“Straight From The Heart” – Ann Peebles (voc); James Mitchell (bs); Andrew Love, Ed Logan (ts, voc); Jack Hale (tb); Wayne Jackson (tp); Teenie Hodges (g); Charles Hodges (org, p); Leroy Hodges (b); Howard Grimes (dr)

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 commercialised disco wave, only to return many years later with a revival of her old songs.
Her album from 1972 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.

Recording: August 1971 at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, TN, by Willie Mitchell
Production: Willie Mitchell