Ann Peebles
Ann Peebles (born April 27, 1947) is an American singer and songwriter widely considered the "Queen of Hi Records" and a definitive voice of the Memphis soul sound. Despite her diminutive stature—standing 5'1" and weighing only 99 pounds—she was celebrated for her powerful, gritty, and emotionally resonant vocal style.
Born in Kinloch, Missouri (near St. Louis), she was the seventh of eleven children. She began singing at age nine in the Peebles Choir, a family gospel group founded by her grandfather and directed by her father, Perry Peebles, a minister. The family choir opened for gospel legends such as Mahalia Jackson and the Soul Stirrers (featuring Sam Cooke).
As a teenager, her father supported her move into R&B, accompanying her to clubs in St. Louis where she performed with bandleader Oliver Sain. In 1968, while visiting Memphis, she asked to sit in with trumpeter Gene "Bowlegs" Miller at the Rosewood club. Impressed, Miller introduced her to producer Willie Mitchell of Hi Records, who signed her immediately.
Backed by the famous Hi Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns, she became the label's most successful female artist. Her most famous song, "I Can't Stand the Rain" (1973), reached No. 6 on the R&B charts and No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was famously written in 15 minutes by Peebles, her husband Don Bryant, and DJ Bernie Miller after a rainy night interrupted their plans to attend a concert.
Key Singles & Albums:- Notable Songs: "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," "99 Lbs," "Part Time Love," and "Breaking Up Somebody's Home". Albums: Straight from the Heart (1971), I Can't Stand the Rain (1974), and Tellin' It (1975).
She married Hi Records staff songwriter and artist Don Bryant in 1974. The couple became long-term creative partners. She stepped away from the industry in the late 1970s following the rise of disco and the closure of Hi Records to focus on family. She returned in 1989 with the album Call Me and released roots-soul albums on Rounder Records in the 1990s.
Ann Peebles officially retired from performing after suffering a stroke in 2012. Inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2014, her work has been sampled by modern artists like Missy Elliott (on "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)") and the Wu-Tang Clan.
Straight From The Heart
A2 Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness (Peebles, Bryant 2:37)
A3 What You Laid On Me (Peebles, Lasalle 2:22)
A4 How Strong Is A Woman (Crutcher 2:57)
A5 Somebody's On Your Case (Randle 2:35)
B1 I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight (Jackson, Matthews 2:28)
B2 I've Been There Before (Peebles, Bryant 3:06)
B3 I Pity The Fool (Malone 2:53)
B4 99 Pounds (Bryant 2:15)
B5 I Take What I Want (Porter, Hayes, Hodges 2:30)
Label: Hi Records – SHL 32065
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre:
R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Straight From The Heart is the third studio album by American soul singer Ann Peebles, released in 1972 on the Hi Records label. The album is a seminal work of Memphis soul and is known for its hard-hitting, funky, and emotional sound.
The album is a rich blend of Southern soul, blues, and funk, characterized by a powerful, throbbing beat and sophisticated, well-balanced arrangements featuring a big band sound with prominent use of the Hammond and Hohner keyboards and strong brass sections. It was produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell at the Royal Recording Studios in Memphis and features the backing of the celebrated Hi Rhythm Section. The production is noted for perfectly balancing raw power and elegance.
Peebles' singing is described as sharp, gritty, and soulful, conveying a wide range of emotions from love's ache to fierce, provocative declarations of heartbreak and resilience. The songs explore themes of love, lost love, cheating, and female strength.
Straight From The Heart was well-received by critics and was a modest commercial success, becoming Peebles' first album to chart on the Billboard 200. Critics praised it as a triumph for Peebles and an illustration of how the Hi label had surpassed Stax as the premier source for quality Memphis soul in the early 1970s.
The album includes several notable tracks, some of which were minor hits or became influential in other music genres: "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight": A fierce and provocative track that became an R&B Top 20 hit and was later covered by artists like Bette Midler.
Tellin’ It
Written-By – E. Randle, W. Mitchell
2:52
A2 I Don't Lend My Man
Written-By – C. Robinson, E. Randle, W. Mitchell
2:48
A3 I Needed Somebody
Written-By – A. Peebles, D. Bryant
4:56
A4 Stand By Woman
Written-By – E. Randle, O. Roberts
3:02
A5 It Was Jealousy
Written-By – D. Bryant
2:56
B1 Doctor Love Power
Written-By – D. Oliver, G. Anderson
3:06
B2 You Can't Hold A Man
Written-By – E. Randle, W. Mitchell
4:33
B3 Beware
Written-By – E. Randle
3:00
B4 Put Yourself In My Place
Written-By – B. Jarrett, E. Randle
2:37
B5 Love Played A Game
Written-By – A. Peebles, D. Bryant, F. Hodges
2:24
Label: Hi Records – SHL 32091
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Ann Peebles' Tellin' It (1976) is a strong, soulful follow-up to I Can't Stand the Rain, praised for its deep Memphis soul, funky grooves from the Hi Rhythm Section, and Peebles' passionate vocals, blending catchy tracks like "Come to Mama" with poignant ballads, solidifying her reputation for exploring love's darker sides with sophisticated production. While not having a monster hit like its predecessor, critics highlight its consistent quality, excellent songwriting (often with husband Don Bryant), and rich sound, making it a worthy listen for soul fans.
It continues the signature Hi Records sound — sparse funk, subtle strings, and brass—but with added depth, featuring keyboard textures and backing vocals, all driven by the legendary Hi Rhythm Section.
The album features strong original material, with Peebles and Don Bryant co-writing most tracks, exploring mature, often melancholic, relationship themes. Peebles delivers with characteristic emotion, attitude, and talent, conveying deep feeling and raw passion.
Standout Tracks: "Come to Mama" is a fan favorite, building on the "Rain" template; "Doctor Love Power" offers sensuality; "Stand By Woman" brings attitude; and the cover "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" and ballad "Until You Came Into My Life" were singles.
Considered a "worthy successor" to I Can't Stand the Rain, though it didn't produce a chart-topping single. Praised for its depth, groove, and consistent quality, with virtually no weak tracks.
ome feel "Come to Mama" leans on the "Rain" formula but ultimately delivers a great Memphis R&B track.
Overall, Tellin' It is an essential Ann Peebles album, showcasing her growth as an artist and delivering consistent, high-quality Southern soul and funk with emotional power and sophisticated musicianship.
This Is Ann Peebles
A2 Crazy About You Baby Williamson 2:35)
A3 Make Me Yours (Swann 2:50)
A4 My Man-He's A Lovin' Man (Bennett, Matthew 2:14)
A5 Solid Foundation (Bryant, Jones 2:07)
A6 Chain Of Fools (Covay 2:45)
B1 It's Your Thing (O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley 2:32)
B2 Walk Away Sain 3:07)
B3 Rescue Me (Smith, Miner 2:27)
B4 Won't You Try Me Miller 2:55)
B5 Steal Away (Hughes 3:11)
B6 Respect (Redding 2:12)
Label: Hi Records – SHL 32053
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Ann Peebles' 1969 debut album, This Is Ann Peebles, is celebrated as a strong, classic Southern soul record that showcases her powerful, emotionally resonant voice and introduces her signature sound with the legendary Hi Records rhythm section.
The album is widely regarded as a wonderful foray into R&B soul, establishing Peebles as a seasoned professional even at the young age of 21. Critics note her potent voice, which perfectly balances sophistication and raw grit, capable of expressing a wide range of deep emotions.
The album greatly benefits from the tight, lean grooves provided by the Hi Rhythm Section and the production of Willie Mitchell at Royal Recording Studio in Memphis. This combination creates a timeless soul sound that became a hallmark of the label, also driving the success of artists like Al Gre
The record features a combination of original songs and covers of popular R&B hits of the day. While some critics felt the attempts at Aretha Franklin covers were a slight misstep, Peebles is praised for making other covers, like "It's Your Thing" and "Rescue Me," her own with her distinct phrasing and delivery.