Pressure Cookin'

AMG Review of Pressure Cookin'

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

Labelle switched from Warner Bros. to RCA with 1973's Pressure Cookin', which was the trio's only album for the label. After that, the Philadelphians would sign with Epic, join forces with New Orleans dynamo Allen Toussaint, and soar to the top of the charts with Nightbirds and the number one hit "Lady Marmelade." Of course, "Lady Marmelade" wasn't the first time that Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash had enjoyed a major hit; they had their share of hits when they comprised three-fourths of Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles in the 1960s. But as the trio Labelle, they struggled in the early '70s. Produced by Labelle's manager Vicki Wickham, Pressure Cookin' wasn't the commercial breakthrough the divas were hoping for and isn't as strong as Labelle's three Epic albums would be. But it's generally likable, and Hendryx's writing is impressive on tracks that range from the ballads "Can I Speak to You Before You Go to Hollywood" and "Last Dance" to the sociopolitical title song. Also memorable is a medley of John Keen's "Something in the Air" and Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Although Pressure Cookin' isn't among Labelle's essential releases, it's well worth hearing if you're a seasoned Labelle fan.