January 29–February 5, 1998
disc quicks|folk/roots
Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson
Sing It! (Rounder)
The first words that jump out of the liner notes for Sing It! are, "We had fun making this record!" No lie, ladies. If you thought joy was impossible to capture on disc, give this collection of R&B gems a try. Both Ball and Nelson credit Thomas as an inspiration in their teen years. No wonder their voices blend as if they had been singing together all their lives. The title tune brings all three together for a kicking anthem. "Yield Not to Temptation" gives Thomas the lead on a secular warning to her lover while Ball and Nelson take the chorus to gospel heights suggested by the title. "Heart to Heart" pairs Ball and Nelson again in a genuine R&B duet. Thomas wrote her own theme song, "Woman on the Move," which proves she is an entity to be dealt with. Throughout the album the funky backbeat of New Orleans garnished with plenty of horns unifies this trio of seemingly separated-at-birth sisters.
