Playlist: The Very Best of Patti Labelle
covers the singer's late-'70s and early-'80s solo albums for
Epic
and
Philadelphia International
-- the period just prior to her pop peak. The disc also throws in
Labelle
-the-group's
"Lady Marmalade"
as a sop to those who aren't otherwise familiar with this phase of
's career, which produced a handful of charting R&B singles, such as
"I Don't Go Shopping,"
"Joy to Have Your Love,"
"Music Is My Way of Life,"
all of which are included here. It's not a thorough anthology of her singles from this period, but it does provide a decent overview. ~ Andy Kellman