LABELLE: You know what my favorite one is? And the songs that they wrote - "Christmas Means More to Me," is my favorite one. And that was about two weeks, and they wrote four songs. LABELLE: Well, when Terry was asked to produce, they started working as soon as they were asked. I just wondered how you found a material like that, it seems so well suited to your voice.
It also has new material, such as "Holidays Mean More to Me." And I know you said you put it together very quickly. MARTIN: This album has a mix of classic Christmas covers.
Unidentified Group: (Singing) Lord Jesus, Sweet Jesus. Unidentified Group: (Singing) Sweet Jesus. (Soundbite of song, "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child") LABELLE: I'll let you to be my background. MARTIN: I was going to say, you think I could try that? I don't know if it would… Blige - I'll ask them, and they'll say yes. Everybody who I would ask, you know, well, Wynonna Judd and all my friends and Cindy Lauper, whenever I want to do a song with somebody that I love and respect - CeCe Winans and all those wonderful women, and Mary J. LABELLE: I've been lucky to have - wanting to work with people who wanted to work with me. How do you decide who you're going to work with? How did you decide who you want to work with? You've been so - you've had some very nice pairings over the years: Michael McDonald, Ronald Isley, Yolanda Adams. LABELLE: (Singing) What a wonderful child. (Soundbite of song, "Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child") There's a song - there's a nice song I wanted to mention that you did with the Soul Seekers. First, as we said, you worked with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and there was a third gentleman you mentioned. MARTIN: Well, there are some nice collaborations on this album. Now, most other people, they will not get that respect. And they're just awesome people to work with, so when Terry tells me to jump, I will ask him how high. But, you know what? I didn't mind being bossed around, because I love working with - you know, it's another guy also, his name is Big Jim, and Jimmy and Terry. Why didn't you tell these guys - you just - tell where these guys where to go? You know, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis can't be bossing you around. MARTIN: These folks are cracking the whip. It reminds me of music that you can play through the year. And when I listen to it, it doesn't really remind me of all Christmas. But - and 20 years was the last one, and this is the new one. And so that was my first CD in 20 - well, I did two Christmas albums a long time ago. I did a CD of 10 songs, because we had to rush it to get it out, you know, by October. LABELLE: And I did it within - like, five days, I did an album.
Reid said, Patti, what if we just do a Christmas album, like, within the next two weeks? What made you decide to do it? Were you feeling Christmasy? "Miss Patti's Christmas" is your first Christmas album in nearly 20 years. She just will not slow down, but she stopped long enough to talk with us from her home in Philadelphia. She recently released a new line of sauces and relishes, The Good Life. She's an author, advocate, actress and entrepreneur. LABELLE: (Singing) Come on, come on, come on. Unidentified Group: (Singing) Spread all the Christmas cheer. The Grammy Award-winner has a new CD, "Miss Patti's Christmas." MARTIN: Today, we talk to a woman whose name stirs the hearts of music lovers everywhere: Ms. PATTI LABELLE (Singer): (Singing) Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Voulez vous coucher avec moi? Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir? Voulez vous coucher avec moi? I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News.Īnd now it's time for Wisdom Watch, our conversation with leaders who've gone before us, people with experience and knowledge - not just smart, but wise and sexy.