Ann Peebles - Straight From The Heart

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 '70s 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.

This 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 balk 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.

 

 

Side 1

Slipped, Tripped and Fell In Love

Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness

What You Laid On Me

How Strong Is A Woman

Somebody's On Your Case

Side 2

I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight

I've Been There Before

I Pity The Fool

99 Pounds

I Take What I Want

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 1 person(s) rated this product.

Great posted on 08/07/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: Garz This record is so much fun. A nearly perfect product from Speaker’s Corner. Only improvement that I would prefer is a gatefold (which was probably not true of the original). Recommended highly

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