Song of the Day 3/26: Labelle, “Lady Marmalade”

The National Recording Registry announced this year’s additions, ranging from a recording Thomas Edison made on a piece of tinfoil in 1878 to Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection.” The headline selection, though, was this smash hit that reached the top of the charts in 1975 when it was recorded by Labelle, the girl group led by Patti LaBelle, just as Philly soul was morphing into disco.

Bob Crewe, who co-wrote most of the Four Seasons’ string of hits, co-wrote this tune with Kenny Nolan after a trip to New Orleans, which explains the French chorus. It was first recorded by the Eleventh Hour, a disco band co-writer Nolan fronted, 1974. When it failed to make a splash, Nolan took it to Allen Toussaint, who produced the hit version for Labelle.

“Lady Marmalade” became the ninth song to reach No. 1 by two different artists when a version recorded by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink for the soundtrack of “Moulin Rouge” hit the top in 2001.