Irma Thomas - If You Want It, Come and Get It

It's a crime that soul singer Irma Thomas isn't a household name. Her recordings for the Minit and Chess labels in the 1960s and 1970s remain classics of the genre, and one of her compositions, the torchy "Time Is on My Side," was a big hit for a young British band called the Rolling Stones. She took some time off to raise a family, but came back on the scene in the late '70s, and in 1984 she teamed up with producer Scott Billington to make a series of albums for the Rounder label. The songs collected here were all recorded between 1985 and 1999, and all but one were previously released on those earlier albums. Thomas' singing style and the playing of her various backing musicians is so consistent, though, that it's almost impossible to tell which tracks were recorded when; every one partakes of that joyful mix of New Orleans steam and chugging memphis soul that has become her trademark. The songs are all classics -- the Dan Penn composition "If You Want It, Come and Get It," Paul Kelly's "The New Rules," Doc Pomus and Dr. John's "I Never Fool Nobody but Me." And there's even a gospel tune, the exuberant "Yield Not to Temptation" (with backing vocals by Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson). Any fan of soul music ought to own all of the albums from which this collection was taken, but this disc is a good place to start. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits A.J. Pittman Trumpet Alvin "Red" Tyler Arranger, Sax (Baritone) Barbara Roberds Photography Bill "Foots" Samuel Sax (Soprano), Sax (Alto), Horn Arrangements, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone) Carson Whitsett Wurlitzer, Piano (Electric) Charles Elam III Sax (Tenor), Vocals (Background) Chester Henry Bass Chris Belleau Trombone Chris Severin Bass (Acoustic) Christian Clayton Cover Art Craig Wroten Keyboards Cranston Clements Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Dan Penn Guitar (Acoustic), Producer Davell Crawford Organ (Hammond) David Farrell Engineer, Mixing, Editing David Gahr Photography David Torkanowsky Organ (Hammond), Piano Dr. Toby Mountain Mastering Elaine Foster Vocals (Background) Ernie Gautreau Trombone (Valve) George Porter, Jr. Bass Glenn Carvin Keyboards Guillermo Ladut Guitar Harold J. Scott Bass Herman V. Ernest III Drums, Percussion Howard Lamb Trombone Irma Thomas Vocals, Producer Jim Spake Sax (Tenor), Saxophone Joe Saulsbury, Jr. Horn Arrangements, Sax (Tenor) Lee Allen Zeno Bass Leroy Aych Guitar Lisa Foster Vocals (Background) Marcia Ball Vocals (Background) Marvell Thomas Fender Rhodes, Piano Michael Toles Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Nancy Given Art Direction, Design Pamela Landrum Vocals (Background) Renard Poché Guitar Sammy Berfect Organ (Hammond), Piano Scott Billington Compilation Producer, Liner Notes, Producer, Harmonica, Design, Mixing, Art Direction Sharon Foster Vocals (Background) Steve Potts Drums Steve Reynolds Assistant, Assistant Engineer, Engineer Terry Tullos Trumpet Tracy Nelson Vocals (Background) Victor Goines Sax (Baritone) Warner Williams Keyboards, Arranger Wilbert Widow Drums