Artist:Irma Thomas
Song:I Needed Somebody
Album:Modern New Orleans Masters
Irma Thomas is the Soul Queen of New Orleans. So says the city itself. She's been recording since the 60s and is still making great music. She was born Feb. 18, 1941 in Ponchatoula, LA. She grew up singing in church and after a false start in 1960 with the Ronn label, she went to Minit Records to work with legendary producer Allen Toussaint. Minit was acquired by Imperial Records in 1963. Wish Someone Would Care hit the Top 20 but Irma never had the national success of someone like Aretha Franklin. What always seemed to happen is someone else would do a version of one of her songs and have a hit with it. That's what happened when the Rolling Stones covered Time Is On My Side. It got her respect over the years but that doesn't pay the bills. Irma signed with the roots music label Rounder Records in 1985 and has recorded great music for them ever since. Rounder does a lot of these various artists comps so you can sample their artists. Johnny Adams & Walter "Wolfman" Washington are also on this. Irma's great version of the Ann Peebles song I Needed Somebody is from the 1991 CD Live! Simply The Best. Irma Thomas survived Katrina though her house was destroyed. She was in Austin, TX at the time and continues to record for Rounder. After The Rain was released last year. Though not as well known as other soul singers, Irma Thomas is a great singer. Here is Irma Thomas performing Time Is On My Side with Allen Toussaint on piano.
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