Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand The Rain (1974) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

This wonderful album, originally released in 1974 on the Memphis-based Hi Records label, deserved a wider audience than it ended up getting at the time. It played to Ann Peebles' great strength, her poised and sultry voice, and surrounded by the sparse, easy funkiness of the trademark Hi rhythm section and producer Willie Mitchell's perfect use of horns and strings, she sings like a resilient but disappointed angel on this impressive set of songs about the darker side of love. Her best song is here, the eccentric but brilliant "I Can't Stand the Rain," along with a marvellous version of Joe Simon's "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On," and perfect readings of a pair of Earl Randle songs, "If We Can't Trust Each Other" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down." Peebles sings her heart out, and with those somehow bright-sounding Hi grooves behind her, it all comes together to make a classic album of dark, bouncy, and beautiful Southern soul. Steve Leggett, Allmusic.

Track listing:

01. I Can’t Stand The Rain
02. Do I Need You
03. Until You Came Into My Life
04. (You Keep Me) Hangin’ On
05. Run, Run, Run

06. If We Can’t Trust Each Other
07. A Love Vibration
08. You Got To Feed The Fire
09. I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
10. One Way Street

Personnel:

Vocal Background: Rhodes, Chalmers and Rhodes
String Arrangements: James Mitchell
Rhythm Section: Howard Grimes-Drums,
Leroy Hodges-Bass, Charles Hodges-Organ and Piano,
Teenie Hodges-Guitar, Archie Turner-Piano
Horn Section: Wayne Jackson-Trumpet, Andrew Love-Tenor,
Ed Logan-Tenor, James Mitchell-Baritone Sax, Jack Hale-Trombone
String Section: The Memphis Strings
Recorded at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, TN.
Produced and engineered by Willie Mitchell