Our final song to reach #1 by two different artists is also the one with the longest span between releases — 27 years.
‘Lady Marmalade’ first reached the top spot in 1974, recorded by the girl group Labelle (Patti Labelle sang the lead vocal). Patti later claimed to not know the French-language refrain (“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?”) meant “Would you like to sleep with me tonight?”
Theme weeks like this one on the Library of Congress’ latest additions to the National Recording Registry always reveal holes in my musical education.
For example, I never knew the 2001 Moulin Rouge song ‘Lady Marmalade’ was a cover of a 1974 single by Labelle. And I didn’t know Patti LaBelle fronted a girl group called Labelle, a trio that started as Patte LaBelle and the Bluebelles before changing their name in the early 70s.
Meet Me In Montauk 