Personnel: Ann Peebles (vocals); James Mitchell (arranger, baritone saxophone); Teenie Hodges (guitar); The Memphis Strings (strings); Andrew Love, Ed Logan (tenor saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Jack Hale (trombone); Archie Turner (piano); Charles Hodges (piano, organ); Leroy Hodges (bass); Howard Grimes (drums); Rhodes, Chalmers, Rhodes (background vocals).
Recorded at Royal Recording Studios, Memphis, Tennessee. Includes liner notes by Vince Aletti and David Nathan.
Like her male counterpart Al Green, Ann Peebles was a southern singer with gospel roots who found her way to Hi Records. Peebles' third album I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN was her crossover breakthrough after considerable success on the R&B charts. In addition to having a sweet vocal style complimented by a band that included the Hodges Brothers and The Memphis Horns, Peebles co-wrote most of this material.
Despite having a loving relationship with her co-writer/husband Don Bryant, songs such as "Run, Run, Run" and "Do I Need You" point to the perilous side of love. A pair of Earl Randle compositions, the sweetly wary "If We Can't Trust Each Other" and "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down," reveal a steely determination underneath Peebles' soulful delivery. Her greatest triumph and biggest hit was the melancholic title track with its odd, timbale-flavored intro. Not only did the cut garner Peebles a Grammy nomination, but was later covered by Tina Turner and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott.
