Alice Thomas
In response to several requests I'll continue to highlight singles from the group of labels based in Greenville, MS. This lovely deep ballad from Alice Thomas is yet more proof that people like Henry R Hines and Al White really knew how to produce soul records despite very limited budgets and facilities. I really like Alice's deep tones and little rap at the beginning of 
I'm Coming Home and the way that the band come in over the arpeggios of the rhythm guitar and the licks from the lead guitar are in the classic mould, as are the subdued horns. Very nicely done indeed.
UPDATE ~ I'm delighted to say that Alice herself has been in touch and I've had the pleasure of sending her copies of her songs on some CDs which she has proudly handed round to her family. Further, Kris Holmes - who runs the excellent "Greenvile & Beyond" site (see Links) has kindly sent me more info about Alice and the lovely picture shown above. Kris says that Alice has told her that she :-
"was a local Greenville singer who answered a flyer advertisement from Lynn’s looking for local talent to record. She followed the flyer instructions to Lynn’s One-Stop on Muscadine St. where she met Lynn & Vicki Williams.
The Odex 45 was recorded in 1967 when Thomas was just 19 years old. She was given the lyric to “I’m Coming Home” by Lynn’s and “A Girl’s Tears/No Tears” was provided by one of the studio musicians at the session. The tracks were recorded at a studio in Tupelo Mississippi. Alice was never paid for her work and was unable to even find copies to purchase for her friends and family. Lynn’s offered a lot of promises (including a shot on Soul Train) which never eventuated and she soon cut ties with Hines, Williams and their company. But before cutting ties completely Alice Thomas also recorded two more unreleased tracks for Lynn’s titled “I Must Be Losing Your Love” and “The Drop” but the Odex 45 is her only release.
In 1975, Hines once again contacted Thomas who was by now living in Columbus Ohio about making another record. Remembering her prior experiences she declined and continued singing gospel in her church. These days Alice Thomas is Alice Bell and still lives in Columbus. Her son Quincy Reed is a gospel recording artist."
I'm really grateful to both Alice herself and Kris for this fine info.
Thanks to Davie Gordon for supplying the record's date.