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Encouraged by Solomon Burke’s 2002 Grammy win for the Don’t Give Up On Me comeback album, producer Joe Henry wondered what other soul greats he could “rescue” with a recording session. The first five he’s selected for career revival are Ann Peebles, Billy Preston, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint – not really unknown quantities – each of whom contributes two never-before-cut songs to the first volume of Rhino’s I Believe To My Soul project. Thankfully, Henry has the good sense to keep the arrangements spare and the playing tasteful, letting these exceptionally talented performers do their stuff. And there are some stirring moments here. Thomas and Toussaint steal the show, but all of the artists really deserve albums of their own. Hopefully, if there’s a Session 02, Henry will do a little more digging and turn up a few long-lost talents who could really benefit from another shot in the studio.
