Winner in You

Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986 in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.

Winner in You
Studio album by
Patti LaBelle
ReleasedApril 28, 1986
Recorded1985–1986
Length44:48
LabelMCA
Producer
Patti LaBelle chronology
Patti
(1985)		 Winner in You
(1986)		 Be Yourself
(1989)
Singles from Winner in You
  1. "On My Own"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Oh, People"
    Released: 1986
  3. "Kiss Away the Pain"
    Released: 1986
  4. "Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)"
    Released: 1987

The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, as well as producing the US number-one hit single "On My Own". It was LaBelle's only album to chart outside of the United States, charting in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Upon its release, Winner in You received moderate reviews from music critics. The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). LaBelle embarked on the Winner in You Tour from 1986 to 1987, touring Europe to promote her album.[1]

Release and promotion

Singles

The first single to be released off of Winner in You was "On My Own", featuring Michael McDonald. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] as well as the top spot of the Billboard Hot R&B Songs, and almost topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs (instead reaching #2 on the latter chart).[2] It also charted internationally, peaking at number two in the UK Singles Chart, number one on the Canadian Singles Chart, number one in the Dutch Singles Chart,[3] number four in the New Zealand Singles Chart,[4] number fifteen in the Swedish Singles Chart,[5] and number twenty on the Austrian Singles Chart.[6]

The second single to be released was "Oh, People". It peaked at number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and number seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2] It was the second single to chart internationally, peaking at thirty-one on the Dutch Singles Chart, and number thirty-six on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The third single to be released was "Kiss Away the Pain". It was not as successful as the two prior singles, only reaching number thirteen on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2] The final single to be released was "Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)," reaching number fifty on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.[2] It is played twice in Sweet Liberty and over the opening credits of Outrageous Fortune.

Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[7]
Robert ChristgauB[8]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[9]

Winner in You received average reviews from critics. Ron Wynn on Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars.[7] Wynn claims this is the album that made LaBelle's solo career. He enjoys the songs "Oh, People" and "Kiss Away the Pain", which he believed needed to chart higher on the Billboard Top 40. Robert Christgau gave the album a B,[8] praising the duet with Michael McDonald as well as LaBelle's singing abilities. Christgau also compliments her and her family's songwriting abilities. He believes this is how LaBelle became a multi-platinum solo artist. Christgau did not like the earlier part of the album, claiming she "doesn't start out with such surefire goods". Overall, he says the "beats and tunes kick in till you could care less what organ she's singing through." Kim Farber of Billboard gave the album a mixed review,[9] claiming it to be inconsistent. He believes album was not a "hands-down winner so many anticipated," saying how none of the fast tracks have a "jump." Ferber, although, praises her singing ability and says that is the only thing that saved the album. He said the ballads were well written, and enjoyed "On My Own", saying the song is "something real" and likes the song "Oh, People" even more.

Commercial performance

The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200.[10] The album also entered at number thirty-one on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[11] It spent 29 weeks on the Billboard 200 and spent 33 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[12] On June 27, 1986, Winner in You was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of one million copies in the US.[13] Winner in You attained respectable international charting. In the Netherlands, it entered at number twenty-eight on the Mega Album Top 100.[14] In New Zealand, it entered at number ten on the Top 40 Albums.[15] In Sweden, it entered at number seventeen on the Albums Top 60.[16] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number thirty-four and peaked at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart.[17]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Oh, People"Andy Goldmark, Bruce Roberts5:19
2."On My Own" (With Michael McDonald)Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer-Sager4:50
3."Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)"Howie Rice, Alan Rich4:58
4."Kiss Away the Pain"Alex Brown, Ron Kersey4:28
5."Twisted"Roy Freeland, Bill LaBounty3:54
6."You're Mine Tonight"Dorothy Sea Gazeley, Howie Rice, Alan Rich3:38
7."Finally We're Back Together"Chuck Jackson, Nick Johnson5:49
8."Beat My Heart Like a Drum"Steve George, John Lang, Richard Page3:50
9."Sleep With Me Tonight"Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, Carole Bayer-Sager3:44
10."There's a Winner in You"Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson4:18

Personnel and Production[18]
  • Executive Producer: Patti La Belle
  • Tracks 1, 5 & 8 produced by Richard Perry; Co-production on track 1 by Andy Goldmark and Bruce Roberts; Associate producer on track 5: Bill LaBounty; Co-production on track 8 by Richard Page and Steve George. Recorded by Michael Brooks, with assistance by Glen Holgiun, Julie Last, John Boghosian, Thom Panunzio and Kraig Miller. Tracks 1 and 5 mixed by Bill Schnee; Track 8 mixed by Don Smith.
  • Tracks 2 & 9 produced by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer-Sager. Recorded and mixed by Joel Moss and Mick Guzauski.
  • Track 6 produced by Richard Perry and Howie Rice. Recorded by John Arrias; Assisted by John Boghosian, Norman Whitfield Jr., Glen Holgiun and Kraig Miller. Mixed by Norman Whitfield Jr.
    • Howie Rice: guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming; Paulinho da Costa: percussion
  • Track 3 produced by Howie Rice and Budd Ellison. Recorded by Brin Swimmer; Assisted by Glen Kurtz. Mixed by Louil Silas, Jr..
  • Track 4 produced by Budd Ellison and Ron Kersey. Recorded by Brin Swimmer; Assisted by Dennis Stefani and Glen Kurtz. Mixed by Taavi Mote.
  • Track 7 produced by Nick Johnson and Budd Ellison. Recorded by Brin Swimmer and Robert Biles. Mixed by Robert Biles.
    • Nick Johnson: synthesizers, acoustic piano; William Bryant: synthesizers; Leo Nocentelli, David T. Walker: guitars; Freddie Washington: bass; James Gadson: drums; Nate Neblett: Simmons drums; David I.: saxophone
  • Track 10 produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson for Hopsack & Silk Productions, Inc. Recorded by Tim Cox; Mixed by Michael Hutchinson.

Recording Studios
  • Tracks 1, 5, 6 & 8 recorded at Studio 55.
  • Track 2 recorded at Conway Recording, Lion Share Recording and Bill Schnee Studios.
  • Track 3 recorded at Baby O' Recorders.
  • Track 4 recorded at Baby O' Recorders and Westlake Audio.
  • Track 7 recorded at Baby O' Recorders and Sound Castle Studios
  • Track 9 recorded at One on One Studios, Lion Share Recording and Conway Studios.
  • Track 10 recorded at 39th Street Studios.

Charts
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 72
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[15] 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 17
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 30
US Billboard 200[21] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[22] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[23] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. George, Nelson (October 11, 1986). "The Rhythm and the Blues". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 98 (41): 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  2. "allmusic ((( Winner in You - Patti LaBelle > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  3. "dutchcharts.nl - Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald - On My Own". Dutch Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  4. "charts.nz - Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald - On My Own". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  5. "swedishcharts.com - Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald - On My Own". Sverigetopplistan. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  6. "Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald - On My Own - austriancharts.at". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  7. Wynn, Ron. "Winner in You - Patti LaBelle". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  8. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Patti LaBelle". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  9. Farber, Jon (June 19, 1986). "Patti LaBelle: Winner in You". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  10. "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Albums Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. May 24, 1986. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  11. "Top Hip-Hop and R&B Albums & Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. May 24, 1986. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  12. "Winner in You - Patti LaBelle". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  13. "American album certifications – Patti LaBelle – Winner in You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2011. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Patti LaBelle – Winner In You" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  15. "Charts.nz – Patti LaBelle – Winner In You". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – Patti LaBelle – Winner In You". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  17. "Patti LaBelle | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  18. Production, Personnel and Studio Information at discogs
  19. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 172. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Patti LaBelle – Winner In You" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  21. "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  22. "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  23. "Canadian album certifications – Patti LaBelle – Winner in You". Music Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
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