Etta James - The Chess Box [Box]

Artist:

James, Etta

UPC:

008811228828

See Also:

King, B.B.

Description:

Personnel includes: Etta James (vocals); Riley Hampton (conductor); Harvey Fuqua, Sugar Pie DeSanto (vocals); Matt Murphy, Sidney Pinchback, Cornell Dupree (guitar); Clifford Clark (alto saxophone); Ben Branch (tenor saxophone); Delbert Dill (baritone saxophone); Burgess Gardner, Oscar Brasheer (trumpet); Morris Ellis (trombone); John Young, Milton Bland (piano); Richard Tee (keyboards); Charles Stepney (vibraphone); Reggie Boyd, David Henderson, Gordon Edwards (bass); Lawrence Hamilton, Steve Gadd (drums); Phillip Thomas (percussion).
The Kinfolks: David T. Walker (guitar); Garvell Cooper (tenor saxophone); Vonzell Cooper (organ); Marion Wright (bass); Freeman Brown (drums);
Producers include: Ralph Bass, Billy Davis, Monk Higgins, Rick Hall, Marshall Cress.
Compilation producer: Andy McKaie.
Recorded between January 1960 and December 1974. Includes liner notes by Lee Hildebrand.
Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (Universal Mastering Studios-West, North Hollywood, California).
Audio Remasterers: Erick Labson; Mike Ragogna.
Audio Remixers: Erick Labson; John Strother; Bill Inglot.
Liner Note Authors: Esmond Edwards; Lee Hildebrand; Marshall Chess.
Recording information: Chicago Ill.
Photographers: Michael Ochs; Esmond Edwards; Jason Pastori; Ray Avery; Gary Johns.
This three-CD set covering Etta James`s stint with Chess is a fascinating chronological journey that includes a number of previously unreleased tracks. Aided by arranger Riley Hampton`s sweeping string arrangements, James`s early `60s material consisted of pop and R&B hits that were a mix of contemporary originals ("All I Could Do Was Cry," "My Dearest Darling") and classic standards ("Stormy Weather," "At Last"). Even throughout this phase of sophistication, James injected her earthy sexuality into a pair of Willie Dixon-penned blues covers--"Spoonful" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You," the latter of which was revived for a millennial ad campaign.
By 1967, James was down in Muscle Shoals churning out gritty interpretations of Otis Redding ("Security") and Aretha Franklin ("Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"), while dabbling in country (David Houston`s "Almost Persuaded"). James`s all-too short foray into Philly soul ("Never Love") gave way to producer Gabriel Mekler`s attempts to make her a rock singer. James was equal to the challenge, and the remaining few tracks of this box set find her boldly mastering material by Randy Newman ("Sail Away"), Tracy Nelson ("Down So Low"), and W.C. Handy ("St. Louis Blues").

Track Listing:

DISC 1:

1. All I Could Do Was Cry
2. My Dearest Darling
3. If I Can`t Have You
4. I Just Want to Make Love to You
5. Anything to Say You`re Mine
6. In My Diary
7. Spoonful
8. Sunday Kind of Love, A
9. At Last
10. Stormy Weather
11. Trust in Me
12. Don`t Cry Baby
13. Fool That I Am
14. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
15. Waiting for Charlie (To Come Home)
16. Don`t Get Around Much Anymore
17. Next Door to the Blues
18. I Don`t Want It - (previously unreleased)
19. Something`s Got a Hold on Me
20. Stop the Wedding
21. These Foolish Things
22. You Got Me Where You Want Me - (previously unreleased)
23. I Want to Be Loved (But Only by You)
24. Prisoner of Love
25. Pushover
26. Be Honest With Me - (previously unreleased)

DISC 2:

1. Would It Make Any Difference to You
2. Look Who`s Blue - (previously unreleased)
3. Pay Back
4. Two Sides to Every Story
5. At Last - (previously unreleased)
6. Baby, What You Want Me to Do
7. Lovin` You More Every Day
8. I Wish Someone Would Care
9. Bobby Is His Name
10. Only Time Will Tell
11. (I Don`t Need Nobody to Tell Me) How to Treat My Man - (previously unreleased)
12. In the Basement, Pt. 1
13. Lover Man
14. Do I Make Myself Clear?
15. I Perfer You
16. It Must Be Your Love
17. 842-3089 (Call My Name)
18. I`d Rather Go Blind
19. Tell Mama
20. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
21. Security
22. I Worship the Ground You Walk On - (previously unreleased)
23. You Took It - (previously unreleased)
24. Almost Persuaded
25. You Got It
26. Light My Fire - (previously unreleased)

DISC 3:

1. Slow and Easy - (previously unreleased)
2. Soul of a Man, The - (previously unreleased)
3. Miss Pitiful
4. Losers Weepers, Pt. 1
5. I Found a Love
6. W-O-M-A-N
7. Never My Love - (previously unreleased)
8. I Never Meant to Love Him
9. You`ve Lost That Lovin` Feelin - (previously unreleased)
10. Sail Away
11. Down So Low
12. All the Way Down
13. God`s Song (That`s Why I Love Mankind)
14. Feeling Uneasy
15. St. Louis Blues
16. Let`s Burn Down the Cornfield
17. Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight
18. Sookie, Sookie
19. Out on the Street Again
20. Lovin` Arms

Album Information

Release Date:

06/27/2000

Type:

Boxed Set

Genre:

R&B

Subgenre:

Soul

Label:

Chess (USA)

Catalog Number:

AA881122882

Original Release Year:

2000

# of Discs:

3

Studio/Live:

Mixed

Mono/Stereo:

Mixed

Runtime:

228 : 42

Guest Artist:

Matt Murphy; Cornell Dupree; Richard Tee; Steve Gadd

Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.