The Anthology: Including Solo Recordings By Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx & Patti Labelle

soul music records are at the top of their game as always with this release and the Angela Bofilll anthology. the labelle anthology has for the very first time on cd three tracks that Nona Hendryx recorded for Arista records here in London, would be great if Soul Music Record can finally get into the Arista archives and release the whole of the unreleased album album that Nona recorded for Arista records in 1979

love this cd a lot.

Spanning a period from 1973 to 1985, this is a potted history of Labelle and its solo spin-offs. From the 70s R&B of Labelle (including Lady Marmalade) to the individual projects of Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti Labelle herself. There are 36 tracks, with 12 of them denoted as the 'Single Edit' from the 7" release of the time, and two that are the 12" mixes (one of those was also the full-length LP version).The Sarah Dash track (Come And Take This) Candy From Your Baby is NOT the John Luongo Disco Mix, despite the booklet credits; that extended mix is two and a half minutes longer and can be found as a bonus track on the 2013 reissue of Sarah’s self-titled disco album. Disco remix legend Tom Moulton’s 6.26 album/12” of Sinner Man is featured here.There are three early Nona Hendryx tracks that never appeared on any album, from her first solo efforts before her edgy style found its natural habitat in 80s synth-pop. Among the solo singles, most are in edit form aside from the Arthur Baker remix of I Need Love (7.56mins). The run of work featured here doesn’t stretch to her most successful single, Why Should I Cry, which was from an album on another label and was superbly elevated by a Jam & Lewis remix (and proved she should have worked with that production duo far more extensively).As a whistlestop tour of Labelle and its members, this is a decent set, and there’s further exploration to be had in the Labelle reissues (the first three albums are on a CD mini box set), the Patti Labelle reissues on Big Break Records, the Sarah Dash reissue on Gold Legion and all the Nona Hendryx album reissues from FunkyTownGrooves. Only Nona’s Female Trouble album remains to be reissued (and you are warned to ignore the Rough & Tough compilation that incorporates much of that album as it has horrible sound quality).This collection flows well but it's a mixed bag, picking things from here and there (so there will be apparent omissions), with plenty of enjoyable moments along the way. The sound quality and remastering is generally very good but there is a dull thud at the end of one track and a crackly patch in another. The booklet is extensive and makes a good read with contribution from the artists. This is is part of an Anthology series from SoulMusic Records that is worth checking out.

Not as many obscure recordings as I would have liked, particularly so for Nona Hendryx ....