Irma Thomas: Wish Someone Would Care

Wednesday is dedicated to one-hit wonders and today is no exception. Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” while releasing numerous singles only had one chart within the Top 40. Her only “true” hit was 1964’s “Wish Someone would Care” that peaked at #17. Not only was Thomas the artist, she was the songwriter as well at a time when the music business was transitioning from staff writers to singer-songwriters.

Outside of “Wish Someone would Care,” she is probably best known for her version of “Time is on my Side,” which inspired the Rolling Stones to record the tune that same year. “Time is on my Side” is also on the LP “Wish Someone would Care” album.

With a career that has spanned over five decades, Thomas is very much alive and performing. After taking a hiatus from performing in let 1980s, her 1991 album “Live! Simply the Best” and 1999’s “Sing It” were nominated for Grammys but neither won. Her 2007 album “After the Rain,” however, was awarded a Grammy for the Best Contemporary Blues Album.

“The good . . . the bad . . . the hurt . . . all of this goes too.”