When a Woman Loves
Patti LaBelle · 2000
56 min · 12 tracks · rhythm and blues
A rich tapestry of soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, showcasing LaBelle's powerful vocal delivery and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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When a Woman Loves Start here — This track serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album, capturing the complexities of love through LaBelle's soaring vocals and poignant delivery.
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Make Tonight Beautiful — With its lush instrumentation and romantic lyrics, this song exemplifies LaBelle's ability to convey deep longing and affection, making it a standout moment on the record.
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If I Was a River — This track showcases LaBelle's versatility with its smooth melody and reflective lyrics about yearning for freedom and love, highlighting her deep connection to the material.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances and emotional depth, with cohesive themes and arrangements throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a spoken-word intro that sets a reflective tone before transitioning into the title track, which features a slow build in instrumentation.
- Several tracks incorporate lush string arrangements that complement LaBelle's vocal delivery, enhancing the emotional impact of the lyrics.
- The final track is a reprise of the title song, creating a circular structure that emphasizes its thematic importance.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- soulful ballads for reflection
- steady emotional build throughout
- heartfelt lyrics with depth
- intimate listening for connection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quick, upbeat tracks
- prefer standalone singles over albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Marks LaBelle's return with notable hits, showcasing her enduring vocal prowess.
- Career context
- When a Woman Loves marks Patti LaBelle's return to the music scene after a hiatus following her 1995 album, Gems. At this juncture, LaBelle was continuing to establish herself as a veteran artist in the R&B genre, transitioning into the new millennium while maintaining her signature sound that had garnered acclaim over decades.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gladys Knight· Aretha Franklin· Chaka Khan
Tracklist
- 1 The Kitchen 0:57
- 2 When a Woman Loves Start here 4:47
- 3 Make Tonight Beautiful 4:42
- 4 If I Was a River 4:27
- 5 Why Do We Hurt Each Other 5:59
- 6 Too Many Tears, Too Many Times 5:30
- 7 Call Me Gone 4:46
- 8 Time Will 5:47
- 9 Tell Where It Hurts 4:01
- 10 I'll Still Love You More 4:41
- 11 Love Will Lead You Back 5:03
- 12 When a Woman Loves (reprise) 5:25
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Diva
Annie Lennox
Shares emotional depth and powerful vocals, with themes of love and heartbreak intertwined in soulful ballads.
Never Too Much
Luther Vandross
Features rich, soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics centered around romance and yearning.
What's the 411?
Mary J. Blige
Combines R&B and soul with personal storytelling about love and relationships, resonating emotionally.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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