R&B Dynamite
Artist: Etta James

The singer in her precocious formative years, headed by her 1955 R&B smash "Roll With Me Henry" (aka "The Wallflower"). James' follow-ups included the driving "Good Rockin' Daddy," a bluesy "W-O-M-A-N," and the New Orleans raveup "Tough Lover," which found her backed by the gang at Cosimo's (notably saxman Lee Allen). Even though her tenure at... Read More

Etta Is Betta Than Evah
Artist: Etta James

Returning to the uptempo groove of her classic LP Tell Mama, this release finds James backed by another tight rhythm section and as sassy as ever. Tracks like "Woman (Shake Your Booty)" and "Only a Fool" (a remake of the Bobby Bland classic "I Pity the Fool") show that the famous soul belter has lost none of the strength of her voice. And, if... Read More

Call My Name
Artist: Etta James

Etta James' 1966 LP Call My Name is dynamite Chicago soul, with the vaunted Chess house band in uplifting support. Among the many standouts are "I'm So Glad (I Found Love in You)," "It Must Be Your Love," and "Don't Pick Me for Your Fool." ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide Read More

Out of the Dark
Artist: Walter "Wolfman" Washington

Walter "Wolfman" Washington's second Rounder session mixed Crescent City R&B and jazz licks with contemporary and vintage songs and production. Washington's cover of "Ain't That Loving You," while not quite as dramatic as Bobby "Blue" Bland's, was still outstanding, while he was appropriately ironic and bemused on "You Can Stay but the Noise... Read More

We're Gonna Make It/Little Milton Sings Big Blues
Artist: Little Milton

This CD of two of Little Milton's classic, early-'60s titles for the Checker label, We're Gonna Make it and Sings Big Blues, features a nice variety of blues material and some stellar arrangements. Towering above it all, though, is Milton's powerful voice: a solid combination of gospel intensity and fluid phrasing that sprang from Roy Brown,... Read More

Tell Mama
Artist: Etta James

Leonard Chess dispatched Etta James to Muscle Shoals in 1967, and the move paid off with one of her best and most soul-searing Cadet albums. Produced by Rick Hall, the resultant album boasted a relentlessly driving title cut, the moving soul ballad "I'd Rather Go Blind," and sizzling covers of Otis Redding's "Security" and Jimmy Hughes' "Don't... Read More

Her Best
Artist: Etta James
Community Score: 7.00

While several best-ofs from Etta James' Chess period have been available over the years -- with the two-disc, 44-track Essential Etta James at the top of the list in giving the big picture -- this 20-track collection sweats that bigger picture down to bare essentials. For those wishing to finally sample Etta's classic period at Chess... Read More