November 19, 2007 @ 10:50 am

Bringing Patti LaBelle Home for the Holidays

Clay Cane

Talking with Miss LaBelle about her new Christmas album, in stores now.

This holiday season will be filled with good food, gifts, family and a little bubbly - but don't forget to bring Miss Patti LaBelle along. The iconic soul diva has returned with Miss Patti's Christmas (Def Jam), a powerful R&B album topped with the love of the holiday season, in store now. Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the big-haired diva souls it up in classics like "Jesus, Oh, What A Wonderful Child" and "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," and adds her own unique style to the 1978 Emotions classic "What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas?"

VIBE.com talked to Miss Patti about the new CD, returning to Def Jam and, of course, that incredible voice.

What about this Christmas album stands out from the other standard Christmas albums out there?
This Christmas album to me you can play it every day of the year and it's sort of hip-hop. Well, I call it my version of hip-hop - Patti's version! It's just not traditional. It's very easy listening.

What are your favorite Christmas songs that you grew up with?
"O' Holy Night" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is on the album.
Yeah, that's one of my favorite songs.

The album definitely has an urban, soul feel to it.
Yeah, not like that tired stuff. I can't do tired Christmas!

How is it to be back on Def Jam recording and working with L.A. Reid?
It's wonderful working with LA and all the people at the Def Jam family. I am the oldest person at the Def Jam family! Before they had a category, "Classic Soul", now it's just "Patti LaBelle's Back," which is a wonderful thing that LA really wanted me back. Mariah Carey was pissed! She wanted to beat LA up! Why'd you let my mother go? Everybody was mad and LA didn't mean any harm, but he just had to do what he had to do at that time. So I'm back and it's because of him I'm back.

I've never seen anyone out-sing you. Well, I saw Luther go toe to toe with you.
That's my baby!

Is there anyone you are afraid to sing with?
Nope - there's nobody! There are so many people I admire like Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand and Luciano Pavarotti before he died, but I would never be afraid to sing with them. I'll just be Patti and that will come out. She will come out!

Are you ever shocked or surprised at what comes through in your voice?
No, I'm not. I'm just shocked at the songs I recorded because I forgot I recorded them. I always say, "Did I do that?" Not blown away from my power, but just blown away from the actual song. Like, it's a beautiful song and I totally forgot I recorded it. Never blown away by my power or anything, I have an ordinary voice - it's just big.

What exactly is your vocal range?
Four octaves. Back in the day it was five. Right now it's four. It's not getting smaller, it's getting stronger and I can hold notes longer, but I can't make those high, high, notes.

You think your voice is ordinary?
Yes, I think it's ordinary, but strong. I think it's one of the strongest voices out there, but I think it's ordinary. I don't think it's fabulous or anything outrageously fierce, it's just outrageously strong.

Who are some of the people in the industry you are a mother to?
Everybody under sixty-three!

You have a huge catalogue - is there a song you wish you never had to perform again?
Yes! "Lady Marmalade." I'm tired of it, but I love it because every night I do it, I have people from the audience come up and make a fool of themselves. So that's fun.

What is your favorite song to perform?
"You Saved My Life." It was written by the guy who wrote "Here & Now" for Luther. I don't do it very much. "You Are My Friend," I don't do that very much because my musical director, who died, wrote it with me. Whenever I do it now I get funny feelings.

Who do you think was or is, outside of yourself, one of the greatest soul singers of all time?
Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. Aretha and Luther, king and queen, no doubt.

Article tags: La Reid, Mariah Carey, Patti Labelle 

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