Winner in You
Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986, in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.
Winner in You
April 28, 1986
1985–1986
- R&B
- soul
44:48
- Nickolas Ashford
- Burt Bacharach
- Carole Bayer-Sager
- Budd Ellison
- Nick Johnson
- Richard Perry
- Howie Rice
- Valerie Simpson
The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, as well as producing the US number-one hit single "On My Own". It was LaBelle's only album to chart outside of the United States, charting in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. To date, the album is estimated to have sold over eight million copies worldwide,[1][2] becoming her best-selling album ever. Upon its release, Winner in You received moderate reviews from music critics. The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). LaBelle embarked on the Winner in You Tour from 1986 to 1987, touring Europe to promote her album.[3]
Release and promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
The first single to be released off of Winner in You was "On My Own", featuring Michael McDonald. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100,[4] as well as the top spot of the Billboard Hot R&B Songs, and almost topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs (instead reaching No. 2 on the latter chart).[4] It also charted internationally, peaking at number two in the UK Singles Chart, number one on the Canadian Singles Chart, number one in the Dutch Singles Chart,[5] number four in the New Zealand Singles Chart,[6] number fifteen in the Swedish Singles Chart,[7] and number twenty on the Austrian Singles Chart.[8]
The second single to be released was "Oh, People". It peaked at number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100[4] and number seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[4] It was the second single to chart internationally, peaking at thirty-one on the Dutch Singles Chart, and number thirty-six on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The third single to be released was "Kiss Away the Pain". It was not as successful as the two prior singles, only reaching number thirteen on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[4] The final single to be released was "Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)," reaching number fifty on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.[4] It is played twice in Sweet Liberty and over the opening credits of Outrageous Fortune.
Commercial performance[edit]
The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200[12] and on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[13] It spent 30 weeks on the Billboard 200 and spent 33 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[14] On June 27, 1986, Winner in You was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of one million copies in the US.[15] Winner in You attained respectable international charting. In the Netherlands, it entered at number twenty-eight on the Mega Album Top 100.[16] In New Zealand, it entered at number ten on the Top 40 Albums.[17] In Sweden, it entered at number seventeen on the Albums Top 60.[18] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number thirty-four and peaked at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart.[19]
Technical credits
Recording studios