On Nightbirds, producer Allen Toussaint adorns Patti LaBelle's powerful voice—a soulful cry that fills every word with drama—with rich New Orleans instrumentation. While simple piano lines ground the songs, boisterous horns match both the singer's volume and her expressive ability. The combination foretold disco: Generations have now danced to the steady groove of glamorous opener "Lady Marmalade," and the funk empowerment jam "What Can I Do for You?" builds to a euphoric climax well-suited to the end of an after-hours bash.