the soulful ballad “Last Dance” and the bossa nova-inspired “Let Me See You in the Light”.
Despite RCA releasing the Stevie Wonder composition, “Open Your Heart”, the album failed to become a success. In spite of its initial failure, the album has gone on to become a cult classic and is considered a revolutionary album because few female groups talked so openly about social issues and other topics. Wonder was uncredited due to contractual reasons – the production credit was listed as “Vicki Wickham and friend”. Musicians on this track included members out of a Philadelphia-based band, Buff, and others from a Latin-black band from Queens called Harlem River Drive. Several of them would morph to become Labelle’s road band, including guitarist, Eddie Martinez.
Tracks
1 Pressure Cookin’ (Nona Hendryx) 2:55
2 Something In the Air/The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Gil Scott-Heron; John Keen) 5:55
3 Sunshine Woke Me Up This Morning (Nona Hendryx) 3:21
4 Can I Speak To You Before You Go To Hollywood (Nona Hendryx) 6:38
5 Mr. Music Man (Nona Hendryx) 4:13
6 Goin’ on a Holiday (Nona Hendryx) 3:25
7 Let Me See You In The Light (Nona Hendryx) 6:00
8 Open Up Your Heart (Stevie Wonder) 3:28
9 Last Dance (Nona Hendryx) 4:21
Musicians
1 Pressure Cookin’
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Clavinet |
Andre Lewis |
Piano |
Andre Lewis |
Congas |
Daniel Ben Zebulon |
2 Something In the Air/The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Clavinet |
Andre Lewis |
Piano |
Andre Lewis |
Congas |
Daniel Ben Zebulon |
3 Sunshine Woke Me Up This Morning
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Guitar |
Buzzy Feiten |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Clavinet |
Andre Lewis |
Organ |
Andre Lewis |
Congas |
Daniel Ben Zebulon |
4 Can I Speak To You Before You Go To Hollywood
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Drums |
Andre Lewis |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Organ |
Andre Lewis |
Piano |
Andre Lewis |
Congas |
Daniel Ben Zebulon |
5 Mr. Music Man
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Guitar |
Buzzy Feiten |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Organ |
Andre Lewis |
Piano |
Andre Lewis |
6 Goin’ on a Holiday
Bass |
Carmine Rojas |
Drums |
Larry Davis |
Guitar |
Buzzy Feiten |
Guitar |
Nelson Martinez |
Organ |
Luther Eaddy |
Congas |
Leroi Conley |
Tambourine |
Leroi Conley |
7 Let Me See You In The Light
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Guitar |
Hank Redd |
Clavinet |
Andre Lewis |
Organ |
Andre Lewis |
Congas |
Daniel Ben Zebulon |
8 Open Up Your Heart
Bass |
Carmine Rojas |
Drums |
Larry Davis |
Guitar |
Buzzy Feiten |
Guitar |
Nelson Martinez |
Congas |
Leroi Conley |
Tambourine |
Leroi Conley |
9 Last Dance
Bass |
Andre Lewis |
Drums |
Emry Thomas |
Piano |
Andre Lewis |
Organ |
Andre Lewis |
Liner Notes
Producer – Vicki Wickham
Engineer (Recording) – Mike Moran, Tom Brown
Photography By – Bob Gruen
Copyright (c) – RCA Records
Recorded At – RCA\’s Studio D, New York City
Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Rockaway