Her best

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Her best
Compilation album by Etta James

Publication
(s)

1997

admission

1960 to 1970

Label (s) Chess; Universal Records

Format (s)

CD

Genre (s)

Blues , rhythm and blues

Title (number)

20th

occupation
  • Etta James, Harvey Fuqua, Sugar Pie DeSanto (vocals)
  • Gavrell Cooper (tenor saxophone)
  • Gene Miller (trumpet)
  • Dewey Oldham (piano, organ)
  • George Davis, John Young (piano)
  • William D. "Smitty" Smith (keyboards)
  • Roger Hawkins , Kenny Rice, Richard Waters, Freeman Brown, Al Duncan (drums)
  • King Errisson (congas).

production

Compiled and produced by Andy McKaie

Her Best is a compilation album by Etta James that was released in 1997 as part of the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection on MCA / Chess.

background

Before Etta James came to Chess Records in 1960, she had already had success as a rhythm and blues singer, for example with the title The Wallflower . The big success came only when she was under contract with Chess Records, a label that they made The Moonglows aware of. The 1960s were their most successful period and they are documented on this CD. During that decade she recorded 28 hits that were found in both the rhythm and blues and pop charts.

For fans who want to hear the essential Etta James without having to spend money on a box, this CD is the right one. The recordings show that Etta James can not only sing the blues, but also R&B, jazz and pop songs.

The album reached # 13 on Billboard's Top Blues Albums.

Track list

  1. At Last - Gordon, Warren - 3:01
  2. All I Could Do Is Cry - Davis, Fuqua, Gordy - 2:55
  3. If I Can't Have You - Fuqua, James - 2:50
  4. A Sunday Kind of Love - Belle, Leonard, Prima , Rhodes - 3:17
  5. My Dearest Darling - Bocage, Gayten - 2:59
  6. Something's Got a Hold on Me - Schwartz, Schwarz, Wever - 2:59
  7. Trust in Me - Ager, Schwartz, Schwarz, Wever - 2:59
  8. Next Door to the Blues - Kirkland, Woods - 2:47
  9. Don't Cry Baby - Bernie, Johnson, Smith, Unger - 2:25
  10. Fool That I Am - Hunt - 2:57
  11. Two Sides to Every Story - Clarke, Davis - 3:02
  12. Pushover - Clarke, Davis - 2:54
  13. Stop the Wedding - Johnson, Kirkland, Woods - 2:52
  14. In the Basement, Pt. 1 - Davis, Miner, Smith - 2:20
  15. Baby What You Want Me to Do - Reed - 4:18
  16. I'd Rather Go Blind - Foster, Jordan - 2:35
  17. Security - Redding , Wessen - 2:29
  18. Loser's Weepers, Pt. 1 - Bonds - 3:00
  19. All the Way Down - Lawrence, Mekler, Williamson - 5:35
  20. Tell Mama - Carter, Daniel, Terrell - 2:20

Recording dates

title Original publication Recording location, recording date
At last Argo 5380 Chicago, October 1960
All I could Do is Cry Argo 5359 Chicago, January 1960
If I can't have you Chess 1760 Chicago, May 1960
A Sunday Kind of Love Argo 5393 Chicago, October 1960
My dearest darling Argo 5363 Chicago, May 1960
Something's Got a Hold on Me Argo 5409 Chicago, December 1961
Trust in me Argo 5385 Chicago, October 1960
Next door to the blues Argo 5424 Chicago, December 1961
Don´t cry baby Argo 5393 Chicago, March 1961
Fool that I am Argo 5390 Chicago, March 1961
Two Sides to Every Story Argo 5452 Chicago, June 1963
Pushover Argo 5437 Chicago, November 14, 1962
Stop the wedding Argo 5418 Chicago, July 27-29, 1962
In the Basement, Pt. 1 Cadet 5539 Chicago, April 1966
Baby What You Want Me to Do Argo LP 4032 ( Etta James Rocks the House ), Argo 5459 New Era Club, Nashville, Jan. 27-28. September 1963
I'd Rather Go Blind Cadet 5578 Muscle Shoals, Alabama August 23, 1967
Security Cadet LP 802 (Tell Mama), Cadet 5594 Muscle Shoals, Alabama December 6, 1967
Loser's Weepers, Pt. 1 Cadet 5676 Los Angeles, June 19, 1970
All the way down Chess 2144 Chicago
Tell mom Cadet 5578 Muscle Shoals, Alabama August 24, 1967

Criticism

  • AMG - Cub Coda: There's plenty more after this to discover, but this is absolutely where you start. (There is still a lot to discover after this CD, but it is the starting point.)
  • Down Beat (8/97, p. 60) - 4 stars (out of 5)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Peter Grendysa Linernotes - Her Best
  2. ↑ a b c Review Her Best by Cub Koda All Music Guide
  3. ↑ a b CD Universe product information
  4. ↑ The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
  5. ↑ Duet with Harvey Fuqua
  6. ↑ Duet with Sugar Pie DeSanto
  7. ^ Live recording at New Era Club, Nashville, 1963
  8. ↑ Booklet Etta James - Her Best
Etta James
Studio albums

At last! • The Second Time Around • Etta James Sings for Lovers • Etta James Top Ten • The Queen of Soul • Call My Name • Tell Mama • Etta James Sings Funk • Losers Weepers • Only a Fool • Come a Little Bit Closer • Etta Is Betta Than Evah • Deep in the Night • Changes • Seven Year Itch • Stickin 'to My Guns • The Right Time • Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday • Time After Time • Love's Been Rough on Me • Life, Love & the Blues • The Heart of a Woman • Matriarch of the Blues • Blue Gardenia • Let's Roll • Blues to the Bone • All the Way

Live albums

Etta James Rocks the House • Etta, Red-Hot & Live • Burnin 'Down the House: Live at the House of Blues

Compilation albums

Early Show, Vol. 1: Blues in the Night • My Greatest Songs • Her Best • 12 Songs of Christmas • 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection • Love Songs • The Definitive Collection • The Chess Box

Singles

The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry) • Hey Henry • Good Rockin 'Daddy • WOMAN • Number One • Shortin' • Bread Rock • Tough Lover • Good Lookin • The Pick-Up • Come What May • Sunshine of Love • I Hope You're Satisfied • If I Can't Have You • Spoonful • All I Could Do Was Cry • My Dearest Darling • At Last • Trust in Me • The Fool That I Am • Don't Cry Baby • Seven Day Fool • Something's Got a Hold on Me • Stop the Wedding • Fools Rush In • Would It Make Any Difference to You • Pushover • Pay Back • Two Sides (To Every Story) • Baby What You Want Me to Do • Loving You More Every Day • Breaking Point • Bobby Is His Name • Only Time Will Tell • I Prefer You • Don't Pick Me for Your Fool • Call My Name • Tell Mama • Security • I Got You Babe • You Got It • Almost Persuaded • Miss Pitiful • Tighten Up Your Own Thing • Sound of Love • Losers, Weepers (Part 1) • Nothing from Nothing Leaves Nothing • Take Out Some Insurance • I Found a Love • All the Way Down • You Can Leave Your Hat On • Out on the Street, Again • Jump Into Love • Piece of My Heart • Sugar on the Floor • Mean Mother