Done it again
Soulboogiealex | Netherlands | 04/17/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The people at Ace/Kent have succeeded again. When they released a compilation of Irma's sixties recordings a few years back it soon became the definite collection of songs of that period in Irma's career. This follow up is a welcome addition to that release.
The seventies are a much overlooked phase of Irma's career. Mostly because it didn't wield any big hits like break a-way or time is on my side. That doesn't mean the seventies were lesser times in qualitative terms for Irma. Just listen to the Swamp Dogg recordings available on this disc and it becomes clear that people were just not paying attention enough. Of course these songs were hardly marketed back then. But that had more to do with a lack of interest than a lack in quality. This collection features some of the best work Irma Thomas has done, or Swamp Dogg for that matter. But as with more work of genius, recognition comes late.
The disc loses some momentum when it explores the later seventies. Those productions can't keep up with the rest of the material here. This is to be considered just a minor flaw since the majority of this disc soul supreme.
"
Irma's Southern Soul
Truth | DC | 01/03/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"After recording for Minit and Liberty/Imperial in the early 1960s and finishing the decade with a short stint at Chess Records, the "Soul Queen of New Orleans" recorded for several record labels; that is where these recordings are derived.
After recently having her home destroyed by hurricane Katrina and performing at the funeral of journalist (CBS's "60 Minutes) and Jazz aficionado Ed Bradley, she continues to record.
A WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE: ESSENTIAL 70s RECORDINGS consists of 19 songs, recorded in the 1970s (1970-1979) on Canyon/RRG/Roker, BASF/Fungus, and RCS labels (none from Atlantic are included, and seem to be unavailable or unreleased); tracks are not in chronological order. Disc packaged in standard black jewel case; total running time: 67:20. Booklet includes a detailed essay by Tony Rounce, track release years, and photos of original 45s. The sound quality is good (tracks 12 & 13 are mono and of a lesser quality).
Two "mystery tracks" are included (track 10, "I'm So in Love", and track 11, "Can't Get Enough"), which may have been recorded in the late 1960s. The version of "Don't Blame Him for What You Didn't Do" (track 17) is a live recording from 1977 (the horns in the intro suffer from an audio distortion), which concludes with a brief yet still prolonged dialog by an announcer and Irma herself. Track 6 is a cover of Thomas's own "Wish Somebody Would Care", preceded by a 5 minute "monologue" (rap), not unlike those of Millie Jackson (the track is over 12 minutes in length, with her vamping for the last third of the track). Most of the songs are around 3 minutes long. Six of the songs are from 1973's "In Between Tears" LP (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7).
Most of the songs are straight-up Southern Soul. There are ballads and up-tempo songs. Some of the songs from the late 1970s have a disco vibe (tracks 15, 18).
Overall, this is an enjoyable collection. I think these songs are superior to her 60s recordings.
"
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1