The album peaked at number one on the USBillboard 200 chart, as well as producing the US number-one hit single "On My Own". It was LaBelle's only album to chart outside of the United States, charting in theNetherlands,New Zealand,Sweden, and theUnited Kingdom. To date, the album is estimated to have sold over eight million copies worldwide,[1][2] becoming her best-selling album ever. Upon its release,Winner in You received moderate reviews from music critics. The album has been certifiedplatinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). LaBelle embarked on the Winner in You Tour from 1986 to 1987, touringEurope to promote her album.[3]
The second single to be released was "Oh, People". It peaked at number twenty-nine on theBillboard Hot 100[4] and number seven on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[4] It was the second single to chart internationally, peaking at thirty-one on theDutch Singles Chart, and number thirty-six on theNew Zealand Singles Chart. The third single to be released was "Kiss Away the Pain". It was not as successful as the two prior singles, only reaching number thirteen on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[4] The final single to be released was "Something Special (Is Gonna Happen Tonight)," reaching number fifty on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.[4] It is played twice inSweet Liberty and over the opening credits ofOutrageous Fortune.
Winner in You received average reviews from critics. Ron Wynn onAllMusic gave the album three out of five stars.[9] Wynn claims this is the album that made LaBelle's solo career. He enjoys the songs "Oh, People" and "Kiss Away the Pain", which he believed needed to chart higher on theBillboard Top 40. Robert Christgau gave the album a B,[10] praising the duet withMichael McDonald as well as LaBelle's singing abilities. Christgau also compliments her and her family's songwriting abilities. He believes this is how LaBelle became a multi-platinum solo artist. Christgau did not like the earlier part of the album, claiming she "doesn't start out with such surefire goods". Overall, he says the "beats and tunes kick in till you could care less what organ she's singing through." Kim Farber ofBillboard gave the album a mixed review,[11] claiming it to be inconsistent. He believes album was not a "hands-down winner so many anticipated," saying how none of the fast tracks have a "jump." Ferber, although, praises her singing ability and says that is the only thing that saved the album. He said theballads were well written, and enjoyed "On My Own", saying the song is "something real" and likes the song "Oh, People" even more.
The album peaked at number one on the USBillboard 200[12] and onBillboardR&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[13] It spent 30 weeks on theBillboard 200 and spent 33 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[14] On June 27, 1986,Winner in You was certifiedPlatinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of one million copies in the US.[15]Winner in You attained respectable international charting. In the Netherlands, it entered at number twenty-eight on theMega Album Top 100.[16] In New Zealand, it entered at number ten on theTop 40 Albums.[17] In Sweden, it entered at number seventeen on theAlbums Top 60.[18] In the United Kingdom, it entered at number thirty-four and peaked at number 30 on theUK Albums Chart.[19]
