Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary

Personnel: Irma Thomas (vocals); Doyle Bramhall II (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Arthur Bell, Guillermo Ladut, Leroy Aych, Renard Poché, Cranston Clements (guitar); Dirk Powell (electric guitar, fretless banjo); Michael Toles (electric guitar); Sonny Landreth (slide guitar); Hannah Thiem (violin); Patricia Doucette (viola); Kristen Miller (cello); Scott Billington (harmonica, tambourine); Bill "Foots" Samuel (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Warner Williams (tenor saxophone, piano); Emile Hall, Jim Spake (tenor saxophone); Terry Tullos (trumpet, French horn); Percy Williams (trumpet, percussion); Frank Parker , A.J. Pittman (trumpet); Howard Lamb, Chris Belleau (trombone); Ernie Gautreau (valve trombone); David Torkanowsky (piano, electric piano); Allen Toussaint (piano); Spooner Oldham (Fender Rhodes piano); Glenn Carvin, Craig Wroten (keyboards); James Singleton (acoustic bass); Jay Bellerose (drums, percussion); Stanton Moore (drums); Alfred "Uganda" Roberts (congas, tambourine); Don Bryant, Tara Darnell, Elaine Foster, Paul Rayner-Brown, Pamela Landrum, Marc Broussard, Niki Haris, Jean McClain, Juanita Brooks (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: David Farrell ; Adam Taylor; Kevin Killen; Paul Q. Kolderie; S. "Husky" Höskulds.
Audio Remixers: David Farrell ; Scott Billington.
Liner Note Author: Jeff Hannusch.
Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (07/1985-04/2009); Camp Street Studio, Cambridge, MA (07/1985-04/2009); Capitol studios, Los Angeles, CA (07/1985-04/2009); Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA (07/1985-04/2009); Piety Street Studio, New Orleans, LA (07/1985-04/2009); Sounds Unreel, Memphis, TN (07/1985-04/2009); Southlake Recordings Studio, Metairie, LA (07/1985-04/2009); Studio Solo, Slidell, LA (07/1985-04/2009); Ultrasonic Studio, New Orleans, LA (07/1985-04/2009).
Photographer: Rick Olivier.
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