Ann Peebles – in session for John Peel – October 9, 1974 – BBC Radio 1 –
Ann Peebles to close out the weekend. In session for John Peel at the BBC and recorded on October 9, 1974.
If she recorded nothing else, she would always be known for her landmark signature tune, I Can’t Stand The Rain. But with 10 albums and a slew of singles to her credit, Peebles had all the makings of a Soul legend.
Sadly though, her signature tune became her most popular and she never quite duplicated the immense popularity that one song garnished over the years. Although she had a string of hits all through the 70s, I Can’t Stand The Rain would forever be associated with her.
This Peel session comes right around the time I Can’t Stand The Rain was released, and it was as big a hit in the UK as it was in the U.S. – quintessential Memphis Soul; so much an integral part in her songs, as much as her label mate, Al Green.
Peebles would continue on this winning streak until her label, Hi Records closed in 1979. With the increased popularity of Disco and a waning popularity in the Memphis Sound, Peebles took a sabbatical from performing and didn’t return until 1989 when she resumed her career and landed with a new label.
In recognition of her contributions, she was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2014, two years since she had a debilitating stroke in 2012, which effectively ended her career as a singer.
Still a frequently played track, I Can’t Stand The Rain has been sampled, remixed, re-edited, used in films and TV and has been re-recorded countless times by everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Wu-Tang Clan.
If you’re just getting your feet wet, dipping your toes in the vast waters of Soul, this session from Ann Peebles is a great place to start. A remarkable artist with incredible voice and a tight band to compliment the magic – this one really needs to be turned up.
Get ready for Monday . . .
