AVID R&B continues with its Five Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Etta James complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details (where available) “Miss Etta James”; “At Last!”; “Second Time Around”; “Etta James” and “Sings For Lovers” Etta James had a tough life! Born to a 14 year old mother and with no father in sight she was farmed out to foster parents where she suffered both physical and mental abuse. Later in life, perhaps unsurprisingly, she followed the all too familiar route of drug and alcohol dependency which led to ill health and many visits to rehab centres and psychiatric hospitals. However, way back as a 14 year old her singing talents had been noticed while singing in a doo wop group. At this point she ran into Johnny Otis who took her under his wing, changed her name from Jamesetta Hawkins to Etta James and the name of the group to The Peaches and got them signed to Modern Records. While attempting to write a reply song to the Hank Ballard hit “Work With Me, Annie” he and Etta came up with “Dance With Me, Henry” which would go on to be a Number 1 smash in the R&B charts and would set Etta James on her way to solo success.
CD1 1-10: ‘Miss Etta James’ 1. Dance With Me, Henry 2. Do Something Crazy 3. W-O-M-A-N 4. My One And Only 5. I Hope You’re Satisfied 6. Good Rockin’ Daddy 7. Hey, Henry 8. Strange Things 9. That’s All 10. How Big A Fool 11-20: ‘At Last!’ 11. Anything To Say You’re Mine 12. My Dearest Darling 13. Trust In Me 14. Sunday Kind Of Love 15. Tough Mary 16. I Just Want To Make Love To You 17. At Last 18. All I Could Do Was Cry 19. Stormy Weather 20. Girl Of My Dreams (As Boy Of My Dreams) 21-25: ‘Second Time Around’ 21. Don’t Cry Baby 22. Fool That I Am 23. One For My Baby 24. In My Diary 25. Seven Day Fool
CD2 1-5: ‘Second Time Around’ 1. It’s Too Soon To Know 2. Dream 3. I’ll Dry My Tears 4. Plum Nuts 5. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 6-15: ‘Etta James’ 6. Waiting For Charlie To Come Home 7. Guess Again 8. A Lover’s Mourn 9. You Can Count On Me 10. If I Can’t Have You 11. Something’s Got A Hold On Me 12. My Dear 13. Nobody But You 14. Let Me Know 15. Spoonful 16-25: ‘Sings For Lovers’ 16. Don’t Take Your Love From Me 17. How Do You Speak To An Angel 18. Fools Rush In 19. Don’t Blame Me 20. Someone To Watch Over Me 21. Again 22. I Want To Be Loved 23. It Could Happen To You 24. These Foolish Things 25. Prisoner Of Love
