Marcia Ball,
Irma Thomas
and Tracy Nelson
SING IT!
Rounder 2152
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The respect, power, and fun come blaring through on this disc. From the opening notes of SING IT, where each of the 3 takes her turn at the song and Marcia Ball's distinctive piano helps push along the melody, to the finishing notes on YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT LOVE, there is apparent the mutual joy and caring powered by respect that these 3 divas share for each other. In many ways it seemed a natural grouping, but at the same time I was wondering how these 3 powerhouses would work together. Tracy and Irma are known for the sheer earthy power that is carried in their voices, Marcia more as a craftsperson who knows how to work a song and make the most out of it, but doesn't have the kind of inherent power in her voice. This disc works and for that credit must be given to Scott Billington, the Producer who put this together, these ladies knowledge of their respective strengths, and the mutual respect they share. Before I get completely carried away I don't want to short change the musicians on this disc. This is a select group of players drawn from the cream of the talent in New Orleans and Memphis. They stand behind the featured performers help to drive the song to even greater heights. This is an exceedingly well crafted album that has everything you could want from the almost boastful groove hit on I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU, to the churning burning power on PLEASE NO MORE, and the tormented finale YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT LOVE. A most fitting way to end this superb disc. If I have to put in a criticism I would say I want it to contain more music than its almost 50 minute length. I don't know that there is a weak cut, but I do have definite favorites. What are yours?
Songs, times, writers, musicians -
1. SING IT - 4:17 - David Egan
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA vocals
MARCIA - acoustic piano
MICHAEL TOLES - guitar
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - electric piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums and percussion
2. I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU - 2:39 - Joe Tex
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
3. IN TEARS - 3:11 - Mike Reid-Rory Michael Bourke
TRACY - lead vocal
MARCIA and IRMA - backing vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - acoustic and electric guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - acoustic and electric piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
4. LOVE MAKER - 4:17 - Gary Nicholson- Steve Cropper
MARCIA - lead vocal
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - backing vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitar
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - electric piano and Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums and percussion
BARNEY FLOYD and JAMIL SHARIF - trumpets
ED PETERSEN - tenor saxophone
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
horns arranged by Wardell Quezergue
5. YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION - 3:02 - Deadric Malone
IRMA - lead vocal
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - backing vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - piano
DAVELL CRAWFORD - Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
SCOTT BILLINGTON - tambourine
6. HEART TO HEART - 4:42 - Sarah E. Campbell-Donnie Fritts
TRACY and MARCIA - vocals
MARCIA - acoustic piano
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - electric piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
7. PEOPLE WILL BE PEOPLE - 4:50 - David Egan
IRMA - lead vocal
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - backing vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - Hammond B3 organ
DAVELL CRAWFORD - Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
8. PLEASE NO MORE - 4:15 - David Egan-Greg Hansen
TRACY - lead vocal
MICHAEL TOLES - guitar
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
BARNEY FLOYD and JAMIL SHARIF - trumpets
ED PETERSEN - tenor saxophone
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
horns arranged by Wardell Quezergue
9. IF I KNOW YOU - 3:13 - Sarah Brown-Marcia Ball
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - vocals
MARCIA - acoustic piano
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - electric piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
SCOTT BILLINGTON - tambourine
10. WOMAN ON THE MOVE - 4:01 - Irma Thomas-Dan Penn-Carson Whitsett
IRMA - lead vocal
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - backing vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitar
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - electric piano and Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
BARNEY FLOYD and JAMIL SHARIF - trumpets
ED PETERSEN - tenor saxophone
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
horns arranged by Wardell Quezergue
11. HE'S MINE - 2:56 - Gary Nicholson- John Jarvis
MARCIA - lead vocal
MICHAEL TOLES - guitar
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - piano
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums and percussion
JOE CABRAL and DEREK HUSTON - tenor saxophone
12. SHOULDN'T I LOVE HIM - 3:07 - Homer Banks-Steve Cropper
TRACY, MARCIA, IRMA - vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - piano and Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
BARNEY FLOYD and JAMIL SHARIF - trumpets
ED PETERSEN - tenor saxophone
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
horns arranged by Victor Goines
13. YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT LOVE - 4:44 - Jerry Ragovoy
TRACY and IRMA - vocals
MICHAEL TOLES - guitars
DAVID TORKANOWSKY - Hammond B3 organ
LEE ALLEN ZENO - bass
RAYMOND WEBER - drums
BARNEY FLOYD and JAMIL SHARIF - trumpets
ED PETERSEN - tenor saxophone
VICTOR GOINES - baritone saxophone
horns arranged by Victor Goines
producer Scott Billington