Track Listing

1. Everything's gonna be alright
2. Life is but nothing
3. The first cut is the deepest
4. Speak to me
5. The time has come
6. If you see what I mean
7. If you think you're groovy
8. Though it hurts me badly
9. Something beautiful happened
10. Born to be together
11. Am I still dreaming?
12. Treat me like a lady
13. Would you believe
14. Angel of the morning
15. Letter to Bill
16. Kafunta one
17. God only knows
18. Eleanor Rigby
19. Yesterday
20. It'll never happen again
21. Kafunta two
22. As tears go by
23. Kafunta three
24. To love somebody
25. Dreamin'
26. Kafunta four
27. Welcome home
28. Is this what I get for loving you

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6702 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Mid Atlantic Gems
P.P. Arnold was 'discovered' by Cat Stevens, performing as an Ikette behind Ike & Tina Turner. He brought her to the UK and did much to promote her career.

She never got the success she deserved, but this music is a perfect example of how, back in the mid '60s, those rhythms and songs and ideas were crossing the Atlantic back and forth. She did manage a couple of small hits, and a cult following.

Her singing style is plainly US R&B, but in Britain she was able to do things and try things that no American record label would have let a black woman do at that time. Many of the pop and rock songs she covers here, she does the definitive version of, to my ears. My favorite is her version of 'Angel Of The Morning' which could never be bettered for me.

If you fancy some 60s soul, with a special British flavour, then this album is for you.

Obscure sixties soul singer
PP began her professional career as an Ikette, backing Ike and Tina Turner. They supported the Rolling Stones on a UK tour in 1966, during which time PP quit the Ikettes and went solo. This compilation contains her sixties music. Originally released with 23 tracks, this revised edition contains 28 tracks including all original 23, though the running order is completely different.

PP had her first and biggest hit with First cut is the deepest, a Cat Stevens song that just failed to make the UK top ten. Her other UK hits were Angel of the morning (yes, that song) and If you think you're groovy. PP was encouraged to write her own songs and several good ones are included here, although none of them are well-known.
The collection includes covers of songs written by the Beatles (Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday), the Beach boys (God only knows), the Rolling Stones (As tears go by – a hit for Marianne Faithfull) and the Beach boys (To love somebody – a UK hit for Nina Simone).

PP had a style somewhere between Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin. She should have been more successful than she was, but such is life. If you are a discerning fan of sixties soul music, give PP a chance.

Criminally under-rated
Imagine Aretha Franklin jamming with Brian Jones-era Rolling Stones while Phil Spector puts on the finishing touches behind the mixing desk - you've just caught a glimpse of how good this collection is. From the stomping Speak To Me to to the gorgeous Dreaming via wonderful covers of Beach Boys, Beatles and Stones staples, this is simply some of the most magical soul music I have heard in a long long time. There's something about the production on these songs, as well as Pat's fantastic vocals, that seems to give them a timeless quality, and I would recommend it not just for soul fans but fans of good music in general - with the haunting acoustic refrain of Life Is But Nothing, I find no surprise that Pat went on to sing back-up for Nick Drake, while other moments recall the simple beauty of some Beth Gibbons songs. Looking for something beyond Tina, Marvin, Stevie et al? Look no further.