Etta James Rocks
Released February 2025 on Bear Family Records - https://www.bear-family.com/james-etta-etta-james-rocks-cd.html
With Etta James Rocks, Bear Family Records has selected the rockiest recordings of one of the most important and successful African-American singers of her time! She was equally active in R&B, jump, doo-wop, hard blues, languishing ballads and hot soul. For this album in the renowned Rocks series, there are 29 rocking numbers from her young career with recordings for Modern/Kent and Argo/Chess - and Etta could truly rock!
Bill Dahl has written detailed and exciting liner notes. The extensive booklet contains many photos and illustrations, and Bear Family have accessed the best sources for mastering.
Reviewed February 2025
Review
Back in the 1970s BBC Radio London had a show called “Honky Tonk” presented by Charlie Gillett every Sunday lunchtime. Charlie, a renowned music historian, would play a whole mix of music including rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. It was thanks to him that I first heard “Tough Lover” by Etta James. It blew me then and it still does. What a superb high energy track to kick off any compilation. Track two keeps the pace going with the 1958 version of “Dance With Me Henry”. Etta teamed up with Harvey Fuqua of the Moonglows to be Betty and Dupree for another rocker “If It Ain't One Thing” released in 1959 on the Kent label. We jump to 1961 for the fourth track “Seven Days Fool”. Etta recorded it for the Chess label, there is an orchestral backing with some slightly over top backing singers giving the track more a pop feel than the ladies earlier work. The opening of “W-O-M-A-N” immediately reminded me of Elvis Presley’s “Trouble” and that riff continues through the track. A nice, slightly moody stroller. “Next Door To The Blues”, track six comes from 1962 and has a definite soul feel to it. For track seven it’s back to 1955 and Etta’s time with the Los Angeles Modern label and “Good Rockin’ Daddy” a mid-paced stroller. “I’m A Fool” has a nice vocal group backing Etta to make this an up-tempo doowop track with a great sax break. “Shortnin' Bread Rock” is a track that dates way back and there have been rocking covers by several artists. Etta’s version is one of the best with a great jiving beat to it A true classic.
Track 10 is another song that has been covered by many. Etta’s version of “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon” rocks but not as wild as some of the tracks here. It’s not often you hear banjo on an R&B track. “Spoonful” is Etta with Harvey Fuqua again. This Chess recording was an R&B hit for them in 1961. Etta’s vocal is full of feeling here. “The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)”, this is first version of the answer to “Work With Me Annie”. A classic from 1955 the single became a rhythm and blues hit, topping the US Billboard R&B chart for four weeks. On Billboard's Top R&B Records of 1955 list, it ranked No. 6 according to retail sales, No. 3 according to disk jockey plays and No. 15 according to jukebox plays. Back to the 60s for track 13, “Plum Nuts” sees Etta with a big band backing and giving a trademark vocal performance on this pop rocker. “Something's Got Hold Of Me” has a great gospel edge to it. “Hickory Dickory Dock” is a solid rocker despite its novelty title. At track 16 is the song that became a massive hit in 1996 when it was used for a Diet Coke advertising campaign. “I Just Want To Make Love To You” gave Etta much deserved worldwide exposure. "Tough Mary" is a bold and upbeat track from Etta James’ 1960 album on the Argo label, "At Last!". There’s a calypso beat to start track 18, “Market Place” which switches to a solid R&B beat and back again during a song about life in New Orleans. The next track “Good Lookin’” reminds me of Ruth Brown at her rocking best. “Baby, Baby, Every Night” was released on the Kent label in 1958 is another solid R&B jiver.
Track 21, “Pushover”, a pop rocker, was a Top 40 hit for Etta in 1963. The next track is a high energy live version of the Ray Charles classic “What'd I Say”. Track 23, is another live recording. Etta sings the blues with her rendition of the Jimmy Reed song “Baby Want You Want Me To Do”. “Strange Things Happen” is another track from the “At Last!” album. Some nice guitar playing provides a good intro to a steady rocker. Etta gets back to Henry in another song directly connected to “Work With Me Annie”. This one is a bit quicker and has Richard Berry playing the part of Henry. “The Pick-Up” is a good example of an R&B stroller with some clever sax playing responding to Etta’s lyrics. Track 27 is a nice pop rocker. “Come What May” was released on the Modern label in 1957 on the other side of “By The Light Of The Silvery Moon”. “My One And Only” appeared on the Crown label which was owned by the Bihari brothers who also owned the Modern label. A mid paced R&B number with sone fine piano playing. “That’s All” is an appropriate title for final track and it has Etta at her rockin’ best!
Summary
As is so often the case with bear Family this is a superb package worthy of gracing any CD collection from an artist that made a massive contribution to the history of rock ‘n’ roll.
Recommendation
An excellent set from one music’s legends and well worth buying.
Reviewed by Jailhouse John Alexander
Track List
1 Tough Lover
2 Dance With Me, Henry
3 If It Ain't One Thing
4 Seven Day Fool
5 W-O-M-A-N
6 Next Door To The Blues
7 Good Rockin' Daddy
8 I'm A Fool
9 Shortnin' Bread Rock
10 By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
11 Spoonful
12 The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry)
13 Plum Nuts
14 Something's Got Hold Of Me
15 Hickory Dickory Dock
16 I Just Want To Make Love To You
17 Tough Mary
18 Market Place
19 Good Lookin'
20 Baby, Baby, Every Night
21 Pushover
22 What'd I Say
23 Baby Want You Want Me To Do
24 Strange Things Happen
25 Hey, Henry
26 The Pick-Up
27 Come What May
28 My One And Only
29 That's All
Please visit https://www.slapthatbass.online/ to read more rockin’ reviews, links to vendors etc.
Comments