Album Notes

Tennessee-born, Northern California-based Earl Thomas finally traveled to Memphis late last year where, with some help from great players, collaborators and a producer who knew when to intervene and when to stand clear, an album unlike any he'd done before was birthed. Produced by Memphis International's David Less and with backing by a group of Memphis all-stars, Intersection is an album that solidifies what began with Soul'd!, his first album for the label: Earl Thomas is a vocal force to be reckoned with.

"I'm a vocal stylist and I use my voice just as any other instrument in the band. We all brought out the best in each other - all of us, the players and the background singers, alike, were strong and each brought something unique." The album combines elements of blues, soul, rock and, even, jazz with a freshness of approach and attitude. It's the place where all these things meet, hence the title that reflects the crossroads of styles and concepts.

The songs for Intersection came from a variety of collaborations and sources including new compositions from a gifted team of Danish writers and one that's from the mind and pen of Earl and Memphis' own Earl Randle who has written for Denise LaSalle, O.V. Wright, Ann Peebles and Al Green. In keeping with the genre-breaking theme, there are two rock classics - T. Rex' "Bang A Gong" and Jagger & Richards' "Brown Sugar" that get fully "Earlized" here.

No less an icon than Ike Turner, a talent scout without peer in American music, having discovered Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King and a certain Annie Mae Bullock who would later be known as Tina, is an Earl Thomas fan. Says Ike in the liner notes to Intersection: "Not everybody who sings gets my attention but this guy sure did," going on to characterize Earl as "one of the most entertaining people you'll ever meet."

The mutual admiration led Earl to record "Working Together" that had been a hit for Ike and the former Ms. Bullock many year before. Its message of harmony takes on new meaning in the current day environment of polarizing politics. Says Earl: ""If I could get it heard in the White House I would have accomplished something. That song is so perfect for these times."

Intersection is where things come together and Earl Thomas is the man who makes that kind of harmony his first order of business.