After seven years of modest success, Patti LaBelle finally became a mainstream solo star following the late 1983 release of the album, I'm in Love Again, and its hit singles, "If Only You Knew" and "Love, Need and Want You" and the 1984 soundtrack singles "New Attitude" and "Stir It Up", the latter two were featured on the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy film, Beverly Hills Cop, and launched LaBelle into pop stardom. By July of the year, LaBelle received new notoriety by being a standout performer on that month's Live Aid concert in her hometown of Philadelphia. In December 1984, LaBelle signed a new contract with MCA Records and began work on her first MCA album, Winner in You. In the interim, Philadelphia International was left with a bunch of leftover LaBelle recordings culled from 1983-1984 recording sessions, including a live cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes.
The album included "Look to the Rainbow", which became the name of her live concert video culled from a 1985 show in New York, and the aforementioned cover of "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which, along with the R&B ballad "I Can't Forget You", hit the R&B charts. "If You Don't Know Me By Now" became a concert staple for LaBelle following the album's release. LaBelle's last contractual album with Philadelphia International, it was also her last album under a CBS-recorded label after an 11-year association. In addition, it was also the last PIR album to be distributed under the original deal with CBS Records before the label switched distribution to Manhattan Records.
