Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) / Time Is on My Side — Irma Thomas

This single represents a pinnacle of 1960s New Orleans soul, capturing Irma Thomas at her most poised and emotionally resonant. The A-side, 'Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand),' is a masterclass in atmosphere. It eschews the typical brassy energy of the Crescent City for a spectral, almost gothic arrangement.

The strings and the distant, echoing backing vocals create a sense of vast, lonely space, within which Thomas's alto voice stands as a pillar of quiet strength. It is a song that feels like a secret shared in the dark, demanding empathy for the irrationality of the human heart.

Moments Worth Listening For

The haunting, wordless backing vocals on the A-side that sound like they are emanating from a different room.

The transition from the delicate, string-laden A-side to the more grounded, piano-driven rhythm of the B-side.

The specific way Irma holds the final note of 'understand,' letting it vibrate with a mix of exhaustion and wisdom.

Where This Album Departs

How does Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) / Time Is on My Side sound next to the rest of Irma Thomas's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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