The Story of My LIfe
stands out among latter-day
Irma Thomas
albums not only because she gives a consistently excellent performance, but because the record boasts three new songs from
Dan Penn
, who wrote some of the greatest soul songs of the '60s. While his new songs (
"Hold Me While I Cry,"
"I Count the Teardrops,"
"I Won't Cry for You"
) aren't quite as strong as his best, they are nevertheless wonderful contemporary soul numbers, and they help make the record, the remainder of which is comprised of covers and slightly weaker new numbers, one of
Thomas'
best latter-day albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine