Is it just me, or is this diva seriously underrated? I cannot believe she's put out two albums in less than a year and yet it seems like they've fallen on deaf ears!

I'm one of Patti's biggest fans.... seen her live like 10 times..... but if the 2 albums you're referring to are the one with her sitting on a moon crescent, and the new covers one.....


i didn't buy either. and i have like all her other albums. The prior one "When a woman lives" was shockingly bad, espeicallys ince it was written by Dianne warren.

it's crazy cuz the albums before that, FLame and One Night Only LIVE are AMAZING!!!!

GaryMF said:

Unfortunately, people no longer care about real artists. People care more about crap like Gwen Stafani, Ciara, Britney, JLo. 50 Cent, etc.

The real artists are struggling just to get noticed these days. It's a sad state of affairs. Patti is a great singer and performer, but many people have forgotten about her and many others like her.

kisscamille said:

Most definitely.

purpleunderground said:

Can't disagree with ya on this. Patti is da bomb.

I got the "yo mister" album. Its not THAT good, but I guess it ain't one of the fans favs either.


Her voice is of an aqquired taste. Superb performer though.

I really love Patti,but I'm not always impressed with her recent work.A few years ago,she recorded a schmaltzy collection of Diane Warren ballads.A voice as powerful as hers deserves better than lame adult contemporary songs.It would be so cool if Prince could produce an entire album for her.He would bring her back to the funk! Or maybe a reunion with the two LaBelle girls (Sarah and Nona) would be a good idea.

DavidEye said:

Yeah that Dianne Warrenw as really a dissapointment.
You got to get Flame... it's one of the best albums ever.

Also get the One Night Only Live album. It really captures her live which is rare.

I love Miss Patti! Her newest song "I Wanna Be Free"" from The Diary Of a Mad Black Woman is the bomb! You can hear the real heartbreak in her voice.

thesexofit said:

"Her voice is of an aqquired taste"

This is why people like 50 Cents are popular. The woman can sing are ass off !!!!

I have to admit that I think she was one of the low points in the Family Jamm show. She didn't know the lyrics, she DESTROYED Purple Rain (also didn't seem to know the lyrics) and somehow just didn't add too much to the show.

purpleunderground said:

KMOJ radio here in the Twin Cities, keeps playing a song called "A New Day" I Love it! It sounds like it was produced by Jimmy and Terry. Man it's a shame when real singers like Patti get passed over for people who can't sing to save their own lives. Like Ciara and Ashanti. Both of them have gotten by on looks only!

madhouseman said:

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Wasn't the whole show half assed. !!!

laurarichardson said:

Not at all. Madhouse was AMAZING and it was a total blast to get to see them live. The Revolution was tight and sounded great. Seeing the band play PURPLE RAIN and BABY I'M A STAR was incredible to so many of us. Jill Jones suprized people with her voice and Sheila's band was fantastic. I know there were some people who weren't as happy with Apollonia, but I think she really stepped up and did her best. People were singing along with her and happy to finally get to see her on stage. Finally, seeing THE FAMILY perform was long overdue. Many of these bands had stopped performing years ago, so it was a chance for fans to understand why these bands were important. Other than Prince not showing up, I don't know of any major dissapointments.

It was videotaped but I doubt the concert will ever come out officially.

Half assed? I think that most of us want to see a Family Jamm 2.

madhouseman said:

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Most of the people on this board had bad things to say about it and I think you are forgetting it was for Charity. Don't base one performance on Patti's abiltiy to entertain.

laurarichardson said:

From what I remember, most people who went were very happy with the evening. I remember a few who didn't like it, but the reviews were pretty overwealmingly positive. The same with the reviews in the local papers. Other than Prince not showing up, I can't think of one beef. Did you go?

laurarichardson said:

You know when I really appreciated Patti's voice was win she was singing with Rosie Gaines and Stephanie Mills on some show....she wasn't up there screamin' but SANGING....

her voice was heavenly.

madhouseman said:

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No, I did not go. I am only going by what a lot of people said on this board.
The whole show sounded like it was put together at the last minute. Arent they talking about doing it this year with a little more advance notice and planning.

I have seen Patti live in concert quite a few times. She puts on a hell of a show and once even gave people back their money who were not satisified with her performance. Maybe she had a bad night but, I would take a guess that it was the last min planning.

I know that it was being planned from Sept. to the December concert date. There was time enough to regroup the bands and have them rehearsed enough to play the show (The Family hadn't played in almost 2 decades, The Revolution about the same and Madhouse had not played as that unit EVER).

Patti did have an off night. Maybe at other times she rules, but having to hold the lyrics was a little cheap. At least learn the song!

I am looking forward to this if they do it again.

I think most people who went had very postiive things to say abou the Family Jamm.

I can tell you it was the best concert I ever saw, bar none (and I've seen Prince many times, Patti many times, etc.) People might have been bitching about the disorganization and the waiting in line etc.... but once the concert started it was AMAZING!!! (and give them a break... Sheila and Lynn were basically doing the whole thing themselves, while running their careers at the same time).

All the bands sounded unbelievable..... The Family was probably the most incredible since they only played once 17 years ago. But every act was great (OK Apples wasn't gonna win no Grammies but she put in a good effort)

And Patti was a HIGHLIGHT of the show... not a dissappointment. It was CLASSIC Patti when she picked up the lyric sheet..... at the last notes of the songs she said:

"Honey, prince wrote the song 100 years ago for me..... I didn't knwo the words then, and I dont know them now. so that's why Miss Patti had to pick up the paper and sing the damn sawwwng, ok?" everyone went wild! I bet she never even did "Yo Mister" live before.

In fact, the only dissapointment was Chaka Khan doing a lackluster I Feel 4 U.

It's really a shame that concert isn't released on DVD..... it was unbelievable.
[Edited 9/12/05 17:51pm]

Thanx Gary
nice to hear that man of those who saw the show liked it. I could have sworn I wasn't the only one clapping! lol

madhouseman said:

I would guess the vast majority of us who went LOVED It!

Where is this UPtown review people mentioned? I bought The Vault so I think I have access to Uptown online but I never bothered to look into it.

GaryMF said:

It was in the final issue of UPTOWN. It had some great quotes from many of the band including a Q&A with St. Paul about the Family reunion. The photos were from the official photographer Steve Parke and Apollonia's personal pictures were used also. A lot of backstage info that wasn't reported anywhere else.

Rhondab said:

I beleive it. Patti's voice is the truth plain and simple.

madhouseman said:

how does one get it? I kind of remember that when you bought the vault you also got access to Uptown? Or am I confused?

Patti was on "Good Morning America" yesterday, performing the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You."

With a cold and a strained voice, Ms. Labelle buried 3/4 of her singing contemporaries.

I've seen live performances of Patti's since I was a little boy. The raw emotion of this one, directed toward Katrina survivors, left me floored.

Like someone else said, Patti's the truth. A national treasure.