Wednesday 31 October 2012

P.P. Arnold - The First Cut Is The Deepest

It's always a real joy to play this classic. That joy was amplified on Sunday when a punter thanked us for playing his favourite song. I suggested that the fan seek out P.P. Arnold's debut album, The First Lady Of Immediate; it's not easy to find but the reward is worth the hunt.

The record runs from taut, heart-rending balladry to punchy smashes to orchestral pop. Arnold wrote three of the tracks herself. Everything Is Gonna Be Alright is in Kev Roberts' Northern Soul Top 500. The producers include Mick Jagger, Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane and Andrew Loog Oldham. It's an album that must be reissued. You'll love it.

The First Cut Is The Deepest has been covered with greater commercial success, but Arnold's remains the definitive cut. There is a superb reggae version by Norma Fraser and that too gets spun at the club. But nothing else comes close.

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