This one could have been titled Irma In Exile, as most of these sides were recorded in the 1970s when Thomas was living on the West Coast. While she had been recording for over a decade and had scored several national hits, Thomas was in her prime when these recordings were made. During Thomas’ West Coast sojourn, she was lucky to have crossed paths with artist/producer/writer, Jerry Williams, Jr., a.k.a. Swamp Dogg. The author of “Did I Come Back Too Soon (Or Stay Away Too Long)” and “I Wouldn’t Leave Here To Go To Heaven,” Swamp Dogg was the Richard Pryor of ‘70s soul. Humor aside, Swamp Dogg had the rare ability to get inside the mind of the characters portrayed by the female singers he worked with. Check out the emotional “In Between Tears,” the sassy “She’ll Never Be Your Wife,” or the blunt “You’re the Dog (I Do the Barking Myself),” and you’ll know what I mean. Thomas is obviously really into the material, attacking songs like “We Won’t Be In Your Way Anymore,” and I’ll Do It All Over You,” singing, shouting and screaming her way through the performances.

Unfortunately, Thomas’ collaborations with Swamp Dogg appeared on small labels like Canyon, Roker and Fungus that had poor distribution, and promotion. As a result, not many people heard these tracks, even back in New Orleans. Pity. The CD is augmented by six tracks from the late 1970s that appeared on the Baton Rouge label, RCS. While there, Thomas was reunited with songwriter Dan Penn. (She has recorded several of Penn’s songs throughout her career, and all the songs on My Heart’s in Memphis). Her treatment of Penn’s “A Woman Left Lonely” and “Zero Willpower” are obvious highlights here. A few of us remember “Safe With Me,” which was a reasonable hit in these parts in 1979, and it’s included here. If you’re an Irma Thomas fan, or a fan of southern soul, this needs to be the next CD you purchase.