The Right Kinda Lover

"The Right Kinda Lover"
Single by Patti LaBelle
from the album Gems
ReleasedMay 10, 1994
Length4:52
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Patti LaBelle singles chronology
"All Right Now"
(1993) 		"The Right Kinda Lover"
(1994) 		"All This Love"
(1994)
Music video
"The Right Kinda Lover" on YouTube

"The Right Kinda Lover" is a song by American singer and actress Patti LaBelle. It was written by Ann Bennett-Nesby, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, and James "Big Jim" Wright, while production was helmed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with Wright as co-producing. The song was released as the first single from her LaBelle's 12th album, Gems (1994), and appeared on the soundtrack to the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop III, starring Eddie Murphy.

In the United States, "The Right Kinda Lover" reached number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] It also became LaBelle's second number one on the Dance Club Songs.[2] Overseas, the single also reached number fifty on the UK Singles Chart. The song's video featured LaBelle performing as a seductress choosing her choice of mate.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "At age 50, the divine Ms. LaBelle puts out more verve and energy than a lot of performers half her age. The juicy funk throwdown is featured on her new album, Gems, as well as the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop III, and is ripe for picking by R&B, pop, and club programmers. Producers Jam and Lewis surround LaBelle's distinctive voice with phat, rugged grooves and a lively, synth-activated melody. Fab single's bright future is sealed with an array of remixes that range from street hip hop to hearty house."[3]

Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box described it as "a funkified, boisterous cut that will no doubt find the lady back at the top of many formats' charts. Contemporary without sounding forced, courtesy of golden egg production team [...], and sophisticated without sounding stuffy, it’s a song that promises to provide many happy summertime memories."[4] Bill Speed and John Martinucci from the Gavin Report declared it "a midtempoed groove that gets your body shaking while singing the praises of finding Mr. Right."[5] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song four out of five, adding that the remixes "work very well and will help soul stalwart Labelle reach some new audiences."[6]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Gems.[7]

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "The Right Kinda Lover"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 10, 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 MCA [citation needed]
United Kingdom August 23, 1994
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [18]

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 337.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 150.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (June 4, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Augusto, Troy J. (June 11, 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 27. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Speed, Bill; Martinucci, John (May 6, 1994). "Gavin Urban — New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 18. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Beevers, Andy (August 20, 1994). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 18. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Gems (Media notes). Patti LaBelle. MCA Records. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Patti LaBelle: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 3, 1994. p. 28. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 13, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Patti LaBelle Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. December 24, 1994. p. YE-74. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Awards — Top 50 Urban Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. December 31, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. August 20, 1994. p. 27.
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