Ann Peebles Straight From The Heart 180g LP (Vinyl)

180 Gram Vinyl! Sharp, Soulful Singing! Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering!

Ann Peebles’ climb up the career ladder was rather more conventional than spectacular in the tough, rough days of rhythm and blues. She was first discovered when she appeared in Memphis nightclubs, was given a break by the big-band leader Gene 'Bowlegs' Miller, and landed her first top hit with the celebrated song "I Can’t Stand The Rain". Towards the end of the Seventies she made a well-timed retreat just before the outbreak of the highly commercialized disco wave, only to return many years later with a revival of her old songs.

Her album from the early '70s has certainly not mellowed with age. Her singing is sharp and soulful, and comes right from the heart ("Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love"). The beat is powerful, throbbing, young and fresh ("What You Laid On Me") or surging and groovy ("How Strong Is A Woman?"). The arrangements come across as sophisticated and well balanced, yet do not baulk at harsh attacks from the winds nor from the use of Hammond and Hohner keyboards, which were so popular at that time. Melody, singers and big band are airy and finely interwoven ("Somebody’s On Your Case"), while a fusion of soft swing and snappy acerbity ("I Pity The Fool") rounds off this album which is filled with pure emotion, heart and soul.


"A lean, tough set that was not only a triumph for Peebles, but illustrated how the Hi label had surpassed its crosstown Stax rival for quality Memphis soul in the early '70s..." - Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com

Recorded August 1971 at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, TN, by Willie Mitchell.

Features:
• 180g Vinyl
• High Quality Pressing
• Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering

Musicians:
Ann Peebles, vocals
James Mitchell, bass saxophone
Andrew Love, tenor saxophone, vocals
Ed Logan, tenor saxophone, vocals
Jack Hale, trombone
Wayne Jackson, trumpet
Teenie Hodges, guitar
Charles Hodges, organ, piano
Leroy Hodges, bass
Howard Grimes, drums

Selections:
Side One:
1. Slipped, Tripped and Fell In Love
2. Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness
3. What You Laid On Me
4. How Strong Is A Woman
5. Somebody's On Your Case
Side Two:
1. I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight
2. I've Been There Before
3. I Pity The Fool
4. 99 Pounds
5. I Take What I Want