Prior to recording the album, LaBelle initially thought of retiring from the music industry after nearly twenty years as the lead singer of the hugely successful girl group Labelle.

Following the group's March 1977 split, brought on by months of growing tension, LaBelle and her husband of then eight years, Armstead Edwards, went to see a shrink over emotional distress in their marriage, which was partially due to the singer's fright over continuing a career without her group members.

Edwards was then hired by his wife to be her manager as she carefully plotted her solo career.

The singer traveled to New Orleans to record her album, with David Rubinson, producer of Labelle's final album prior to their initial breakup, Chameleon, and also famed for his work with The Pointer Sisters.

Signing a solo contract with Epic Records, Labelle's former label, the singer released her debut album in October 1977.