The first time I saw Patti Labelle was Patti Labelle & The Bluebells Summer of 1969, opening up for Sam & Dave at the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park. Their singing was off the hook... but they didn't have any actual songs I was really that interested in. By the next time I saw them in 1974, again in Central Park, they were opening for Mandrill... but this time I was coming to see them.