Irma Thomas - Walk Around Heaven: New Orleans Gospel Soul

During R&B's glory years -- the 1950s, '60s and '70s -- the African-American church provided one great singer after another. Church choirs served as a magnificent training ground for so many of the great soul shouters, and it clearly had a positive effect on Irma Thomas (arguably the greatest female soul singer to come out of New Orleans). At 52, Thomas celebrated her gospel heritage with this solid, heartfelt CD. Thomas' voice had held up quite well since the 1960s, and she brings an impressive range and a seemingly endless supply of emotion to songs like "Where We'll Never Grow Old," "Ask What You Will" and "Careful Hands." Walk Around Heaven reminds us that as impressive as her contributions to secular soul have been, Thomas hasn't forgotten the church. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Anthony Brown Guitar Charles Elam III Vocals David Farrell Mixing, Tambourine, Engineer Donald Ramsey Bass Dwight Franklin Organ (Hammond), Arranger, Vocals, Piano, Associate Producer Earl "Chinna" Smith Vocals Herman V. Ernest III Drums Irma Thomas Vocals, Producer Lawrence Baulden Bass Pamela Landrum Vocals Rick Olivier Photography Sammy Berfect Associate Producer, Piano, Organ (Hammond), Vocals, Arranger Scott Billington Producer, Design Tara Darnell Vocals Tom Coyne Mastering