Ann Peebles: I Can't Stand The Rain - 1974

Three years on (quite a while) and Ann Peebles finally got her big single success with the track many of us know by now. The album was produced by Willie Mitchell and largely written by Ann and her husband Don Bryant.

I have mentioned the now iconic title track in my introduction to Ann's work. It still sounds great, doesn't it? The lyric is resurrected in the next track, the typical Peebles-soul of Do I Need You. It would seem that the formula hasn't changed much over the ears, but like with reggae or blues rock, for this sort of soul, does it really matter? Hell no. 

Until You Came To Me is one of those gospel-inflected slow, heartfelt ballads that finds the singer in more reflective mood. (You Keep Me) Hangin' On (not the Supremes song) is a sumptuously appetising serving of smooth soul. Why, Ann has filed down and polished up those raw, rough raunchy edges, hasn't she? It's a lovely warm song. 

The chugging Run Run Run has a vaguely Native American-sounding brass and drum backing, or at least I sounds as if it may have come from a fifties or sixties western. If We Can't Trust Each Other is more archetypal Peebles, although it definitely feels as though her voice has softened slightly since 1969, strangely sounding younger than it did then. A Love Vibration backs this up as Ann delivers a soft, warm soulful ballad. Ann's going all "quiet storm" on us! Oddly, the song reminds me a bit of Van Morrison's early seventies Celtic Soul material. 

You Got To Feed The Fire is more as you would expect - brassy and ballsy but not without the trusty regular groove to it. Time for a classic? Coming right up with the Blaxploitation soul of I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down. It grinds and it broods in beautiful soulful melancholy. 

The album ends with a superb version of the much-covered One Way Street as Ann takes us home strongly, solidly and soulfully. By now I would expect nothing less. Glorious. Ann is no Aretha wannabe. She's right up there with her. All the way.

You could pick any of the tracks at any time, from any of these fine, solid soul albums, to be honest - every one is good. Select the lot on a streaming service and then play on shuffle. If you want a lot of tracks all together, try The Essential Ann Peebles.

Secondary, 4 of 6

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