New Release from Irma Thomas out August 25

On August 25, Rounder Records will release The Soul Queen of New Orleans: 50th Anniversary Celebration, from the Grammy® award winning R&B legend Irma Thomas. Thomas, the reigning Soul Queen of New Orleans, celebrates 50 years as a recording artist; half of those years with Rounder Records. This collection features three brand new tracks, 9 highlights from her Rounder catalogue, and 3 tracks recorded as a guest for special projects on other labels. The album showcases one of America’s most distinctive and classic singers, a treasure from the golden age of soul music who remains as compelling and powerful as ever.

Thomas signed with Rounder in 1985 and released her first Rounder album, The New Rules in 1986. She has since released a total of 10 studio albums on Rounder. A three-time Grammy® nominee, in 2007 Thomas accepted her first-ever Grammy® award ‘Best Contemporary Blues Album’ for her Rounder release After the Rain, and was nominated in the same category for her 2008 release Simply Grand. Thomas has received Grammy® nominations for Simply the Best: Live! (Rounder, 1991), and for her collaboration with Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson on the best-selling Sing It! (Rounder, 1998), both produced by her longtime friend and Rounder VP of A&R Scott Billington, whose 25-year creative partnership with Thomas may be something of an industry record.

One percent of the proceeds of this album will be donated to Habitat for Humanity International.

50th Anniversary Celebration Track Listing:

1. Got To Bring It With You*

2. Let It Be Me*

3. I’m Your Puppet

4. Loving Arms

5. There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

6. The New Rules

7. Another Man Done Gone

8. What Can I Do

9. I Count the Tears

10. Old Records

11. Back Water Blues

12. In the Middle of It All

13. Sweet Touch of Love

14. Your Ship Has Sailed*

15. River Is Waiting

* Previously unreleased track

Press materials are available at www.rounder.com/publicity