Ann Peebles
Band members Related acts
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- Ann Peebles -- vocals
backing musicians (1973) - Howard Grimes -- drums - Charles Hodges -- keyboards - Leroy Hodges -- bass - Teenie Hodges -- guitar - Jack Hale -- trombone - Wayne Jackson -- trumpet - Andrew Love -- tenor sax - Ed Logan -- tenor sax - James Mitchell -- baritone sax - Arthur Turner -- piano
backing musicians (1977) - Ben Cauley -- trumpet - Gene Chrisman -- drums, percussion - Paul Hill - trumpet - William Easleys -- sax, flute - William Flores -- trombone - Leroy Hodges -- bass - Deby Kincaid -- backing vocals - Aaron Nesbit -- keyboards, percussion - Floyd Newman -- sax, flute - Judy Rodman -- backing vocals - Darnell Smith -- sax - Karen Taylor -- backing vocals - Jackie Thomas -- trombone - Michael Toles -- guitar
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- none known
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: I Can't Stand the Rain Company: Hi Catalog: XSHL
32079 Country/State: St. Louis, Missouri Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5999 Price:$50.00
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Ann Peebles early musical career almost sounds like one of those Hallmark movies of the week. She was born into a highly religious family - her father was a minister and her mother a featured singer in his church. As a child she sang in the church choir, as well as being a member of family's touring gospel ground - The Peebles Choir.
As a teenager, in the early 1960s Peebles decided to try secular music, hitting the St. Louis club circuit. Her initial break came when she caught the attention of Oliver Sain who asked her to join his St. Louis-based blues band. Not yet 20, in 1968 Peebles started her solo recording career. While visiting Memphis, she was asked to sing with trumpet player Gene Miller. Miller brought her to the attention of Hi Records owner Willie Mitchell, who instantly signed her to the label
While her earlier
albums were all good and worth tracking down, Peebles hit her creative
stride with the release of 1973's "I
Can't Stand the Rain".
Produced by Willie Mitchell, the
"I
Can't Stand the Rain" track listing: 1.) I Can't Stand the Rain (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles - Bernard Miller) - 2:29 rating: ***** stars 'I Can't Stand the Rain' may not be a staple of today's radio play lists (younger listeners are liable to recognize it as being sampled by Missy Elliott for 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)', but that does absolutely nothing to detract from the fact it's an amazing song that is instantly beguiling and simply can't be ignored once you've heard it. Co-written by Bryant, Peebles and disc jockey Bernard Miller, the song has a fantastic atmospheric groove that's actually quite dark and unnerving (similar to James Carr's 'Dark End of the Street', or The Police's 'Every Breath You Tale'), Peebles turned in a performance that was simultaneously amazing and heartbreaking. A near perfect song, in fact, the only shortcoming was the fact the song was simply too short. Tapped as a single, it also became Peebles biggest commercial success. (I'll put in a short plug for one of my favorite singers - Mary Ann Redmond does a stunning cover of the tune on her "Live At Blues Alley" album.) YouTube has a great clip featuring Don Bryant, Peebles and Mitchell talking about the title track, followed by a mid- career performance of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnQHUvOtaMg 2.) Do I Need You (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles - D. Carter - C. Ardent) - 2:32 rating: ***** stars With a classic Willie Mitchell arrangement (including some tasty Memphis Horns charts), 'Do I Need You' was almost as good as the title track (in fact the song even included a tasty nod to the title track). 3.) Until You Came Into My Life (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles) - 3:10 rating: ***** stars 'Until You Came Into My Life' was a pretty ballad that revealed Peebles softer touch and had quite a bit of commercial potential. 4.) (You Keep Me) Hangin' On (B. Mize - L. Allen) - 2:39 rating: ***** stars A breezy, country-soul ballad, '(You Keep Me) Hangin' On' (not to be confused with the Motown/Vanilla Fudge song), was another radio-friendly track that showcased Peebles 'old soul' persona. This version simply crushed Joe Simon's version. 5.) Run, Run, Run (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles - D. Carter) - 2:34 rating: ***** stars In addition to including my favorite couplet ('what am I gonna do - you're my Waterloo''), ' Run, Run, Run' was side one's funkiest performance. Try sitting still to this one ... If push came to shove this one might get my nod for best overall performance.
(side
2) Side two started with the song's overlooked 'should've-been-a-single' - 'If We Can't Trust Each Other'. One of two tracks written by Earl Randle, this one had it all; great instantly memorable tune, fantastic hook, and a lyric that stuck in your head. 2.) A Love Vibration (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles - Bernard Miller) - 2:45 rating: ** stars The third single off the album, ' A Love Vibration' was a decent ballad though the string orchestration detracted from the song's core strengths. 3.) You Got To Feed the Fire (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles - Bernard Miller) - 2:20 rating: ***** stars Ah, Peebles gets frisky; 'You Got To Feed the Fire' was another catchy torch song that would have been even stronger had Mitchell toned down the strings and put more faith in The Hodge Brothers to carry the song. 4.) I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (Earl Randle) - 2:44 rating: ***** stars The second Earl Randle song, ' I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down' was another lost soul classic. With good reason, Peebles sounded pissed off and dangerous - imagine a cold blooded cobra about to pounce on its victim. Hard to pity the poor fool who had this comin' ... 5.) One Way Street (Don Bryant - Ann Peebles) - 2:51 rating: ***** stars Employing her voice at its raspiest, 'One Way Street' has always reminded me a bit of James Carr's 'Dark End of the Street'. Like that song, this one was cloaked in bittersweet pain and regret. Again, how could a 25 year old have something like this in her repertoire?
The album also spun off a couple of big hits for Peebles:
- 1973's 'I Can't Stand the Rain' b/w 'I've Been There Before' (HI catalog number 45-2248) # 38 pop; # 6 R&B - 1973's '(You Keep Me) Hangin' On' b/w 'Heartaches' (HI catalog number 45-2265) - 1973's 'A Love Vibration' b/w 'Do I Need You' (HI catalog number 5N-2271)
All hyperbole aside, this is easily one of the top-five albums on the Hi label. Well worth tracking down and should probably be in the collection of every true soul fan.
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Tellin' It Company: Hi Catalog: SHL
32091 Country/State: St. Louis, Missouri Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1532 Price:$40.00
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1975's "Tellin' It" found Ann Peebles continuing her musical partnership with producer Willie Mitchell. While the album wasn't a major change in direction from her earlier breakthrough collection, to their credit, Peebles and Mitchell were smart enough to avoid an outright repeat of "I Can't Stand the Rain". As a result "Tellin' It" was consistent and easily as enjoyable as anything else she'd recorded. Powered by Peebles instantly recognizable voice and Mitchell's unique Memphis sound, the album featured an engaging mixture of up-tempo soul tunes, country-soul, with a couple of more pop oriented tunes. While there wasn't a single bad tune on the album, Peebles remained at her peak on up-tempo numbers like 'Come To Mama', 'Beware', and 'Love Played a Game'. She was also one of the best soul story-tellers out there. Easily as good as Clarence Carter, or Millie Jackson (without any of the raunch factor). Another great album with four singles embedded in it.
"Tellin'
It" track listing: 1.) Come To Mama (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:52 Like a lot of people, my introduction to this torrid tune came as a result of Bob Seger's remake - re-titled 'Come To Papa' and included on his "Night Moves" album. As much as I love the Seger version, it had absolutely nothing on Peebles' positively sizzling original. When she sang the title refrain you could literally feel you ears start to tingle. One of the best things she ever recorded (and that's saying a lot) !!! Hi tapped it as the leadoff single:
- 1975's 'Come To Mama' b/w 'I'm Leaving You' (Hi catalog number 5N-2294) rating: ***** stars 2.) I Don't Lend My Man (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:48 If you want to hear a song that encapsulates the magic of the Hi sound, then I'd suggest the slinky, bluesy 'I Don't Lend My Man' would be in the running. Peebles seldom sounded as good as on this funky tune. Hi tapped it as another single:
- 1976's 'I Don't Lend My Man' b/w 'I Needed Somebody' (Hi catalog number 5N 2309) 3.) I Needed Somebody (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant) - 4:56 Old school country-soul tune with what sounded like some autobiographical lyrics written by Peebles and then-husband Don Bryant. rating: *** stars 4.) Stand By Woman (Earl Randle - O. Roberts) - 3:02 Peebles always had a sexy voice (to say nothing about the album cover), but it seldom sounded as good as on 'Stand By Woman'. Even liked the flute arrangement. rating: **** stars 5.) It was Jealousy (Don Bryant) - 2:56 The album's most conventional, pop-oriented ballad ... rating: *** stars
(side 2) 1.) Doctor Love Power (G. Anderson - D. Oliver) - 3:06 How could you not love a tune with a title like 'Doctor Love Power'? Powered by some nice work from The Memphis Horns, this was a charming, breezy tune with the kind of lyrics that simply brought a smile to your face. Understandably Hi tapped this one as another single:
- 1975's 'Dr. Love Power' b/w 'I Still Love You' (Hi catalog number 5N 2303) 2.) You Can't Hold a Man (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 4:33 Aretha would have approved of this bluesy slice of advice. You somehow got the feeling Peebles knew what she was talking about. rating: *** stars 3.) Beware (Earle Randall) - 3:00 You simply can't beat Peebles when she's given a funky up-tempo number like 'Beware'. Don't think you'd want to tangle with her in the urban battlefield of martial affairs. Boasting a killer refrain, this one should have been tapped as a single. YouTube has a dazzling live performance of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrWVkKJrUTM Hi tapped it as another single:
- 1975's 'Beware' b/w 'You've Got to Feed the Fire' (Hi catalog number 5N-2284) rating: **** stars 4.) Put Yourself In My Place (Earle Randall - B. Jarrett) - 2:37 Breezy slice of homespun advice that was one of the album's hidden treasures. Kudos to Howard Grimes for the wonderful drums. rating: **** stars 5.) Love Played a Game (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - F. Hodges) - 2:24 'Love Played a Game' sounded like Peebles was stealing a page out of the Al Green songbook. The funny thing is the performance was simply phenominal. Shame she never did a duet with Green. rating: **** stars
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: The Handwriting Is On the Wall Company: Hi Catalog: HLP
6007 Country/State: St. Louis, Missouri Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed copy; cut out punch top right corner Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1308 Price:$40.00
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Weren't it for the cover photo (and the somewhat dated hair style), I doubt most folks would ever peg "The Handwriting Is On the Wall" as a late-'70s release.. Produced by Willie Mitchell, this collection may have been released in 1978, but it sure had an early-'70s sound and aura. And as a soul fan, that was a good thing. So I'm clearly biased when it comes to Ann Peebles. To my ears she's one of the most talented soul singers out there with an incredibly sexy voice that's capable of handling virtually any kind of musical genre with sass and swagger, but seldom going over the demarcation line into parody, or grossness (a la Millie Jackson). Surrounded by Mitchell's classic Memphis soul sound this was another first-rate Peebles performance and easily one of the best album's to come off the Hi production line. Exemplified by tracks like 'Old Man with Young Ideas', ' Bip Bam Thank You Mam', and 'Livin' in, Lovin' Out', the album was full of tales of interpersonal warfare and heartbreak - a subject few could do as well as Peebles. You got the feeling Peebles was a decorated veteran in these wars; one you probably didn't want to mess with.
"The
Handwriting Is On the Wall" track listing: 1.) Old Man with Young Ideas (George Jackson - Raymond Moore) - 3:03 You could almost argue that this album was worth the purchase price just for this song title !!! Add in the fact 'Old Man with Young Ideas' was simultaneously one of the funniest and funkiest tunes you've ever heard and what's not to like. Almost enough to make me proud of my AARP membership. Hi tapped it as the album's lead single. rating: **** stars 2.) Bip Bam Thank You Mam (George Jackson - Raymond Moore - R. Settle) - 3:10 My goodness Peebles can ride a funky rhythm like very few of her compatriots ... It may not get much credit on the literary charts, but kicked along by some lyrics that could emasculate a man at 1,000 paces and some punchy horns, 'Bip Bam Thank You Mam' was one of those tracks that you simply couldn't sit still through. Too, too funny. rating: **** stars 3.) The Handwriting Is On the Wall (Earl Randle- M. James - B. James - Willie Mitchell) - 4:18 Classic slice of bluesy Hi soul. And in a tasty Michael Toles guitar solo and you had a great slow dance tune that showcased the grittier side of Pebbles' fantastic voice. rating: **** stars 4.) I Didn't Take Your Man (Earl Randle - P. Barnes) - 4:08 Okay, the opening spoken word vamp was a bit on the campy side, but when 'I Didn't Take Your Man' kicked into gear there was no going back. Who knew affairs of the heart could be so funky ? Another wonderful horn arrangement and Hi tapped it as the second single. rating: **** stars 5.) You've Got the Papers (I've Got the Man) (Earl Randle- J. Shaw) - 2:33 Not much to say about this blazing slice of relational counseling other than this was another album highlight. Seriously, this was the kind of tune that would have turned Clarence Carter on his head. Add to that The Wu Tang Clan sampled it for one of their tune - 'Rules'. rating: **** stars
(side 2) 1.) Lookin' for a Lovin' (Phyllis Brown - Barry Goldberg) - 3:00 Conventional,
radio-oriented dance tune with a touch of disco and the album's first mild
disappointment.
rating: *** stars Breezy
slice of regret with one of the album's most commercial melodies.
rating: **** stars My
goodness, Pebbles had a knack for capturing the essence of a cheating heart
with an insidiously catchy refrain.
rating: **** stars Heartbreak
with a top-40 melody and a killer Leroy Hodges bass line. Should have
been a massive hit for the woman. rating:
**** stars The album's funkiest groove and the only song that even nodded to disco and more contemporary sounds. The song was okay, but personally I found the disco-tinged strings and the male backing singers disconcerting. rating: *** stars
Three classic singles:
- 1978's 'Old Man With Young Ideas' b/w 'A Good Day for Lovin' (Hi catalog number 78509) - 1978's 'I Didn't Take Your Man' b/w 'Old Man With Young Ideas' (Hi catalog number 78518) - 1979's 'If You Got the Time (I've Got the Love)' b/w 'Let Your Love Light Shine' (Hi catalog number 79528)
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: If This Is Heaven Company: Hi Catalog: HLP
6002 Country/State: St. Louis, Missouri Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: punch hole bottom left corner Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1314 Price:$30.00
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Continuing Ann Peebles' partnership with Hi producer/songwriter Willie Mitchell, 1977's "If This Is Heaven" was a fantastic, late-inning slice of old-school Memphis soul. Music is a business and it should not have come as a surprise Hi at least acknowledged changing public tastes. You certainly weren't going to mistake this for a Chic collection, but material like the title track, 'Boy I Gotta Have You' and 'It Must be Love' included nods to dance music and disco. At the same time Peebles and Mitchell deserved credit for standing their creative ground and refusing to follow many of their competitors in a mindless rush to sell-out to popular tastes. In spite of the updated touches ( check out the talk box guitar effects on her cover of O.V. Wright's 'You Gonna Make Me Cry'), the album certainly wasn't a radical departure for Peebles. In other words, there was plenty of old school soul here. The fact is Peebles' voice remained a soul treasure and she was in fine form throughout. Longstanding Peebles fans already had a good idea of what to expect and her sixth studio release wasn't going to disappoint. To be honest, there really wasn't a single bad tune on the album, making it hard to pick favorites . If forced in a corner, I'd go with the slinky Curtis Mayfield-tinged 'Being Here with You', her ode to domestic happiness 'I'm So Thankful' and the funky 'A Good Day for Lovin''.
"If This
Is Heaven" track listing: 1.) If This Is Heaven (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:07 rating: *** stars The title track was quite commercial, though the mild disco tinge wasn't particularly helpful. On the other hand Peebles had such a fantastic voice you could overlook other shortcomings. Inexplicably, this was the only track released as an American single:
- 1977's 'If This Is Heaven' b/w 'When I'm IN Your Arms' (Hi catalog number H-77502) # 64 R&B
Shame it was the only single as there were several other equally radio-friendly tunes on the album.
2.) A Good Day for Lovin' (Don Bryant - Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:48. rating: **** stars Kicked along by Leroy Hodges bass and some of the album's punchiest horn charts, who would have ever imagined Peebles powering her way through a track that was this funky ? Killer tune with kind of Sly and the Family Stone vibe going on. 3.) I'm So Thankful (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 4:02. rating: **** stars You'll seldom hear a paean to middle age respectability that's as pretty and thought provoking. One of three tracks Peebles co-wrote, the tune was apparently autobiographical (Peebles and husband Don Bryant had just become parents) and few singers could as effortlessly capture that aura of personal sadness as Peebles did on this one. 4.) Being Here with You (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:00. rating: **** stars Maybe a result of Teenie Hodges' shimmering guitar work, or Aarion Nesbitt's slightly psychedelic horn and string arrangement, but for some reason 'Being Here with You' has always reminded me of a Curtis Mayfield tune. As a big Mayfield fan, that was meant as a high compliment One of the album's highlights. 5.) Boy I Gotta Have You (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:40 rating: *** stars 'Boy I Gotta Have You' was clearly intended to extend Peebles' audience into the dance/disco arena. To her credit Peebles turned in a nice performance, but surrounded by a rather routine disco--fied arrangement she didn't sound particularly inspired, or comfortable with the proceedings. Certainly not horrible and benefited from being relatively short.
(side 2) 1.) When I'm In Your Arms (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 3:03 rating: **** stars A simply glistening slice of prime Memphis soul with a melody that simply climbed into your head and won't leave. With Peebles turning on the vocal afterburners you were left to wonder how this one was relegated to a 45 'B' side. 2.) You Gonna Make Me Cry (O.V. Wright) - 4:39 rating: *** stars Off of 1965's "(If It Is) Only for Tonight"), the O.V. Wright original was actually entitled 'You're Gonna Make Me Cry' and simply crushes the competition. Still credit Peebles for turning in a nice, bluesy cover and the Joe Walsh-styled talk-box guitar effect was totally unexpected and kind of cool. 3.) Games (Earl Randle - B. Jarrett - P. Barnes) - 2:58 rating: **** stars Almost a rock tune, 'Games' sounded a bit like something Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong might have trotted out for the mid-'70s Temptations. It was a tune that grew on you if given the chance. 4.) Lovin' You without Love (Willie Mitchell - Y. Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:00 rating: *** stars Pretty enough ballad with a great title track refrain that spotlighted Charles Hodges on Hammond B3 and Michael Toles on Coral electric sitar. Always loved electric sitar - sort of a Thom Bell feel. 5.) It Must Be Love (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 2:52 rating: **** stars 'It Must be Love' has always reminded me of a Stapes Singers tune. There was just something in Peebles raspy delivery, along with the ,uncredited male singer who recalled Purvis Stapes (wonder if it was Don Bryant ?). The uplifting lyric and bubbly mini-Moog just underscored the comparison. Another standout performance.
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Genre: soul Rating: 4 stars **** Title: It Must Be Love Company: Samalk Sounds Catalog: AG
2331 Country/State: St. Louis, Missouri Grade (cover/record): NM/M Comments: sealed copy Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2267 Price:$60.00
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Album Globe was probably the most blatant of the late-'70s/early-'80s tax scam labels. When I say they were blatant I mean that, unlike other tax scam labels like Guinness and Tiger Lily, Album Globe didn't hesitate to release material by nationally known artists without any attempt to obscure it. While Ann Peebles may not have been in the same league as Deep Purple, Billy Joel, or Bob Marley, that didn't stop the label from releasing 1980's "It Must be Love". And here's where it gets almost laughable. In spite of the new album title, new art work, and the odd decision to flip the sides, this was noting more than a reissue of her 1977 "If This Is Heaven" album. I'd be willing to bet that Hi Records, or producer Willie Mitchell had approved this release.
Obviously you want to look for a copy of the original, but for Peebles fanatics, this was a fantastic, late-inning slice of old-school Memphis soul. While material like the title track, 'Boy I Gotta Have You', and 'It Must be Love' at least acknowledged the public's growing appetite for dance music and disco, Peebles and Mitchell deserved credit for standing their creative ground and refusing to follow many of their competitors in a mindless rush to sell-out to popular tastes. In spite of the updated touches (talk box guitar on her cover of O.V. Wright's 'You Gonna Make Me Cry'), the album certainly wasn't a radical departure for Peebles which certainly served to limit the collection's sales potential. On the other hand, if you were a longstanding Peebles fan you already had a pretty good idea of what to expect and her sixth studio release wasn't going to disappoint. To be honest, there really wasn't a single bad tune on the album, making it hard to pick favorites, but if forced in a corner, I'd go with the slinky, Curtis Mayfield-tinged 'Being Here with You', 'When I'm In Your Arms', and the funky 'A Good Day for Lovin''.
It Must be Love" track listing: 1.) When I'm In Your Arms (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 3:03 A simply glistening slice of prime Memphis soul with a melody that simply climbed into your head and won't leave. With Peebles turning on the vocal afterburners you were left to wonder how this one was relegated to a 45 'B' side. rating: **** stars 2.) You Gonna Make Me Cry (O.V. Wright) - 4:39 Off of 1965's "(If It Is) Only for Tonight"), t he O.V. Wright original was actually entitled 'You're Gonna Make Me Cry' and simply crushes the competition. Still credit Peebles for turning in a nice, bluesy cover and the Joe Walsh-styled talk-box guitar effect was totally unexpected and kind of cool. rating: *** stars 3.) Games (Earl Randle - B. Jarrett - P. Barnes) - 2:58 Almost a rock tune, 'Games' sounded a bit like something Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong might have trotted out for the mid-'70s Temptations. It was a tune that grew on you if given the chance. rating: *** stars 4.) Lovin' You without Love (Willie Mitchell - Y. Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:00 Pretty enough ballad with a great title track refrain that spotlighted Charles Hodges on Hammond B3 and Michael Toles on Coral electric sitar. Always loved electric sitar -sort of a Thom Bell feel. rating: *** stars 5.) It Must Be Love (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 2:52 'It Must be Love' has always reminded me of a Stapes Singers tune. There was just something in Peebles raspy delivery, along with the ,uncredited male singer who recalled Purvis Stapes (wonder if it was Don Bryant ?). The uplifting lyric and bubbly mini-Moog just underscored the comparison. Another standout performance. rating: *** stars
(side 2) 1.) If This Is Heaven (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:07 The title track was quite commercial, though the mild disco tinge wasn't particularly helpful. On the other hand Peebles had such a fantastic voice you could overlook other shortcomings. Inexplicably, this was the only track released as an American single:
- 1977's 'If This Is Heaven' b/w 'When I'm IN Your Arms' (Hi catalog number H-77502) # 64 R&B Shame it was the only single as there were several other equally radio-friendly tunes on the album. rating: *** stars 2.) A Good Day for Lovin' (Don Bryant - Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:48 Kicked along by Leroy Hodges bass and some of the album's punchiest horn charts, who would have ever imagined Peebles powering her way through a track that was this funky ? Killer tune with kind of Sly and the Family Stone vibe going on. rating: **** stars 3.) I'm So Thankful (Ann Peebles - Don Bryant - Gene Anderson) - 4:02 You'll seldom hear a paean to middle age respectability that's as pretty and thought provoking. One of three tracks Peebles coo-wrote, the tune was apparently autobiographical (Peebles and husband Don Bryant had just become parents) and few singers could as effortlessly capture that aura of personal sadness as Peebles did on this one. rating: **** stars 4.) Being Here with You (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:00 Maybe a result of Teenie Hodges' shimmering guitar work, or Aarion Nesbitt's slightly psychedelic horn and string arrangement, but for some reason 'Being Here with You' has always reminded me of a Curtis Mayfield tune. As a big Mayfield fan, that was meant as a high compliment One of the album's highlights rating: **** stars 5.) Boy I Gotta Have You (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:40 'Boy I Gotta Have You' was clearly intended to extend Peebles' audience into the dance/disco arena. To her credit Peebles turned in a nice performance, but surrounded by a rather routine disco--fied arrangement she didn't sound particularly inspired, or comfortable with the proceedings. Certainly not horrible and benefited from being relatively short. rating: *** stars
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album served as a terrific showcase for
Peebles classic soul voice. In fact to
this day I'm amazed by her voice - Peebles was only 25 when she recorded the
album, but on songs like the title track, '
(You Keep Me) Hangin' On'
and 'I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down'
her voice simply dripped with pain and experience that seemed more
appropriate for a fifty year old. How in the world did someone that
young and that petite (she couldn't have weight more than a sack of
potatoes) channel that much life experience ? Her
performances were simultaneous sexy and dangerous (this was the kind of
album Diana Ross could only dream about), making for a dynamite
collection. The album also served as a showcase for Peebles
songwriting skill - she was responsible for co-writing seven of the ten
tracks (all co-written with Hi house songwriter and future husband Don
Bryant). As good as Peebles' performances were, producer/engineer
Willie Mitchell deserved considerable credit for his contributions.
Coming at a time when he was enjoying massive successes with Al Green,
Mitchell brought all of his trademarked production techniques to this one,
including backing from The Hodge Brothers and The Memphis Horns. In a
roundabout way that also led to some minor criticisms of the album, such as
Peebles sounded like a female Al Green. Ignore crap like that.
Yeah, Mitchell's production gave the album a similar sheen, but you won't
mistake either artist for the other ... 
