Tellin' It

Description

Ann Peebles was at the height of her glory in 1975 when she recorded the album 'Tellin' It'; she had scored her biggest hit on the charts the previous year with "I Can't Stand the Rain," and 'Tellin' It' reflected that incisive and soulful groove that had propelled her to the top of the charts (and which was the trademark of producer Willie Mitchell). The opening track, "Come to Mama," even features the same type of syncopated rhythmic framework that made "I Can't Stand the Rain" a success; however, Peebles and Mitchell had the wisdom not to deliver ten rehashes of her hit. Instead, 'Tellin' It' combines polished production with robust and edgy grooves (the strings on "Stand By Woman" and "It Was Jealousy" add a touch of elegance without weighing down the funk of Howard Grimes' superb drumming or the power of the Memphis Horns). Peebles reaffirms her status as a great voice of R&B, capturing the very essence of each word, whether it's about seeking a new man ("Doctor Love Power") or breaking up a previously happy home ("Stand By Woman"). And although the rise of disco eventually rendered soul albums of this kind obsolete a few years later, 'Tellin' It' is filled with tracks capable of igniting the dancefloor without sacrificing the soul passion or the rebellious spirit of Peebles. A very fine work. Unearthed from the archives of Hi Records where they had remained intact for decades, the tapes were sent to Nashville Tape Transfer for a first listen in fifty years. Subsequently, all production steps remained local: remastering by Clay Jones, lacquers cut at Take Out Vinyl, then galvanoplasty and pressing directly in Memphis, at Memphis Record Pressing. This is the first vinyl pressing in 50 years. "A year after the resounding success of 'I Can't Stand the Rain,' Peebles returns with 'Tellin' It,' an album imbued with the same rhythmic sophistication that characterized the best tracks of 'Rain.' Peebles and Mitchell do not simply reinterpret 'Rain' ten times; rather, they rely on the smooth support of the Hi Rhythm Section, which has many more uptempo grooves to offer." Side A: Come To Mama / I Don't Lend My Man / I Needed Somebody / Stand By Woman / It Was Jealousy Side B: Doctor Love Power / You Can't Hold A Man / Beware / Put Yourself In My Place / Love Played A Game