Ann Peebles “The Handwriting Is On The Wall”

Ann Peebles

“The Handwriting Is On The Wall”
( LP Hi Records, 1978 )
Catalog # HLP 6007

Tracklisting:
A1 – Old Man With Young Ideas (3:03)
A2 – Bip Bam Thank You Mam (3:10)
A3 – The Handwriting Is On The Wall (3:18)
A4 – I Didn’t Take Your Man (4:03)
A5 – You’ve Got The Papers (I’ve Got The Man) (2:53)
B1 – Lookin’ For A Lovin’ (3:00)
B2 – You’re What I Need (But More Than I Can Stand) (3:03)
B3 – Livin’ In, Livin’ Out (2:50)
B4 – If I Can’t See You (4:00)
B5 – Let Your Love Light Shine (3:50)

Personnel & Credits:
Backing Vocals – Deby Kincaid,Judy Rodman,Karen Taylor
Bass – Leroy Hodges
Drums – Gene Chrisman
Engineer [Remix] – Maxx Fortune , Willie Mitchell
Guitar – Michael Toles
Keyboards, Percussion, Arranged By [Horn & Strings] – Aarion Nesbit
Producer, Engineer – Willie Mitchell
Saxophone [Alto, Tenor], Flute – William Easley
Saxophone [Baritone], Flute – Floyd Newman
Saxophone [Tenor], Flute – Darnel Smith
Strings – Memphis String Symphony, The
Trombone – Jackie Thomas , William Flores
Trumpet – Ben Cauley , Paul Hill
Notes:
© 1978 Cream Records, Inc.
Recorded at Royal Studios, Memphis
Mastered at Mastercraft, Memphis
B2 is written on cover: “You’re More Than I Can Stand”

Review:
If This Is Heaven, Ann Peebles’ 1977 attempt to merge her Southern soul influences with the disco grooves that were dominating the airwaves and the charts, proved to be a commercial disappointment, and for her next album, Peebles and longtime producer Willie Mitchell took a grand step backwards. Released in 1979, The Handwriting Is on the Wall boasted some igh-powered funk backdrops, but for the most part the album finds Peebles taking on a set of straight-ahead soul numbers in which she was usually either taking a man away from some woman who didn’t know how to hold on to him, or was warning the ladies why they should stay away from her significant other. Peebles is a tower of defiant sass on “I Didn’t Take Your Man” and “You’ve Got the Papers (I’ve Got the Man),” she leaves no doubt about why she’s dating outside her age group on “Old Man with Young Ideas,” and “Bip Bam Thank You Mam” alerts listeners to the consequences of not pleasing Ms. Peebles. Willie Mitchell pairs Peebles up with some full-bodied soul and funk arrangements for these songs, and while unfortunately most of the great Hi Rhythm Section were unavailable for this record, the players on board do fine work, even if the groove lacks the ineffable touch of Peebles’ finest work. The Handwriting Is on the Wall was Ann Peebles’ last album for Hi, and the last new set she would release until 1988, but it captures one of the great R&B singers of the 1970s doing what she does best, and here she bows out on a high point.
By Mark Deming (AMG)

By Celo