My friend and music bud included an Irma Thomas disc in the pile of CD's he let me borrow over the holidays - it's titled After the Rain - the track 'These Honey Dos' is excellent, she's backed by slide guitarist Sonny Landreth (who's played with Clapton) and jazz/blues pianist David Torkanowsky -
If you're unfamiliar with her she made her mark back in the early '60's but never - I don't think - gained the popularity she deserved for her talent.
She was out of the whole NOLA thing going on at the time that produced Allen Toussaint, Dr John, Aaron Neville etc -
Here's a great rendition of 'Time Is On My Side' with Allen Toussaint on keyboards - she recorded it before the Stones made it popular:
"There is no royal road to this heavy surf-fishing. With all the appliances for comfort experience can suggest, there is a certain amount of hard work to be done and exposure to be bourne as a part of the price of success." From "Striped Bass," Scribner's Magazine, 1881.