True Believer (Irma Thomas album)
True Believer is an album by the American soul singer Irma Thomas, released in 1992.[2][3] It was Thomas's fourth album for Rounder Records.[4]
| True Believer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Soul, R&B | |||
| Label | Rounder Records[1] | |||
| Producer | Scott Billington, Irma Thomas | |||
| Irma Thomas chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
Recorded in New Orleans, the album was produced by Scott Billington and Thomas.[5][6] The song "I Never Fool Nobody But Me" was cowritten by Thomas and Dr. John.[7] Doc Pomus and Allen Toussaint also contributed songs to True Believer.[3] "Big Talk" was Thomas's attempt at a reggae number.[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [9] |
| Boston Herald | A−[4] |
| Chicago Tribune | [5] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [1] |
| (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
The Christian Science Monitor thought that Thomas's "honey-smooth voice mixes with her conviction and energy on True Believer to produce a richer and more consistent sound than on any previous effort."[6] The New York Times praised the "smooth funk" and "New Orleans bop."[7] The Toronto Star wrote that the singer "patrols the smooth end of the blues genre, ranging through gospel and r&b too, with a tight band, strong pianist David Torkanowsky and a blasting horn section."[12]
The Washington Post concluded that "when Thomas sings [Dan] Penn's 'Smoke Filled Room' or Pomus's 'I Never Fool Nobody But Me' or Johnny Neel's 'Can't You Hear It in My Tears', the anguish and self-doubt she feels is nearly palpable—a sharp contrast to the songs of love, affirmation and inspiration that dot the album as well and reveal another side of Thomas's compelling vocal personality."[13] The Chicago Tribune determined that Thomas "apparently wants to be taken seriously as a pop diva, and such carefully polished material as 'Trying to Catch a Cab in the Rain' and 'Smoke Filled Room', with their meticulously crafted choruses and slickly cascading arrangements, might do the trick."[5]
AllMusic called the album "a stellar collection of contemporary soul performed in the classic '50s New Orleans tradition."[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trying to Catch a Cab in the Rain" | |
| 2. | "Can't You Hear It in My Tears" | |
| 3. | "I Never Fool Nobody But Me" | |
| 4. | "Smoke Filled Room" | |
| 5. | "Big Talk" | |
| 6. | "Chains of Love" | |
| 7. | "Heart Full of Rain" | |
| 8. | "Sweet Touch of Love" | |
| 9. | "I'll Be Satisfied" | |
| 10. | "True Believer" |
References
- ^ a b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 561.
- ^ "Irma Thomas Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
- ^ a b Morse, Steve (7 Oct 1992). "Irma Thomas bewitches at Johnny D's". The Boston Globe. ARTS & FILM. p. 80.
- ^ a b Katz, Larry (October 2, 1992). "Discs". Boston Herald. p. S16.
- ^ a b c Dahl, Bill (10 Dec 1992). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 7.
- ^ a b "`True Believer' Shows Evolution Of Irma Thomas". January 7, 1993. from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021 – via Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ a b Schoemer, Karen (October 9, 1992). "Pop/Jazz; Songs From Many Schools, All From Life". from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Wirt, John (October 23, 1992). "IRMA THOMAS True Believer". The Advocate. Fun. p. 6.
- ^ a b "True Believer - Irma Thomas | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-14 – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 135.
- ^ (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. p. 810.
- ^ Chapman, Geoff (13 Feb 1993). "Fine collection of jazz divas a primer on the era since '54". Toronto Star. p. K12.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (9 Oct 1992). "Time & Soul Still On Thomas's Side". The Washington Post. p. N14.