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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
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Rick Giles, Composer, Author - Chuck Jones, Composer, Author - Frank Parker, Trumpet - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Kim Wilson, Composer, Author - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone - Percy Williams, Trumpet - Warner Williams, Piano - Arthur Bell, Guitar - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3 - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Frank Parker, Trumpet - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone - Percy Williams, Trumpet - Warner Williams, Piano - Joe Brucato, Composer, Author - Fake Baby Moose Music, MusicPublisher - Arthur Bell, Guitar - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3 - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Spooner Oldham, Composer, Author - Dan Penn, Composer, Author, Producer - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc., MusicPublisher
℗ 2000 Rounder Records Corp.
Tom Jans, Composer, Author - Joe Henry, Producer - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - Almo Music Corp., MusicPublisher
℗ 2005 Rounder Records Corp.
Mac Rebennack, Composer, Author - Doc Pomus, Composer, Author - Dr. John, Composer, Author - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., MusicPublisher - Daremoly Music, MusicPublisher
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Paul Kelly, Composer, Author - Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Kelly World Music, MusicPublisher - Tree Publishing Company, MusicPublisher
℗ 1986 Rounder Records Corp.
Trad., Composer, Author - Irma Thomas, Author, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Author, Producer - Black Skillet Music, MusicPublisher - Irma Jackson Music, MusicPublisher
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Steve Krikorian, Composer, Author - Burt Bacharach, Composer, Author - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - DAVID TORKANOWSKY, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - New Hidden Valley Music Company, MusicPublisher
℗ 2008 Rounder Records Corp.
Doc Pomus, Composer, Author - Mort Shuman, Composer, Author - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Unichappell Music, Inc., MusicPublisher - Trio Music, Inc., MusicPublisher
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Allen Toussaint, Composer, Author - Scott Billington, Producer - Screen Gems Music, MusicPublisher
℗ 1988 Rounder Records Corp.
Joe Henry, Producer - Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - Bessie Smith, Composer, Author
℗ 2005 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - Arthur Alexander Jr., Composer, Author - Scott Billington, Producer - Combine Music Corp., MusicPublisher
℗ 2006 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Allen Toussaint, Composer, Author - Scott Billington, Producer - Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc., MusicPublisher
℗ 1992 Rounder Records Corp.
Frank Parker, Trumpet - Irma Thomas, Composer, Author, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Emile Hall, Tenor Saxophone - Percy Williams, Trumpet - Warner Williams, Composer, Author, Piano - Arthur Bell, Guitar - Robert "BJ" Harvey, Bass Guitar - Kim Phillips, Hammond B3 - Larry "Choo" Campbell, Drums
℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
Irma Thomas, Vocals, MainArtist - John Fogerty, Composer, Author - Henry Butler, MainArtist - Scott Billington, Producer - Shanty Kelyn Music, MusicPublisher
℗ 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: 00:58:31
- Main artists: Irma Thomas
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2009 Rounder Records Corp. ℗ 2009 Rounder Records Corp.
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