Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0011661220225
Label: Rounder / Umgd
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
MPN: 612202
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Rounder / Umgd
Release Date: August 12, 2008
Studio: Rounder / Umgd

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Disc 1:

1. River is Waiting (featuring Henry Butler)
2. If I had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home (featuring Dr. John)
3. Too Much Thinking (featuring Jon Cleary)
4. Early in the Morning (featuring Tom McDermott)
5. What Can I Do (featuring David Torkanowsky)
6. Underground Stream (featuring David Egan)
7. Thinking About You (featuring Norah Jones)
8. Be You (featuring Dr. John)
9. This Bitter Earth (featuring Ellis Marsalis)
10. Cold Rain (featuring David Torkanowsky)
11. Somebody Told You (featuring John Medeski)
12. Overrated (featuring Davell Crawford)
13. Same Old Blues (featuring Marcia Ball)
14. I Think It's Going to Rain Today (featuring Randy Newman)

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Editorial Review:

Album Description:
There has always been a piano at the heart of Irma Thomas's music, and she is accompanied here by twelve of the best pianists around. The Grammy®-winning Soul Queen of New Orleans has never sounded better than in this all-acoustic setting. From the soul-searing passion of "Cold Rain" to the bittersweet intimacy of "This Bitter Earth," Irma's enduring warmth and soulfulness prevail, never straying far from the blues. Included are many new songs (including one from Burt Bacharach and Steve Krikorian) and a previously unrecorded Doc Pomus-Dr. John composition.

Album Description:
There has always been a piano at the heart of Irma Thomas's music, and she is accompanied here by twelve of the best pianists around, including Dr. John, Norah Jones, Randy Newman, and many more. The Grammyr-winning Soul Queen of New Orleans has never sounded better than in this all-acoustic setting. From the soul-searing passion of 'Cold Rain' to the bittersweet intimacy of 'This Bitter Earth,' Irma's enduring warmth and soulfulness prevail, never straying far from the blues. Included are many new songs (including one from Burt Bacharach and Steve Krikorian) and a previously unrecorded Doc Pomus-Dr. John composition.




Rating: - Sweet Sweet Water
Irma Thomas cast a musical spotlight for me this summer when one of her tracks, "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh," from I Believe to My Soul floated at the top of my personal top ten and wouldn't come down. I needed to listen to more. How amazed I am at the sensational "Simply Grand"! The opening track penned by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame was on his CD Revival. Irma's gospel treatment is delightful. Dr. John joins her on piano on "If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home" ... Read More

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Rating: - The Soul Queen of New Orleans delivers another Grammy winner.
Since the early 1960's Irma Thomas has been creating great music. Her early hit Time Is On My Side was covered by the Rolling Stones who were early admirers of her soulfull voice.

Her last CD won her a Grammy and I believe this is an even a better record.

As the liner notes explain, the concept behind this album is to bring Thomas together with a group of soulmate pianists. Whilst I am usually dissapointed in "with friends" type records this is not in that vein.

Read More

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Rating: - loved her for years
She just keeps getting better. Really enjoyed the music. It mellowed me out. I listen as I am going to work and coming home. A real pleasure.

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Rating: - New direction for the 'Soul Queen of New Orleans'
A different direction for an Irma Thomas recording. All tracks are either her voice w/ a solo piano or in some cases, piano w/ bass & drums. The result is to truly focus on Irma's magnificent voice & her interaction w/ the various pianists. In most cases, the idea works wonderfully, although in a couple of instances, I'd have liked to hear some fuller accompaniment. The CD definitely makes me want to hear her live again, this time in a small club setting w/ just a pianist and/or trio behind her.

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Rating: - A real head-turner
This is the record that will make you listen to Irma Thomas with new ears. The formula -- Irma plus a succession of pianists in an all-acoustic setting -- sounds gimmicky, but it puts the spotlight on her singing and interpretive skills, and the lady bats these songs right out of the park. For me the standout is her haunting version of Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (with Newman himself on the keys) but there are plenty of other gems to explore.

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