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Irma Thomas

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New Orleans, United States

Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana) who’s only national chart hit in a 50 year career is 1963’s “

Wish Someone Would Care”, is an enduring, Grammy winning, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. Known as the “Soul Queen of New Orleans”, she is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but did not tour as relentlessly and industry support and major commercial success eluded her for decades. Thomas, who once was told by execs at Atlantic in the late 60’s that “she just didn’t have it anymore”, remained undaunted, and continues to perform to a loyal and growing following worldwide. She was finally awarded a Grammy for her 2006 Rounder album “After the Rain”, after more than 40 years as singer. She won The Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy again for her 2008 album “Simply Grand”.

Releasing her first single in 1959, she struggled to launch her career from segregated New Orleans as a teenage waitress with 4 children in the early 60’s. Now, finally undergoing a late career renaissance on the Rounder label, much of her most enduring work was produced in the early 1960’s by Allen Toussaint for Minit Records, and she also recorded for other labels including Imperial, Chess, and Atlantic, eventually retiring for a period before reviving her career in earnest in the late 1980’s.

Thomas is perhaps best known outside of New Orleans for her recording of “

Time Is on My Side,” which predated the hit version by The Rolling Stones. Otis Redding’s hit “Pain In My Heart” was built on an earlier song, “

Ruler of My Heart,” recorded by Thomas.

Tagged as:

soul, female vocalists, new orleans, blues, rhythm and blues
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The Soul Queen Of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary…
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Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas…
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Time Is on My Side
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Top Tracks

1	Time Is on My Side full track	380
2	It's Raining full track	210
3	Wish Someone Would Care full track	132
4	Ruler of My Heart full track	119
5	Don't Mess With My Man full track	86
6	I Need Your Love So Bad full track	54
7	Long After Tonight Is All Over full track	51
8	Cry On full track	48
9	Break-A-Way	46
10	Take A Look full track	42
11	Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) full track	40
12	Breakaway full track	39
13	While the City Sleeps full track	34
14	Straight from the Heart full track	33
15	The Hurt's All Gone full track	32

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aesideusi wrote:
10 days ago

break-a-way is one of the closest things I've ever heard to a perfect song.

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LondonLouis wrote:
September 2009

Having just re-listened to some of her work, I've come to appreciate what a fine voice she had. I hadn't realised how little chart success she had. She's good.

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manimouse wrote:
August 2009

The best female soul singer all all time for me..she's the queen

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wastedish wrote:
January 2009

favorite woman soul singer

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simonjalpin wrote:
January 2009

great voice and songs best simon

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tulayakar wrote:
December 2008

super!

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Marjo47 wrote:
December 2008

a good Soul song and like her voice to.

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malkeschmied wrote:
November 2008

Whow - she is quite something!! Lover her voice!!!

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Hitman44 wrote:
November 2008

Very... vERY... vErY....NICE

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maulofsound wrote:
July 2008

she kinda looks like michelle obama.

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nadirauxpommes wrote:
June 2008

Not a bitter ounce of soul...

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ModLa wrote:
March 2008

Absolutely brilliant!

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MagicDave wrote:
March 2008

Her version over *anyone's* re-make!

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dundee12 wrote:
December 2007

her version over the Stones re-make

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underlined wrote:
December 2007

I love this woman!!

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MissMandylion wrote:
April 2007

great voice

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maxi_d wrote:
February 2007

oh my god...GREAT music.

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Recent Activity

ministerlilj added Irma Thomas to ministerlilj’s library. yesterday evening
rhythming tagged Irma Thomas with ‘blues’. yesterday afternoon
soulheart1 and jmcgsy added Irma Thomas to their libraries. Tuesday evening
elitropia tagged Irma Thomas with ‘soul’. Monday afternoon
karenmariama and smallvillain added Irma Thomas to their libraries. Sunday afternoon
schatzchen tagged Irma Thomas with female vocalists, contemporary blues and blues. Saturday afternoon
valgran, KrystalSim, Jacabag and 2 other people added Irma Thomas to their libraries. Friday afternoon
nomadrobbins tagged Irma Thomas with ‘soul’. last week
d1cone added Irma Thomas to d1cone’s library. last week
Elvika connected Irma Thomas to the group Soulful Music. last week