Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
For a half century, Irma Thomas has been firmly established as the undisputed queen of New Orleans soul, and over the years has issued several standout recordings for the Rounder label. This collection features 15 of her very best works with no filler or sub-standard tracks, and includes three previously unissued tracks. Thomas taps on the deep wellspring of songwriters and performers from the Crescent City, including David Torkanowsky, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Doc Pomus, Doyle Bramhall II, Sonny Landreth, James Singleton, Stanton Moore, and Henry Butler among many others. This compilation, organized from her 25 years on the Rounder label, comes from six of her eleven albums, tacking on tunes from the Rhino collections I Believe to My Soul and 'Till The Night Is Gone; A Tribute to Doc Pomus, as well as the Nonesuch label collection Our New Orleans. The CD is highlighted by three selections from her all-time best and Grammy-award winning recording After the Rain, a post-Katrina anthem for the ages in and of itself. On a pure blues side, there's the raunchy, Bayou-humid thick "Another Man Done Gone" from After the Rain, and Bessie Smith's "Back Water Blues" via the compilation Our New Orleans -- both classics. Gospel-soul is always a part of the repertoire as heard on the confirmational tune "Let It Be Me" or "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere," co-written by Dr. John and Doc Pomus. Thomas specializes in downtrodden, brokenhearted songs such as the confused, sad ballad "What Can I Do?," "I Count the Tears" (from After the Rain) with a supportive chorus amid the gloomy mood, and the regretful ballad "Loving Arms." There's a funky, more commercial cover of the Purify Brothers' hit "I'm Your Puppet" with a horn section and popping electric bass guitar, a good-time rocker "The New Rules" affirming woman power, and the song of hope "River Is Waiting" with Butler's lively piano urging the band and singers to stand up and be counted. Thomas owns the kind of voice that is universally likable, never straining for high notes, unwavering in her soulful content, and as precise as any vocalist could dream of. She's simply precious, direct, stirring, and exciting no matter the style or lyric content. Though all of her individual CD's are easily recommended, this one is a must-have for collectors of greatest-hits packages, and especially those who for some reason have not yet discovered this brilliant American artist -- truly one of a kind.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Frank Parker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Williams, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Warner Williams, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Bell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Frank Parker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Williams, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Warner Williams, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Bell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
David Farrell, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Spooner Oldham, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Toles, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dan Penn, Producer, Recording Producer, ComposerLyricist - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marvell Thomas, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Houston, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Reynolds, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Thompson, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - James Robertson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Spake, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer, Recording Producer - Dawn Hopkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Kinard, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howard Lamb, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 Rounder Records Corp.
Joe Henry, Producer - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
David Farrell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Kelly, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, Recording Producer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Jaczko, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Billington, Producer, Recording Producer - LS, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bill "Foots" Samuel, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Tullos, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Gregg Lunsford, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Sellers, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Guillermo Ladút, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Aych, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Glenn Carvin, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chester Henry, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Wilbert J. Widow, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Saulsbury, Jr., Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence J. Weber, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1986 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Scott Billington, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2008 Rounder Records Corp.
Doc Pomus, ComposerLyricist - Mort Shuman, ComposerLyricist - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Allen Toussaint, ComposerLyricist - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2001 Rounder Records Corp.
Joe Henry, Producer - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bessie Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Alexander, ComposerLyricist - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Allen Toussaint, ComposerLyricist - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 1992 Rounder Records Corp.
Frank Parker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Williams, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Warner Williams, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Arthur Bell, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Billington, Producer
℗ 2008 Rounder Records Corp.
Album review
For a half century, Irma Thomas has been firmly established as the undisputed queen of New Orleans soul, and over the years has issued several standout recordings for the Rounder label. This collection features 15 of her very best works with no filler or sub-standard tracks, and includes three previously unissued tracks. Thomas taps on the deep wellspring of songwriters and performers from the Crescent City, including David Torkanowsky, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Doc Pomus, Doyle Bramhall II, Sonny Landreth, James Singleton, Stanton Moore, and Henry Butler among many others. This compilation, organized from her 25 years on the Rounder label, comes from six of her eleven albums, tacking on tunes from the Rhino collections I Believe to My Soul and 'Till The Night Is Gone; A Tribute to Doc Pomus, as well as the Nonesuch label collection Our New Orleans. The CD is highlighted by three selections from her all-time best and Grammy-award winning recording After the Rain, a post-Katrina anthem for the ages in and of itself. On a pure blues side, there's the raunchy, Bayou-humid thick "Another Man Done Gone" from After the Rain, and Bessie Smith's "Back Water Blues" via the compilation Our New Orleans -- both classics. Gospel-soul is always a part of the repertoire as heard on the confirmational tune "Let It Be Me" or "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere," co-written by Dr. John and Doc Pomus. Thomas specializes in downtrodden, brokenhearted songs such as the confused, sad ballad "What Can I Do?," "I Count the Tears" (from After the Rain) with a supportive chorus amid the gloomy mood, and the regretful ballad "Loving Arms." There's a funky, more commercial cover of the Purify Brothers' hit "I'm Your Puppet" with a horn section and popping electric bass guitar, a good-time rocker "The New Rules" affirming woman power, and the song of hope "River Is Waiting" with Butler's lively piano urging the band and singers to stand up and be counted. Thomas owns the kind of voice that is universally likable, never straining for high notes, unwavering in her soulful content, and as precise as any vocalist could dream of. She's simply precious, direct, stirring, and exciting no matter the style or lyric content. Though all of her individual CD's are easily recommended, this one is a must-have for collectors of greatest-hits packages, and especially those who for some reason have not yet discovered this brilliant American artist -- truly one of a kind.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:56
- Main artists: Irma Thomas
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rounder Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2009 Rounder Records ℗ 2009 Rounder Records
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.