Hard hitting funky and soulful third album from Ann Peebles. Produced by Willie Mitchell, Straight From The Heart packs quite a bit of emotion in to its regrettably short running time. It's a fantastic slice of Memphis soul and marks the point where Hi Records began to take over from rivals, Stax. Peebles was Hi's signature female artist, filling the pre-disco 70s with soul filled songs of love lost and taken. The songs are fierce and provocative, check "I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home Tonight," "Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness" (sampled by GZA's "Shadowboxing") and "I Pity The Fool" for a taste of what Peebles has to offer. Out of print for ages, original copies going for a pretty penny.

• music label: Hi Records 1971 / Fat Possum Records 2015

reviewed by Hank Ohs 07/2015