{"title":"Irma Thomas","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIrma Thomas is an American soul singer from New Orleans. Born on February 18, 1941 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, she has been captivating audiences with her powerful and emotive voice for decades. Making her first recordings for the Ron label in 1958, Irma quickly gained recognition as a talented artist in the music industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a style reminiscent of *Solomon Burke*, *Bettye Swann*, and *Sugar Pie DeSanto*, Irma's soulful performances have touched the hearts of many. Her unique sound has earned her a place among legendary artists such as *Lee Dorsey*, *James Carr*, and *Ann Peebles*. Collaborating with renowned musicians like *Allen Toussaint* and groups like *The Staple Singers*, Irma has left an indelible mark on the world of soul music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOften compared to greats like *Barbara Lynn* and *Ruth Brown*, Irma's influence extends beyond her own recordings. She has inspired artists such as *Betty Harris*, *Little Willie John*, and even contemporary performers like *James Hunter*. With a discography that includes hits like \"Time Is On My Side\" and \"Wish Someone Would Care,\" Irma Thomas continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her timeless music.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"soul-queen-of-new-orleans","title":"Soul Queen Of New Orleans","description":"\u003cp\u003efor the past 50 years irma thomas has been the undisputed soul queen of new orleans, recording for labels such as chess, imperial and island, scoring pop and r and b hits and releasing grammy nominated albums. despite this illustrious career many soul fans regard her earliest recordings as her finest. thomas was discovered by bandleader tommy ridgley while waitressing in the pimilico club in new orleans. ridgley helped her win a contract with the ron label, before moving to the bandy and minit label, where she teamed up with the legendary producer allen toussaint. disc 1 of this 2cd set features the all the singles she recorded for minit, ron and bandy along with b-sides and demos. the demos have been specially enhanced for this release to remove the audible tape noises which versions blighted previously available. the second disc features a 1976 live performance recorded at the new orleans jazz and heritage festival, originally released that year on island records. for the show thomas was reunited with tommy ridgley and blasted through many of the new orleans classics featuered on disc 1 along with her covers of contemporary disco hits lady marmalade and shame, shame, shame.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"CD | x2","offer_id":50438955270475,"sku":"344955","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/dee8992f-bd72-48bf-8606-4691270abbf0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726949887"},{"product_id":"tokokawa","title":"Tokokawa","description":"\u003cp\u003e“This collaborative release presents three immersive movements of avant-electronics full of unexpected tonal contrasts and shifts in intensity. Powered by modular synthesis, “concrete” assemblage technique and a pervasive desire to work with the full spectrum of sound. Tokokawa is the product of its two producers’ commitment to a dynamic, ever-renewing sense of aesthetics.” (Thomas Bey William Bailey) Composed from 2023 to 2024, these three pieces present a deep dive into the murky and turbulent world where analogue electronic sound sources are driven hard and without mercy into an entirely contemporary setting that’s at once commanding and convoluted. Vast torrents of apparently untamed noise are reshaped alongside iridescent whirrs, metallic scrapes, shimmering tones, space flotsam, deep well chimes, front line pulses and heaving hums over the course of three magnificent pieces that pull confrontational music inside-out to expose a kind of ravaged beauty. Tokokawa is the result of two very unique artists pulling together to share a vision mercilessly singular yet possessed of an ability to communicate far beyond as it stakes its claim to its own place on the map of sonic abstraction. Malaysia’s Reverse Image also released the excellent debut The Silence That Does Not Exist CD in mid- 2023, plus founder Siew Y’ng-Yin used to operate the renowned Mirror Tapes imprint (which ran during 2010 and 2011 and released albums by The New Blockaders, Maurizio Bianchi, Conrad Schnitzler and others). Early 2024 also saw the release of the debut Beyond the Flat Earth CD by her fiery and intense electronics project Fallen Sun. Thomas Bey William Bailey, meanwhile, has released numerous cassettes and CDs since his debut Strangelet album in 2009 and has collaborated with many artists since, including Susana Lopez, Rick Reed, Leif Elggren and others. His most recent album, Metaphysics of Autonomous Shadows, appeared in 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fourth Dimension","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50455308304715,"sku":"2208517","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/reverse_image_thomas_bey_tokokawa_itunes_flat_9f7dd095_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727190349"},{"product_id":"after-the-rain-1","title":"After the Rain","description":"\u003cp\u003eAvailable for the first time on vinyl, After the Rain is the eighteenth studio album by the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas. After the Rain won the Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, which was the first time Thomas won a Grammy Award in her career. Recorded in rural Maurice, Louisiana, the soul queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas brings her rich and resonant vocals to a surprisingly varied set of songs. Whether it's her full throttle performance on the ballad \"If You Knew How Much,\" her intimate take on \"In the Middle of It All,\" or her humorous \"These Honey Do's,\" the common element is soulfulness.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rounder","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP | x2","offer_id":50464122372427,"sku":"1093479","price":39.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/348ba0d7-aaeb-4be0-ae91-d39983fb5b9a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727270691"},{"product_id":"its-raining-the-allen-toussaint-sessions","title":"It's Raining - The Allen Toussaint Sessions","description":"\u003cp\u003eKnown as the Soul Queen of New Orleans, singer Irma Thomas (born in 1941) is arguably the most underrated soul singer ever. Although her voice and musical expression are unparalleled, she never achieved the same degree of fame as her contemporaries Aretha Franklin and Etta James. Nevertheless, her 50-year career has been highly praised in recent years, and she even won a Grammy in 2007. This 18-track vinyl release compiles all of the sessions she recorded with renowned producer Allen Toussaint, who also composed most of the songs. Here is one of America's most distinctive and classic singers, a treasure from the golden age of soul music. All tracks recorded in New Orleans between 1959 and 1962 and originally issued on 45rpm singles. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracks: It's Raining \/ I May Be Wrong \/ It's Too Soon To Know \/ I Done Got Over It \/ Two Winters Long \/ For Goodness Sake \/ Whenever \/ Gone \/ That's All I Ask \/ I Did My Part \/ A Good Man \/ Cry On \/ Girl Needs A Boy \/ Don't Mess With My Man \/ (You Ain't) Hittin On Nothing \/ Ruler Of My Heart \/ Somebody Told You \/ Set Me Free\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Waxtime","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50531996893515,"sku":"2010734","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/8436559469869_930ac6c6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728113869"},{"product_id":"audience-with-the-queen","title":"Audience with the Queen","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Crescent City’s chameleonic funk-rock-pop veterans \u003cstrong\u003eGalactic\u003c\/strong\u003e reunite with the \u003cem\u003eSoul Queen of New Orleans\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIrma Thomas\u003c\/strong\u003e for a full album of new music on \u003cem\u003eAudience With the Queen\u003c\/em\u003e, an uplifting joint-effort that shines new light on the Grammy-winning singer’s timeless sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow 84, Thomas has contributed era-defining hits to New Orleans’ R\u0026amp;B “Golden Age,” earned worldwide acclaim for her blues masterpiece \u003cem\u003eAfter the Rain\u003c\/em\u003e, and remains among the city’s most celebrated gospel singers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith \u003cstrong\u003eGalactic\u003c\/strong\u003e at her side across 8 high-energy, groove-laced originals and a dazzling revamp of Nancy Wilson’s “How Glad I Am,” Thomas sounds more vibrant than ever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis unique full-length LP featuring two of New Orleans’ most beloved music acts is a must-have for fans of any genre.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tchoup Zilla Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":51245593329995,"sku":"2239850","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":51245593526603,"sku":"2239851","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Blue LP","offer_id":51245595492683,"sku":"2239852","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Galactic.AudienceWithTheQueen.cover.3000_7caa083c_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1739225617"},{"product_id":"take-a-look","title":"Take A Look","description":"\u003cp\u003eIrma Thomas, born Irma Lee and widely celebrated as the Soul Queen of New Orleans, is a Grammy-nominated artist who recorded her first single in 1959. Her second solo album, released in 1966, features the song “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand),” co-written by Randy Newman and country music star Jeannie Seely. The single peaked at #52 at the Billboard Top 100 chart and this iconic track has been featured in multiple episodes of the acclaimed science fiction television series Black Mirror.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":51256269439307,"sku":"2500050","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Cover_a5f7b12a-0517-4949-b349-75a005652977_webp.jpg?v=1739383845"},{"product_id":"wish-someone-would-care","title":"Wish Someone Would Care","description":"\u003cp\u003eAce Records with a reissue Irma Thomas’ classic debut album \u003cem\u003eWish Someone Would Care.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally released in 1964, the album title was taken from her big R\u0026amp;B hit single ‘Wish Someone Would Care’ which got to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1964. Produced by Eddie Ray and arranged by H.B. Barnum it’s a stone cold soul classic featuring tracks like ‘Please Send Me Someone To Love’. ‘Straight From The Heart’, ‘Another Woman’s Man’ and ‘Break-A-Way’ that was the B-side to ‘Wish Someone Would Care’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs well as pressing the album on 180gm vinyl Ace are delighted to feature an interview with Irma discussing this part of her career with writer Garth Cartwright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Wish Someone Would Care 2. I Need Your Love So Bad 3. Without Love (There Is Nothing) 4. Please Send Me Someone To Love 5. Another Woman's Man 6. Sufferin' With The Blues Side Two 1. Time Is On My Side 2. While The City Sleeps 3. Straight From The Heart 4. I've Been There 5. I Need You So 6. Break-a-way\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ace Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":53479449329995,"sku":"R0326-8565","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/HIQLP157IrmaThomasLP.jpg?v=1758874650"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/irma-thomas.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}