Released (Patti LaBelle album)

Released is the fourth studio album by the American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Epic Records on March 14, 1980, in the United States. The album featured the hits "I Don't Go Shopping", written by previous collaborator David Lasley and musician Peter Allen, and the title track, "Release (The Tension)", which was written by Allen Toussaint, who produced the entire album. The title track found some international success upon its release while "I Don't Go Shopping" was her first top 40 R&B charted single since 1977. Along with her frequent collaborator, James "Budd" Ellison, LaBelle lyrically co-wrote the last five songs on the album.

Track listing
All tracks produced and arranged by Allen Toussaint.

Personnel

 * Patti LaBelle – vocals
 * Allen Toussaint – Yamaha electric grand piano, vocoder (3, 8), RMI Harmonic Synthesizer (8), acoustic piano (9)
 * James Budd Ellison – acoustic piano
 * Sam Henry Jr. – Fender Rhodes
 * Edward Levon Batts – guitars, backing vocals
 * Ron Smith – guitars
 * David Barard – bass
 * Herman "Roscoe" Ernest III – drums
 * Miguel Fuentes – percussion
 * Kenneth Williams – percussion
 * Albert White – alto saxophone
 * Carl Blouin – baritone saxophone
 * Harold Deffies – baritone saxophone
 * Paul McGinley – tenor saxophone
 * James Rivers – tenor saxophone solo (1), alto saxophone solo (7)
 * Jim Duggan – trombone
 * Michael Genevay – trombone
 * Jerome Verges – trombone
 * Clyde Kerr Jr. – trumpet
 * James Weber – trumpet
 * Vernon Manuel – backing vocals
 * Jay Van Hall – backing vocals

Production

 * Patti LaBelle – associate producer, album concept
 * James Budd Ellison – associate producer
 * Skip Godwin – recording, mixing
 * Danny Jacobs – recording, mixing
 * Jack Skinner – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).
 * John Berg – art direction, cover design
 * Andrea Klein – art direction, cover design
 * Hiro 51 – photography