Customer Reviews

Time Is on My Side Plus

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Early 1960's were most commercially visible times for then-young Irma Thomas whose voice I found irresistible,but as this compilation shows,she actually just got better and better though the years.From the start Thomas had a certain earthiness about her and while other,better-selling names used vocal histrionics as their trade-marks,Thomas sound like real person who cries and cracks jokes.Her original "Time Is On My Side" sounds so much better than later-covered "Rolling Stones" hit and there are many gems here to be found,but her early singles were just embrio of future Thomas: check "Look Up" on which Allen Toussaint ferocious piano in background actually eclipses the singer.As good as this compilation of her early music is,Irma Thomas singing showed much more depth throught the next 30 years and while she never got close to succes of "Breakaway" (1963.),her recent albums are real Irma Thomas at her artistic peak.Woman frozen in time on this CD was a young,fresh-voiced talented singer who had big hits back then but her voice sounds much much better today - and no hits anymore.

Irma Thomas, known in Louisiana as "the Soul Queen of New Orleans", has been one of my favorite singers for years. I have never introduced her music to anyone who didn't pronounce her a genius on the spot. Her voice is powerful and expressive, even more so in her later years. Yes, Irma's still around, thank you, and she continues to record prolifically, even though her career started over 45 years ago. Over the years, I have introduced her records to several R & B aficionados who never heard of her, and they are almost always amazed at how good she is and puzzled at how she's managed to escape their attention.

Her early Minit records have never been put into a "definitive" collection; as a result, there are many anthologies available on many different labels. I have at least three, and bought them all for the one or two tracks on each that the others failed to include. But this particular album is my favorite of her CD anthologies, since it contains the highest concentration of her very best songs. There are 22 tracks on this CD and not a clunker in the bunch.

It's difficult to fathom why she is not a household name (like my other favorite singer, Tracy Nelson - Tracy so loves Irma's early records that her own releases, 22 albums strong, have contained numerous covers of Irma's early material). Then again, I am long of the opinion that a lack of national popularity in a musical artist is frequently a sign of true genius, superior artistic integrity, or both. Considering some of the mediocre non-talents that have made it to superstardom, while others with real voices languish in obscurity - well, you know what I mean.

This particular collection includes many of Irma's early hits. She had over a dozen "top thirty" hits on the R & B charts between 1959-69, but sadly has been practically forgotten by most R & B fans, except in New Orleans, where she is a major local celebrity and a household name. I have never been introduced to anyone from the state of Louisiana without asking them, "Louisiana? Do you know Irma Thomas?" and the reply is always, "Irma? Everybody loves Irma!"

She is most remembered for introducing Time Is On My Side before the Rolling Stones did it. Her soulful version will make you forget theirs, maybe even if you're a die hard rock and roll lover. Her biggest hit was probably her self-penned autobiographical number I Wish Someone Would Care (which is NOT a love ballad - it's about her career) which I still hear on oldies stations from time to time. And then there was her first hit from 1959 (unfortunately not included here), You Can Have My Husband, But Please Don't Mess With My Man, which has my vote as the greatest song title ever devised.

Of her later stuff, I am particularly fond of her two first Rounder albums, The New Rules and The Way I Feel, but the woman never recorded a bad song in her life. You simply cannot go wrong with Irma.

This album contains many of the best of her classic hits. From her wonderful up-tempo material to her numerous heartbreaking ballads, you will have trouble deciding what she's better at - the slow stuff or the fast stuff. And that's mighty rare in any genre. I Done Got Over It, I Did My part, Somebody Told You, and Break-A-Way (a guaranteed finger-snapper) are some bouncy standout examples of her up-tempo material. All are included here, but my favorite may be Two Winters Long, with her wistful, delicate phrasing. As for her ballads, if Times Have Changed, Some Things You never Get Used To or I'm Gonna Cry Til My Tears Run Dry don't get to you, you have no soul. Or maybe you've just never been in love. Try Irma and you're guaranteed to fall in love (with her music).

This is absolutely the first Irma Thomas collection I'd buy...I agree with the reviewer who says it has the highest concentration of great early songs.

The Razor and Tie "Soul Queen of New Orleans" set is very good, too (mastered very well by Steve Hoffman), and catches three greats this one misses ("Cry On," "Long After The Night Is All Over" and "Hittin' On Nothin'"), as well as some strange obscurities and historically interesting misfires unavailable elsewhere. (Irma attempting Motown??? etc)

BUT....this Kent collection has a superior mix of "Break-A-Way"...and a VERY mysterious and superior alternate version of "It's a Man's Woman's World." No matter what the notes claim, this is NOT Pts 1 & 2 of the single, but a different edit that contains a far more feminist and funny monologue than the single. (The actual side 1 of the single is on the Razor and Tie collection.)

This collection also contains the following super-essential songs missing from the Razor and Tie: "Baby Don't Look Down", "Wait Wait Wait", "Somebody Told You" "I Haven't Got Time To Cry", "Some Things You Never Get Used To", "Look Up (When Ever)", "(I Want a) True True Love", "Two Winters Long", "Gone",....and two or three others I don't care about so much. But...that's ELEVEN songs not on the Razor and Tie that you really, really need to hear.

I'd probably follow up these two collections with something containing the remainder of the 16 Allen Toussaint-produced Minit sides, though most of them are on one or the other of these collections. Unfortunately, the CD I have of those complete sides, "Ruler of Hearts", has incredibly bad sound. I'd hope that one of the other more recent collections has improved on it.

But again, start here.

Irma in the 1960s [2 and half stars]

This compilation, an updated and expanded version of a 1983 LP compilation (tracks 1-16), features 24 songs recorded 1962-1966 on Imperial, Brandy, and Minit labels. This is a slightly superior compilation to Razor & Tie's 1996 compilation "Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection".

TIME IS ON MY SIDE consists of 24 songs from 1963-1966; songs are not in chronological order. Disc packaged in black jewel case; total running time: 65:50. Booklet includes an essay by Clive Richardson, two b&w photos, and songwriting credits (recording years provided on back cover; chart positions, albums of origin, producer credits, and musician personnel are not included). Sound quality is decent.

The disc closes with "It's a Man's-Woman's World Parts 1 & 2", which is the same recording as "It's a Man's Woman's World (Pt. 1)", the latter appearing on the "Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans" disc. Both are the same length and include the last note of another song at the beginning of the track.

For her Soul recordings, and I would contend best work, get "A Woman's Viewpoint: Essential 70s Recordings" [2006].

I am from New Orleans, so Irma is like a household name to us. I sang along to her music as a teenager, have heard her perform, and even seen her in the grocery store. She's one of our local treasures, and a wonderful lady.

If you never heard her sing, you are in for a treat. This cd is not the best quality, but is a good example of her early years in the business. She's in her 60's now, and still going strong. She's always been a favorite of mine. Buy this, and treat yourelf to a dose of "The Soul Queen of New Orleans"

Why Irma Thomas never had more charted hits is simply beyond comprehension. Sure, one can use the excuse assigned to many such artists of that era - the ignominious British Invasion. But that really doesn't explain it either because some of her finest uncharted efforts came before that time.

Listen, for example, to the bluesy It's Raining, done in 1962 for the Minit label, and 1963's Ruler Of My Heart, which the great Otis Redding used as the basis for Pain In My Heart that year, and then tell me why these failed to dent either the R&B or Billboard pop charts. Like I say, one of the great mysteries of the time.

Born Irma Lee on February 18, 1941 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, she had her first charter in 1960 on the Ron label with Don't Mess With My Man which, b/w Set Me Free, made it to # 22 R&B. Not in this set, it can be found in the CD Rhythm & Blues From The New Orleans Ladies.

After failing to chart from 1961 through 1963, she re-emerged on the Imperial label in the spring of 1964 with Wish Someone Would Care b/w Break-A-Way, a # 17 Billboard Hot 100/R&B entry. That summer she was back with Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand), a soulful ballad that topped out at # 52 H100/R&B. The flipside, Time Is On My Side, is, in my humble opinion, one of the best blues ballads ever, and why it didn't chart as well is just one more mystery among many when it comes to Irma Thomas. As another reviewer says, it's better than the Rolling Stones cover.

She finished off 1964 with two more hits, taking Times Have Changed to # 98 H100/R&B. The B-side of this, Moments To Remember, is on the CD Soul Queen Of New Orleans, as is her last charter with Imperial, He's My Guy, a # 63 H100/R&B in December 1964. The B-side, (I Want A) True, True Love is in this compilation.

Blanked for another three years, Irma came back in 1968 on the Chess label with an Otis Redding-penned hit Good To Me which, b/w We Got Something Good, peaked at # 42 R&B in March.

You cannot miss with an Irma Thomas CD.

I came to Irma Thomas via her big eponymous hit, and wasn't dissapointed by the rest of the CD. Great songs, great voice.

Irma Thomas has the strongest and most mucley voice I have ever heard. Time Is On My Side shows off all the beautiful qualities of her voice - she sings with such heart. In my opinion, she is the best Soul singer that I've ever heard. This album would have to be one of my most favourites. You'll love it!!!

This is the only Irma Thomas album that I have bought. My favorites are song: 4. Times Have Changed, 6. It's Raining, 7. Somebody Told You, and 13. Ruler Of my Heart. Time is on my side is also a good song, better than the Rolling Stones cover.

If you like New Orelans artist and music
then this is definatly for you.