PATTI LABELLE - WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOVE

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOVE

PATTI LABELLE

SONGWRITERS: James Big Jim Wright; ANN NESBY; &James Harris

COUNTRY: U.S.A.

ALBUM: FLAME

LABEL: MCA RECORDS

GENRE: SOUL

YEAR: 1997

The song was written by Ann Nesby and musically composed and produced by the team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and James "Big Jim" Wright. The song became one of the singer's most popular hit singles in the 1990s reaching number 56 US pop and number 12 R&B in the summer of the year. A dance remix of the song helped to bring the song to number-one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making it the fourth number-one dance single in LaBelle's career. The video featured LaBelle playing a teacher giving a "class" about love. LaBelle and her students later dance in the song featuring the singer doing a then-popular dance step at the time called the "Bankhead Bounce" created in Atlanta. The song borrows heavily from Al Green's "Love & Happiness". Both songs have the same vibe and the organ riffs are nearly identical. In addition, the cadence chant of the background singers shouting "Patti Patti" after she asks "what's my name" was taken from the Alexander O'Neal hit, "Fake".

"When You Talk About Love" was issued on a two song cd single in 1997 from MCA records. Hex Hector & Gomi remixed the second track on the single. Tracks are-

"When You Talk About Love" (LP Version) 5:32

"When You Talk About Love" (Main Club Pass) 6:56

12" promo vinyl single (MCA 8P):

SIDE ONE: 1. (Main Club Pass) 6:55 2. Radio Edit 3:0

SIDE TWO: 1.(Dub Mix) 7:06 2. (Bonus Beats) 2:08

I'd like to give you a test,

So darlin' prepare yourself,

When I say Love please explain,

What picture pop in your brain,

'Cause when you talk about love (love, love, love),

When you think about love (love, love, love),

When you talk about love (love, love, love),

You should be talkin' 'bout me.

Now if you need to be taught,

Don't make me an afterthought,

For every lesson that's wrong,

You can bet my good lovin' will be gone,

So let's erase any doubt,

Take a few seconds to figure out,

Speak from your lips to my ears,

Yes, I know you know what I wanna hear,

'Cause when you talk love (love, love, love),

When you think about love (love, love, love),

When you talk about love (love, love, love),

You should be talkin' 'bout me.

No I'm not gonna play tit for tat,

When it comes to affairs of the heart,

But if I love you I want you back,

And I know that I love you so just do your part.