Customer Reviews

Simply the Best: Live!

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you do not know Irma, then choose this live set to get acquainted. This is one of the best live performances I've ever heard on a recording; she smokes, sparkles and stuns the listener into giving it up and having a good time. Just listen. Only Aretha and Irma are the real Soul Queens.

Irma's rendition of "It's Raining" is worth the price of the entire CD. I've always liked her friendly, smoky voice and the selection of songs is pretty good too, especially the aforementioned "It's Raining" and the too-funny "You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don't Take My Man)."

Yes, Irma's timbre & voice have darkened somewhat since the '60's-- but I think the
husky quality is incorporated well. And while yes it's live so sound isn't completely pristine, it's till very good IMO. Most importantly they run through a whole host of
her most famous material and she just does it great! Very entertaining-- superb artist! If you want a more ballad side of the mature Irma, check out too her underated
"True Believer" album

A rare and great voice too often compared to Tina. Irma is a far superior voice quality and singing style. While Tina has enjoyed a greater financial success and aclaim among most folks, Ms. Thomas is a far more subtle and tasteful voice, delicate and appealing to the ear.

I would have liked to hear more of her supported by modern full orchestra backup. Her band in this live recording does an excellent job and together, their quality accounts for this grammy award winning performance.
----------
I had a rare opportunity to share a hot tub with Ms. Thomas on a cruise several years ago. We chatted about music history and our respective backgrounds in that history. That meeting prompted me to order this album.

This is one of the few "live in concert" recordings that really lives up to its name. Usually, the sound quality is extremely poor, or the artist gives short shrift to their old material, instead choosing to showcase whatever newer material they're promoting at the time. On this CD, the sound quality's very good, and Irma performs lots of her older songs that her fans love.

If you listen to mainstream radio, you've probably never heard of Irma Thomas. What a mistake radio has made ignoring her work all these years! She's probably best known for her song "Time Is On my Side" which the Rolling stones made very famous and a fine version is on this CD.
Really the entire set is very good and this is an artist deserving of a huge audience. It's so much better than 90% of what you hear on the radio. There's real talent here- enjoy.

Lousy sound quality. Irma has strained her voice beyond recognition. Irma should give her voice a rest and recover her famous timbre. Musically Irma is wonderful, but she is going the way of Maria Callas.