Irma Thomas - Wish Someone Would Care

Irma Thomas's first album for Imperial stands as both a milestone in New Orleans soul and a nod to her command as a vocalist. By the time she recorded it, Thomas had already defined herself with a series of Allen Toussaint-penned gems at Minit Records but here she found a wider canvas.

'Wish Someone Would Care' opens in torch-song mode, her voice aching yet unshakable, before pivoting into gospel-tinged power on 'Without Love (There Is Nothing)' and the devastating 'Please Send Me Someone to Love'. Her take on 'Time Is on My Side' became a transatlantic touchstone after the Rolling Stones covered it but her version remains definitive and alive with quiet authority. Across the album's grooves, Thomas brings elegance and fire to every note, confirming why she reigned as New Orleans' true soul queen.