Craft Recordings will reissue two celebrated titles from New Orleans legends: Classified from R&B pianist James Booker and Grammy Award-winning album After the Rain from soul powerhouse Irma Thomas. The reissued LPs will be available July 31.

Both of these albums stand out as significant works in New Orleans musical culture, as well as in Rounder Records’ extensive catalog. As the cherished roots label continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout the year, special reissues and limited edition box sets are set to be released via Craft Recordings. The label also has events planned for this special year, an original podcast series, curated playlists, exclusive video content, and limited-edition merchandise. 

Booker’s Classified has been called “a masterful work” by Jazz Times, highlighting Booker’s signature style in contrast to traditional jazz and blues foregrounds. Classified came to be after some tumultuous four-hour studio sessions that recorded New Orleans classics like Fats Domino’s “One for the Highway” and Lloyd Price’s “Lawdy Miss Clawdy.” 

Thomas’ 18th studio album, After The Rain, was recorded only mere months after Hurricane Katrina, carrying the spirit of resilience through every song. Thomas’ soulful voice offered poignant messages of hope after devastation. Producer Scott Billington recalls how the sentiment of the album evolved after the storm: “Even though we had chosen all of the songs before the storm, every one of them seemed now to be about the loss everyone had suffered. We added only one song—Stevie Wonder’s ‘Shelter in the Rain.’’ The album went on to earn Thomas her first Grammy, winning Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. 

James Booker’s Classified can be preordered here. Irma Thomas’ After The Rain can be preordered here. An exclusive bundle of the LPs is also available for purchase via the Craft Store.