P.P. Arnold

P.P. Arnold is the sound of a Los Angeles soul singer finding her spirit in the foggy streets of Swinging London. Her music bridges the gap between raw American gospel power and the sophisticated, often melancholic arrangements of British baroque pop. It is music that feels both grand and deeply intimate, characterized by soaring string sections and a voice that can pivot from a delicate whisper to a glass-shattering belt in a single measure.

What makes her truly distinctive is the 'Immediate' sound, a specific production style from her time on Andrew Loog Oldham's label. It is soul music filtered through a psychedelic, mod-friendly lens, where the grit of the rhythm section is softened by cinematic orchestration. There is a persistent sense of longing in her delivery, making even her most upbeat tracks feel like they are hiding a secret heartbreak.

Start with her definitive versions of 'The First Cut Is the Deepest' or 'Angel of the Morning.' These tracks showcase her ability to take well-known melodies and imbue them with a unique, soulful gravity that her contemporaries often missed. It is essential listening for anyone who loves the intersection of 60s pop and classic R&B.