Flame

by Patti LaBelle

Product Description:

Personnel includes: Patti LaBelle (vocals); Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (various instruments); Ira Siegel, Aaron McClain (acoustic guitar); Mike Scott, Michael Thompson (guitar); Regina Carter (violin); Najee (saxophone); Corey Williams (piano); Patrick Henderson (organ); Steve Skinner (keyboards, synthesizer); Edwin "Tony" Nicholas (keyboards, programming); Big Jim Wright (keyboards, background vocals); David Foster (keyboards); Brian "Rio" Lewis (bass); Cindy Blackmond (drums); Richard Rodriguez (percussion); Gerald LeVert, Alex Richbourg, Gen Rubin (programming); Ann Nesby, Jamecia Bennett, Sherena Wynn, Lisa Fisher, Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes, Terry Steele, Lori Perry (background vocals).

Producers include: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, David Foster, Arif Mardin.

Engineers include: Steve Hodge, Steve Croom, Arthur J. Stoppe.

FLAME was nominated for a 1988 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "When You Talk About Love" was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

The original R&B diva is back, and she's pulled out all the stops on FLAME. LaBelle's sinuous, melismatic vocals are supported by a bevy of session hotshots as well as guest artists like Najee, Ann Nesby and Regina Carter. Uberproducers Arif Mardin, David Foster, Gerald Levert and Jam & Lewis contribute grand, lush arrangements, creating a rich bed of sound for the voice that's launched a thousand imitators.

Despite the occasional uptempo foray, FLAME is dominated by gently grooving midtempo tracks that allow LaBelle to work her sultry magic, cooing and growling her way through some state-of-the-art R&B. While there are no major departures from the sound that we've come to identify with LaBelle, FLAME serves as a gentle reminder that she's still a force to be reckoned with.