Labelle released the 1974 single “Lady Marmalade,” a signature hit written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan.
The song became famous for its memorable French refrain, “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?” Labelle’s recording reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1975, making the group the first Black female group to top that chart.
Labelle was led by Patti LaBelle, alongside Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. The trio had moved from the earlier vocal group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles toward a glam-rock-influenced image and sound. Their 1974 album Nightbirds contained “Lady Marmalade.”
A common mix-up is identifying Christina Aguilera’s 2001 version as the original. That version, featuring Lil’ Kim, Mýa and Pink, was made for the film Moulin Rouge! and also became a major hit, but Labelle recorded the original popular version decades earlier.