Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles, He | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 190^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “He” by Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 190^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “He”, performed by 🎙 Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles. 

“He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea / He alone decides who writes a symphony.” The He that 🎙 Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles reference on 🎵 “He”, is God.  Amen! “He,” which appears as the ninth track on their 1966 album, 💿 Over The Rainbow, was not an original for the collective.  The oft-covered song was penned by 🎼 ✍ Jack Richards and Richard Mullan in the 1950s. Even though it is a cover, Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles truly make the record their own.

“He” features gorgeous orchestration with its use of piano, strings, and eventually, rhythm section.  The introduction suggests that “He” is going to have more of a classical vibe – a bit more of a traditional sound.  The addition of the rhythm gives the song the best of both worlds – a refined, traditional ‘vocal’ cut and that classic, 60s soul record.  Patti LaBelle shines, serving up refined lead vocals.  Her tone is utterly stupendous.  Furthermore, The Bluebelles are on-point with the background vocals, bringing the heat. The authenticity served up by the performers just adds to the spiritual nature of the lyrics. Among the best moments occurs at the end: “Though it makes Him sad to see the way we live / He’ll always say, ‘I forgive’.” 🎵 “He” is epic!

🎙 Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles • 💿 Over The Rainbow • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1966

Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles, He: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 190 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]