Is Be Yourself a good place to start with Patti LaBelle?

Yes, Be Yourself is recommended as a starting point for new Patti LaBelle listeners. A vibrant blend of soulful melodies and empowering lyrics that showcase LaBelle's powerful vocal range and emotional depth. Released in early 1989, Be Yourself was Patti LaBelle's first album after her successful solo career gained momentum with the hit song 'New Attitude' in 1985. This album marked a continued evolution in her sound, showcasing a mix of contemporary R&B and classic soul influences while solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

Who is Be Yourself for?

Be Yourself works well if you're into steady mid-tempo reflective moments, uplifting tracks for motivation and emotional vocal performances throughout.

How many songs are on Be Yourself?

Be Yourself has 11 tracks, running approximately 53 minutes.

Be Yourself

Patti LaBelle · 1989

53 min · 11 tracks · rhythm and blues

A vibrant blend of soulful melodies and empowering lyrics that showcase LaBelle's powerful vocal range and emotional depth.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
If You Asked Me To Start here — This track stands out with its heartfelt delivery and compelling narrative about love and trust, demonstrating LaBelle's vocal prowess.
→
Be Yourself — The title track emphasizes self-empowerment and authenticity, encapsulating the album's core message through LaBelle's passionate performance.
→
Yo Mister — With an infectious groove and playful lyrics, this song showcases LaBelle's ability to blend fun with social commentary, appealing to both dance floors and deeper discussions.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong vocal performances and engaging arrangements but lacks consistent thematic cohesion.

What we noticed

The first track features a slow build with layered harmonies that gradually introduce LaBelle's powerful vocals, setting a strong emotional tone.
Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements, allowing LaBelle to engage with the backing vocalists and create a dynamic interaction.
The final track closes with a gradual fade-out, leaving an open-ended feeling that contrasts with the more definitive endings of earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo reflective moments
uplifting tracks for motivation
emotional vocal performances throughout
for afternoon relaxation

Maybe skip if you

seekers of instant gratification
prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified LaBelle's solo career post 'New Attitude' and featured major hits.
Themes: self-empowerment anthem· social justice calls· personal authenticity
Career context: Released in early 1989, Be Yourself was Patti LaBelle's first album after her successful solo career gained momentum with the hit song 'New Attitude' in 1985. This album marked a continued evolution in her sound, showcasing a mix of contemporary R&B and classic soul influences while solidifying her status as a cultural icon.
Stylistic neighbors: Gladys Knight· Aretha Franklin· Chaka Khan