Ann Peebles - Straight From The Heart

2012 reissue - 180g Vinyl Produced by Speakers Corner using the original Analogue Mastertapes for that supersonic pure analogue audiophile sound.

Year Released: 1972

Genre: Memphis Soul, Blues, Funk

Description:

Straight From The Heart is the third studio album by American Memphis soul singer Ann Peebles, released in 1972 on the legendary Hi Records label. The album is a masterclass in the signature "Memphis sound" that producer Willie Mitchell and the Hi Rhythm Section perfected at Royal Recording Studios. This sound is characterized by its relaxed but deep groove, slick organ and horn arrangements, and a general feeling of understated soulfulness. The album title perfectly reflects the music within, as Peebles’s powerful and heartfelt vocals are the undeniable emotional core of the record.

The album features a mix of originals and blues covers, showcasing Peebles's versatility as both a vocalist and a songwriter. Key tracks include the soulful cover of Bobby Bland's "I Pity the Fool," which became a minor hit, and the fan-favorite "Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness." The latter track gained new life decades later when it was famously sampled by the hip-hop producer RZA for the Wu-Tang Clan's "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'," introducing Peebles's sound to a new generation. Another standout is the bluesy and empowering "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight."

Straight From The Heart was a crucial stepping stone in Ann Peebles's career, cementing her place as a major talent in the Hi Records roster alongside Al Green. It was her first album to chart on the Billboard 200, a sign of her growing commercial success. While her next album, I Can't Stand the Rain, would go on to be a much bigger hit, Straight From The Heart is widely hailed by critics and soul music aficionados as a perfect example of the peak of Memphis soul, a raw, honest, and impeccable work of art