The vocal group that recorded the original hit version of “Lady Marmalade” in 1974 was Labelle.
Labelle’s recording featured Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash, with Allen Toussaint and Vicki Wickham producing. It appeared on the group’s album Nightbirds and was released as a single in November 1974, shortly after the album came out.
The song was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan after Crewe encountered New Orleans nightlife. Toussaint then helped shape the recording in New Orleans, using members of the funk band the Meters for the rhythm section. Labelle’s energetic performance blended soul, funk, and glam-rock theatricality.
The French refrain “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?” refers to a sexual proposition, a meaning Patti LaBelle later said she did not understand when she recorded it. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975, while later versions by artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mýa, and Lil’ Kim introduced it to a new generation.