Music / Nightbirds

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?

Nightbird fly by the light of the moon
Makes no difference if it's only a game
Released, relived, just for the day
It's a nightbird's way

— "Nightbird"

Nightbirds is the fourth album (eighth album overall, if you count the Bluebelle years) by girl group Labelle, released in 1974 by Epic Records.

A noted release in the group's discography, it would further refine the group's glam rock inclinations by fusing them with New Orleans funk music, courtesy of legendary Crescent City musician and producer, Allen Toussaint. It would also be their most successful album, yielding the hit single "Lady Marmalade". The record would also go on to be considered a classic of funk music, helping push it into the mainstream. As well as a prototype for the burgeoning disco genre.

It would be ranked number 272 (later 274) on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Tracklist

Side One

1. "Lady Marmalade" (3:56)
2. "Somebody Somewhere" (3:25)
3. "Are You Lonely?" (3:12)
4. "It Took a Long Time" (4:03)
5. "Don't Being Me Down" (2:48)

Side Two

1. "What Can I Do For You?" (4:02)
2. "Nightbird" (3:09)
3. "Space Children" (3:02)
4. "All Girl Band" (3:50)
5. "You Turn Me On" (4:37)

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What Can I Trope For You?

• Afrofuturism: "Space Children" is the lead example, in addition to the group's already space themed stage presence.
• Covered Up: Most modern listeners have more than likely heard the cover version of this track that shows up on the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack (done by P!nk, Mya, Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim.
• Disco: The record (with specificity owed to "Lady Marmalade") is generally considered to be a forerunner to the genre.
• Funk: The best genre descriptor for this record.
• Genre Shift: The record would be the group's formal foray into funk music.
  • Genre Mashup: It would also contain considerable influence from New Orleans R&B, their previous sound as a soul/doo-wop unit and their glam rock tendencies.
• The Immodest Orgasm: On "You Turn Me On":
  I come like the pouring rain
  Each time you call my name
• Longest Song Goes Last: "You Turn Me On" is this, but a particular low key example with it being only four minutes and thirty-seven seconds and, in addition, 34 seconds longer than the second longest track, "It Took a Long Time".
• Multilingual Song: "Lady Marmalade" with this lyric:
  Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir? (Do you want to sleep with me tonight?)
• The Oldest Profession: "Lady Marmalade" is about a New Orleans prostitute in rather vague and/or French terms.
• New Orleans: The album would be recorded in the city in Sea-Saint Studios. A recording studio well known for essentially develping the sound of New Orleans R&B and funk music. It would also be produced by Allen Toussaint, the studio's owner and key figure in New Orleans R&B music.
• Record Producer: Allen Toussaint would be the producer lending his southern charm to the record.
• Title Track: "Nightbird"

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