I Can't Stand The Rain

Originally released in 1974,  I Can't Stand the Rain remains an absolute peak of Southern soul. While the iconic, eccentric title track, famously praised by John Lennon as the greatest song he’d ever heard, is worth the admission price alone, the entire album is a masterclass in atmospheric, down tempo rhythm and blues.

This premium 180g audiophile reissue elevates Willie Mitchell’s legendary production to breathtaking new heights. Cut from the original analogue master tapes by mastering engineer Kevin Gray and beautifully pressed at the renowned Pallas factory in Germany, the sonic clarity here is immaculate. The pressing boasts an incredibly low noise floor, allowing the subtle, signature space in the Hi Records rhythm section to breathe completely.

Ann Peebles’ voice, which effortlessly glides from sweet, raw honey to hard edged heartbreak, is positioned perfectly front and centre. Backed by the razor sharp instrumentation of the Hodges brothers and Howard Grimes on drums, every crisp horn flare, warm organ line, and delicate string arrangement is rendered with pristine, lifelike detail. This is a definitive, reference quality pressing of a soul masterpiece.