Gems

by Patti LaBelle

Overview

Patti LaBelle's ballad-heavy 1994 album, Gems, doesn't necessarily rank as one of the singer's crowning achievements, but as the title (and cliche) implies, this set certainly offers more than a few gems to unearth. Gems also features a couple of prolific productions courtesy of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (on the set's up-tempo first single, "The Right Kinda Lover") and new jack swing maestro Teddy Riley (on LaBelle's mellow yet hypnotic cover of DeBarge's "All This Love"). The true standout, however, is "Stay in My Corner." That song, with its gospel undertones, features Labelle wailing as only she can, holding out her famous long notes and delivering a truly mesmerizing performance. The song is so good, in fact, that any self-respecting Labelle fan would have to own this set if only for that number. Other highlights include another gospel-infused tune, the ballad "If I Didn't Have You," the smooth "Time Will Tell," and the album finale, "Come as You Are." As a final note, this album also contains some truly stellar background vocals. ~ Jose F. Promis

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/1994
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811087029

Tracks

1. I'm in Love
2. All This Love
3. The Right Kind of Lover
4. This Word Is All
5. Too Good to Be Through
6. I Never Stopped Loving You
7. Stay in My Corner
8. If I Didn't Have You
9. I Can't Tell My Heart What to Do
10. Time Will Tell
11. Our World
12. Come as You Are

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Patti LaBelle   Primary Artist
Everette Harp   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Ann Nesby   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Karyn White   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
The Memphis Horns   Guest Artist
Terry Lewis   Guest Artist,Percussion
Jimmy Jam   Guest Artist,Keyboards
Ken Moore   Organ,Piano
Jimmy Wright   Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Jack Faith   Horn,Strings
"Ready" Freddie Washington   Bass
Grady Harrell   Vocals (Background)
Valerie Davis   Vocals (Background)
Lori Perry   Vocals (Background)
KC Porter   Computers,Vocals (Background)
Lisa Dal Bello   Vocals (Background)
Randy Bowland   Guitar
Sharon Perry   Vocals (Background)
Tim Pierce   Guitar
Ray Griffin   Drums
Carolyn Perry   Vocals (Background)
Raymond Earl   Drums
Pamela Williams   Saxophone
Paul Buckmaster   Conductor
Mark Haynes   Bass
Charles Buie   Vocals (Background)
Marie Graham   Vocals (Background)
Latitia Body   Vocals (Background)
Eric Jordan   Vocals (Background)
Letitia Body   Vocals (Background)
Charles C. Emory   Keyboards,Synthesizer Bass
James Herb Smith   Guitar
Fred White   Vocals (Background)
Rick Nelson   Vocals (Background)
Valerie Doby   Vocals (Background)
James Budd Ellison   Keyboards
Kenny Moore   Organ (Hammond)
D. Harvey   Vocals (Background)
Memphis   Horn
Libby Turner   Vocals (Background)
Larry Kimpel   Bass

Technical Credits

Patti LaBelle   Vocal Arrangement,Executive Producer,Composer
Teddy Riley   Producer
Richard Kelly   Editing
Steve Hodge   Engineer
Bill Kennedy   Mixing
El Cimarron   Design
Jimmy Wright   Composer,Producer
Barrett Strong   Composer
Jack Faith   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Julie Gold   Composer
Eugene Lambchops Curry   Composer
Dave Ivory   Engineer
Jay Lean   Mixing,Engineer
David Schober   Engineer
Wade Flemons   Composer
Walter Sigler   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
John Hanes   Mixing,Engineer
Ryan Boesch   Assistant Engineer
Nathanial Wilkie   Arranger,Composer,Programming,Associate Producer,Keyboard Programming
KC Porter   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Lisa Dal Bello   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Mike Tarsia   Mixing,Engineer
Arthur Stoppe   Engineer
Alex Reed   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Gordon Rice   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bobby Miller   Composer
Raymond Earl   Producer,Programming
James Harris III   Composer
El DeBarge   Composer
Carol Duboc   Writer,Composer
Allee Willis   Composer
Paul Buckmaster   String Arrangements
Steve Hall   Mastering
Vartan   Art Direction
Jimmy Jam   Producer
Michael Aharon   Editing
Alex Brown   Composer
David Rideau   Mixing
Elliott Cutting   Photography
Al Dickerson   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Benny Feccone   Engineer
Ann Bennett-Nesby   Composer
Fred White   Composer
Andy Starr   Mixing,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Kimberly Smith   Assistant Engineer
Sami McKinney   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
James Budd Ellison   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Greg Laney   Mixing,Engineer
George Mayers   Engineer
Al Digirolamo   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Kenny Moore   Composer
Sprague Williams   Assistant Engineer
L. Armstead Edwards   Executive Producer
Frank McNulty   Coordination,Production Coordination
Jeff Taylor   Drum Programming,Assistant Engineer
Brian Krueger   Mixing
Marc Raboy   Photography
Denise Rich   Composer
Aaron Smith   Composer
Earl Thomas   Assistant Engineer
Larry Ferguson   Engineer
Terry Lewis   Composer,Producer