Etta James - Live From San Francisco

Album: Live From San Francisco
Size: 97,8 MB
Time: 42:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994
Styles: Blues/Soul
Art: Full

1. I Just Want To Make Love To You (3:03)
2. Take It To The Limit (5:42)
3. Baby What You Want Me To Do (5:03)
4. Sugar On The Floor (6:05)
5. Tell Mama (4:00)
6. I'd Rather Go Blind (4:55)
7. Otis Redding Medley: Hard To Handle/Just One More Day/Can't Turn You Loose (9:30)
8. Born Blue (3:57)

Commercially, the 1970s weren't nearly as kind to Etta James as the 1950s and '60s had been. The sleekness that characterized Northern "uptown" soul and disco didn't appeal to the big-voiced belter, who stuck to her guns and continued to embrace the type of gritty, hard-hitting Southern soul and down-home blues that had earned her so devoted a following. Though absent from Black radio playlists, she had no problem attracting enthusiastic live audiences.

At 41, James sounds like she's very much in her prime on this live recording from 1981. Whether tearing into an Otis Redding medley, her hit "Tell Mama" or Chicago blues staples like Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do," the earthy singer clearly excels by sticking with what she does best. One of the CD's most pleasant surprises is a version of the Eagles' "Take It to the Limit," which works remarkably well in an R&B setting. /Alex Henderson, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Live From San Francisco mc
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Etta James - The Hits

Album: The Hits
Size: 179,7 MB
Time: 77:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Soul/R&B
Art: Front, back

1. At Last (3:04)
2. Anything To Say You're Mine (2:39)
3. My Dearest Darling (3:04)
4. Trust In Me (3:02)
5. Tough Mary (2:29)
6. All I Could Do Was Cry (3:00)
7. Fool That I Am (3:02)
8. Don't Cry Baby (2:29)
9. If I Can't Have You (2:50)
10. A Sunday Kind Of Love (3:21)
11. Something's Got A Hold On Me (2:50)
12. Seven Day Fool (3:04)
13. It's Too Soon To Know (2:52)
14. I'll Dry My Tears (2:41)
15. Spoonful (2:51)
16. Fools Rush In (2:03)
17. Good Rockin' Daddy (2:30)
18. Roll With Me, Henry (aka The Wall Flower) (3:09)
19. Stop The Wedding (2:53)
20. Stormy Weather (3:12)
21. Girl Of My Dreams (2:25)
22. One For My Baby And One More For The Road (3:31)
23. In My Diary (2:38)
24. Dream (2:29)
25. Plum Nuts (3:04)
26. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (2:30)
27. I Just Want To Make Love To You (3:06)

It was in the Sixties when Etta James truly found her musical direction and made a lasting mark as a soulful pop and blues diva. Her debut album, At Last!, was released in late 1960 and was noted for its varied choice in music from jazz standards to blues numbers to doo-wop and rhythm & blues. This CD compiles James’ greatest hits. She expertly handles jazz standards like “A Sunday Kind of Love,” as well as Willie Dixon’s blues classic “I Just Want to Make Love to You.”

This comprehensive edition gives ample proof of both her amazing singing talents and her extraordinary versatility. Etta James, lead vocals; Orchestras conducted by Riley Hampton & Maxwell Davis. Recorded in Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco, 1955-62.

The Hits mc
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Etta James - Come To Mama: Live

Album: Come To Mama: Live
Size: 164,7 MB
Time: 71:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues/Soul
Art: Front

1. Funky All Day (Instrumental) (4:33)
2. All About The Girl (Instrumental) (3:31)
3. Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home (5:36)
4. I'd Rather Go Blind (6:15)
5. Damn Your Eyes (8:35)
6. Come To Mama (6:19)
7. Your Good Things (8:27)
8. Something Got A Hold On Me (8:48)
9. You Can Leave Your Hat On (8:58)
10. Running And Hiding (10:23)

Etta James (1938-2012) was a US blues, soul, R&B, rock & roll, and jazz singer and songwriter. She is the winner of four Grammies, seventeen Blues Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (in 1993), the Blues Hall of Fame (in 2001), and the Grammy Hall of Fame (in both 1999 and 2008).

(Haven't found any info on the origin of these recordings.)

Come To Mama: Live mc
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Etta James - Etta James: The Montreux Years (Live)

Size: 366.7 MB
Time: 158:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front

01. Breakin' Up Somebody's Home (Live Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) ( 5:27)
02. I Got The Will (Live At Casino Montreux, 12th July 1989) ( 3:33)
03. A Lover Is Forever (Live Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) ( 4:39)
04. Damn Your Eyes (Live At Casino Montreux, 12th July 1989) ( 6:33)
05. Tell Mama (Live Casino Montreux, 9th July 1977) ( 4:13)
06. Running And Hiding Blues (Live At Casino Montreux, 18th July 1990) ( 5:11)
07. Something's Got A Hold On Me (Live At Casino Montreux, 12th July 1989) ( 6:43)
08. Beware (Live At Auditorium Stravinski, 15th July 1993) ( 5:39)
09. Come To Mama (Live At Casino Montreux, 18th July 1990) ( 6:07)
10. Medley At Last Trust In Me Sunday Kind Of Love (Live At Casino Montreux, 12th July 1989) ( 8:01)
11. I Sing The Blues For You (Live At Auditorium Stravinski, 15th July 1993) ( 8:33)
12. Baby What You Want Me To Do (Encore) (Live At Casino Montreux, 8th July 1978) (12:27)
13. Respect Yourself (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) (11:24)
14. Drown In My Own Tears (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) (11:13)
15. W-O-M-A-N (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) (11:10)
16. Dust My Broom (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) ( 5:37)
17. I'd Rather Go Blind (Live At Casino Montreux, 9th July 1977) ( 9:23)
18. All The Way Down (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) ( 6:39)
19. Baby What Do You Want Me To Do (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) ( 6:04)
20. Rock Me Baby (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) ( 5:23)
21. Stormy Monday (Live At Casino Montreux, 11th July 1975) (10:06)
22. Tell Mama (Live Montreux Jazz Festival 1975) ( 4:38)

Etta James: The Montreux Years is released as part of a brand new Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG collection series “The Montreux Years”. The collections will uncover legendary performances by the world’s most iconic artists alongside rare and never-before-released recordings from the festival’s rich 55-year history, remastered in superlative audio. Each collection will be accompanied by exclusive liner notes and previously unseen photography.

Etta James: The Montreux Years is a treasure trove of timeless classics, powerful and electrifying performances and raw, soaring vocals by one of the greatest ever female vocalists. The collection, featuring recordings from James’ Montreux Jazz Festival concerts in 1977, 1978, 1989 1990 and 1993, encapsulates and reflects Etta’s dynamic artistry and long-lasting impact. Spanning performances from across three decades, ‘Etta James: The Montreux Years’ offers deeply personal and intimate snapshots into James’ acclaimed musical journey, highlights and her phenomenal career.

From one of Etta James’ earliest successes, the infectious and endlessly elegant Something’s Got A Hold On Me, a medley that consist of At Last, Trust In Me and Sunday Kind of Love, which is a fusion of highlights from the early 60s, to the raw and emotional I’d Rather Go Blind and soulful horn-driven Tell Mama. The collection closes with Baby What You Want Me To Do, James’ homage to Jimmy Reed and the encore of her 1979 concert.
In 1975, Montreux Jazz Festival captured a significant moment of musical history – Etta James’ very first concert in Europe, performing at the festival’s 9th edition. The CD edition of ‘Etta James: The Montreux Years’ includes this special landmark concert, held at Montreux Casino on 11 July 1975.

Etta James: The Montreux Years (Live) MP3
Etta James: The Montreux Years (Live) FLAC

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VA - Unlock The Lock: The Kent Records Story 1958-1962, Vol. 1

Size: 328 MB
Time: 129:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues, R&B
Art: Full

CD 1:
01. B.B. King - Why Do Everything Happen To Me (2:52)
02. Danny Boy - All Of Me (2:34)
03. The Barker Brothers - Hey Little Mama (2:10)
04. Etta James - Baby, Baby Every Night (2:24)
05. Don Cole - Sweet Lovin' Honey (1:48)
06. Flash Terry & His Orchestra - On My Way Back Home (2:42)
07. Lee Denson - Devil Doll (2:03)
08. Sonny Knight - Madness (2:44)
09. Van Robinson - Basis Of Rock 'n' Roll (2:30)
10. Chuck Tequila' Rio - Bye Bye Baby (2:01)
11. Artie Wilson - That's My Baby (2:15)
12. Floyd Dixon & His Orchestra - Dance The Thing (2:39)
13. B.B. King - Please Accept My Love (2:37)
14. Jesse James - Red Hot Rockin' Blues (2:20)
15. Betty & Dupree - If It Ain't One Thing (2:19)
16. Van Robinson - You You You (2:42)
17. Jesse James - South's Gonna Rise Again (1:54)
18. B.B. King - Worry Worry (2:58)
19. The Senders - The Ballad Of Stagger Lee (3:19)
20. Hadda Brooks - The Thrill Is Gone (4:46)
21. B.B. King - The Fool (2:39)
22. The Senders - Everybody Needs To Know (2:23)
23. Jesse Belvin - (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons (2:15)
24. B.B. King - Mean Ole Frisco (2:29)

CD 2:
01. B.B. King - Sweet Sixteen Parts 1 & 2 (6:13)
02. Jimmy Witherspoon - Your Cheating Heart (2:55)
03. Jimmy Nelson - Unlock The Lock (2:43)
04. B.B. King - Good Man Gone Bad (2:48)
05. Hadda Brooks - Tomorrow Night (2:48)
06. B.B. King - You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now (3:27)
07. Charlie Owens & The Sensational Ink Spots - Diane (3:36)
08. Tony Allen & The Wanderers - If Love Was Money (2:02)
09. B.B. King - Bad Case Of Love (2:23)
10. Billy Ray - Texas Queen (3:15)
11. Tony Allen & Group - Dreamin' (2:41)
12. Joe Houston - Doing The Twist (2:39)
13. Little Joe Hinton - Get In The Car (2:37)
14. Etta James - Crazy Feeling Aka Do Something Crazy (3:20)
15. Little Joe Hinton - The Whip Twist (2:33)
16. Pat Hunt - Goodnight My Love (2:28)
17. Teddy Reynolds - Do You Wanna Twist (2:06)
18. Billy Ray - Playboy (2:25)
19. The Classicals - Camel Caravan (2:32)
20. Hal Davis - Without You (2:03)
21. Bobby 'Blue' Bland & Ike Turner And His Orchestra - Love You Baby (2:25)
22. The Newports - The Wonder Of Love (2:09)
23. Bobby Sanders - Maybe I'm Wrong (2:25)
24. B.B. King - Mashing The Popeye (2:49)

The Bihari Brothers obtained the rights to Kent Records from Lee Silver in 1954 -- Silver never released more than two singles on the imprint -- but didn't turn it into their primary concern until 1958, when they shuttered RPM and Modern. The brothers turned to Kent as a way to shed their roster, but they kept their biggest stars, B.B. King, Etta James, and Jesse Belvin. Within a year or so, James and Belvin defected to other labels, leaving King the big man at Kent. Ace's 2015 Unlock the Lock: The Kent Records Story, Vol. 1 chronicles these early years, running from 1958 to 1962 in the form of a 48-track, double-disc set where 30 cuts make their CD debut (14 of these, mostly alternate takes of well-circulated material, see their first-ever release here). Ten of these cuts belong to King, and he's often the touchstone for the jumping blues and rhythm that make up the rest of the collection: it's robust, rocking R&B and blues that walk the crossover line. There are several attempts to ride the Twist bandwagon -- Joe Houston is "Doing the Twist," Little Joe Hinton attempts "The Whip Twist," Teddy Reynolds tries "Do You Wanna Twist," and King gets into the game with "Mashing the Popeye" -- and there are also hints of string-saturated pop (Pat Hunt's "Goodnight My Love"), plus a bit of wild rockabilly (the Barker Brothers' "Hey Little Mama" is an anomaly but Jesse James' rampaging "South's Gonna Rise Again" kicks, carving a niche between R&B and rock & roll). Generally, though, Unlock the Lock finds a comfortable place between uptown R&B and juke joint blues, proof that as the '50s became the '60s, R&B records started getting wilder and sillier as they tried to find their way onto the charts. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Unlock The Lock MP3
Unlock The Lock FLAC

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Etta James - Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Schoals Sessions

Year: 1968/2001
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:11
Size: 133,9 MB
Styles: R&B, soul, blues
Scans: Full

1. Tell Mama (2:24)
2. I'd Rather Go Blind (2:36)
3. Watch Dog (2:08)
4. The Love Of My Man (2:42)
5. I'm Gonna Take What He's Got (2:35)
6. The Same Rope (2:41)
7. Security (2:31)
8. Steal Away (2:23)
9. My Mother In Law (2:23)
10. Don't Lose Your Good Thing (2:28)
11. It Hurts Me So Much (2:37)
12. Just A Little Bit (2:08)
13. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Bonus) (3:01)
14. You Took It (Bonus) (2:38)
15. I Worship The Ground You Walk On (Bonus) (2:27)
16. I Got You Babe (Bonus) (2:28)
17. You Got It (Bonus) (2:27)
18. I've Gone Too Far (Bonus) (2:22)
19. Misty (Bonus) (3:15)
20. Almost Persuaded (Bonus) (3:23)
21. Fire (Bonus) (2:26)
22. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Alternate) (Bonus) (2:59)

Tell Mama is the seventh studio album by American singer Etta James, and her second album release for Cadet Records. It was recorded at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on the encouragement of Leonard Chess, who successfully convinced James to record the album there. Allmusic reviewer, Bill Dahl praised the album's production, called its sessions, "skin-tight." At Muscle Shoals, producers were able to mix her voice in order for it to sound stronger on previously-distorted high notes. The album's title track became one of the biggest hits of James's career, becoming her first Top 10 hit in four years and her highest-peaking single on the Billboard Pop chart, reaching #23. It has since been considered one of her all-time classics. The album's cover of Otis Redding's "Security" also became a major hit, reaching the Top 20 on the R&B singles chart, while also making the Pop Top 40.

Besides a cover version of Redding's composition, other cover versions included Jimmy Hughes's "Don't Lose Your Good Thing" and a pair of copyrights by Don Covay. It also featured the title track's B-side, "I'd Rather Go Blind," which was originally not a hit, however it later became one of James's signature songs. In the 1990s, Tell Mama was remastered and re-released on MCA/Chess. The album was remastered by Erick Labson at Universal Mastering Studios-West in North Hollywood, California. A compilation version of the album was later released and included ten additional bonus tracks, including cover versions of David Houston's, "Almost Persuaded" and Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe." /Wikipedia

(For personnel and recording details, see artwork included.)

Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions mc
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Albert Collins, Etta James, Joe Walsh - Jump The Blues Away

Size: 125,8 MB
Time: 54:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1989
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Soul
Art: Front & Back

01. Intro (0:43)
02. Walkaway (3:45)
03. Goin' Down (5:30)
04. The Moon Is Full (6:43)
05. Sweet Little Angel (5:48)
06. Rock Me Baby (4:37)
07. If Trouble Was Money (8:58)
08. Baby, What You Want Me To Do? (4:47)
09. The Blues Don't Care (6:33)
10. Rocky Mountain Way (6:34)

Nothing if not eclectic, the Jazzvisions series veers completely away from jazz on its blues installment. The idiom is blues-rock, the headliner is the once and future Eagles star Joe Walsh, and his co-partners are electric bluesman Albert Collins and the indestructible singer Etta James. Within that idiom, though, this is a strong program captained by experts in the arts of blues licks and working the crowd. Collins is terse and stinging on guitar, full of bent-note soul; James is right in her element, laying on the double entendres, whipping up the audience in her experienced manner; and Walsh, aside from the inevitable "Rocky Mountain Way," does well in the blues guitar idiom, even giving a tip of the cap to Collins, "Thanks for all the licks!" The backup band roars in the traditional journeyman electric blues-rock form, with strong piano and organ work and pumping drums. At its best, especially when Collins and James are on, this concert at the indoor Wiltern Theatre has much of the celebratory flavor of a jumping outdoor blues festival. ~Richard S. Ginell

Jump The Blues Away MP3
Jump The Blues Away FLAC

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VA - Allen Toussaint: Artist, Producer, Songwriter

Size: 142,0 MB
Time: 59:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: R&B, Soul
Art: Front & Back

01 Lee Dorsey - Sneakin' Sally From The Alley (2:51)
02 Curly Moore - Don't Pity Me (2:55)
03 Aaron Neville - Hercules (4:13)
04 Eldridge Holmes - Gone Gone Gone (2:39)
05 Maurice Williams - How To Pick A Winner (2:38)
06 Betty Harris - Bad Luck (2:33)
07 Erine K Doe - Here Comes The Girls (3:10)
08 Allen Toussaint - Working In A Coalmine (3:12)
09 Benny Spellman - If You Love Her (2:30)
10 The Rubaiyats - Omar Khayyam (2:15)
11 Diamond Joe - Wait A Minute Baby (2:33)
12 Etta James - Wheel Of Fire (3:34)
13 Zilla Mayes - All I Want Is You (2:11)
14 Warren Lee - Star Revue (2:59)
15 Eldridge Holmes - The Book (3:30)
16 Willie West - Greatest Love (2:22)
17 Allen Toussaint - We Are The People (2:48)
18 Ernie K - So Good (2:54)
19 Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can (3:32)
20 Etta James - With You In Mind (4:23)

A tremendous tribute to the genius of Allen Toussaint – the man who almost single-handedly shaped the sound of New Orleans soul in the 60s! As the title implies, Toussaint is featured here as an artist, producer, and songwriter – and most tracks were issued on his Sansu Records label, and recorded in his Sea Saint studios – a spot that was as important to New Orleans as Chess was to Chicago, and Stax was to Memphis! The singers vary here, but the songs and instrumentation have a very unified vibe – plenty of Nola funk at the bottom, and some killer lyrics that often have a lot of sharpness and wit. Tracks include "So Good" by Ernie K Doe, "Sneakin Sally From The Alley" by Lee Dorsey, "Hercules" by Aaron Neville, "Gone Gone Gone" by Eldridge Holmes, "Don't Pity Me" by Curly Moore, "Bad Luck" by Betty Harris, "All I Want Is You" by Zilla Mayes, "Wheel Of Fire" by Etta Jones, "If You Love Her" by Benny Spellman, "Omar Khayyam" by The Rubiyats, "Here Come The Girls" by Ernie K Doe, "How To Pick A Winner" by Maurice Williams, "Star Revue" by Warren Lee, "Greatest Love" by Willie West, "The Book" by Eldridge Holmes, "Wait A Minute Baby" by Diamond Joe, and "We Are The People" and "Working In A Coal Mine" by Toussaint himself.

Allen Toussaint: Artist, Producer, Songwriter

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Various - Gaz's Rockin' Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:34
Size: 147.8 MB
Styles: R&B/Blues
Year: 1981/2012
Art: Front

[2:20] 1. Etta James - Good Rockin' Daddy
[2:58] 2. Young Jessie & The Cadets - Mary Lou
[3:00] 3. Richard Berry - Oh! Oh! Get Out Of The Car
[2:12] 4. Richard Berry - Yama Yama Pretty Mama
[2:08] 5. Etta James - Tough Lover
[2:29] 6. Long Tall Marvin - Have Mercy Miss Percy
[2:36] 7. Jimmy Witherspoon - Who's Been Jivin' You
[2:27] 8. B.B. King - She's Dynamite
[2:22] 9. Preacher Stevens - Whoopin' And Hollerin'
[2:32] 10. Elmore James - Strange Kinda Feeling
[3:03] 11. Pee Wee Crayton - Texas Hop
[2:47] 12. Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs - I May Be Wrong (Boogie Woogie)
[2:59] 13. Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs - Sweet Little Woman
[2:13] 14. Van Robinson - Come On Let's Dance
[2:34] 15. Robbin Ray - Love My Baby
[2:38] 16. Chuck Higgins Orchestra - The Blacksmith Blues
[2:51] 17. Goree Carter - Bad Feeling
[2:54] 18. Wild Bill Moore With Scatman - Rock And Roll
[2:42] 19. Joe Papoose Fritz - Wrong Doing Woman
[3:07] 20. B.B. King - Whole Lotta' Love
[2:55] 21. Freddie Simmons Quintette - Hollywood Bound
[2:54] 22. Joe Turner & Pete Johnson - Don't Talk Me To Death
[2:26] 23. Joe Hill Louis - Nappy Head Woman
[3:14] 24. Jeanne Demetz With Johnny Alston Orchestra - Calypso Daddy

Gaz's Rockin' Blues is London's longest running one-nighter club. It was founded on the 3rd of July 1980 and was held at Gossip's on Dean Street until november 1995 when it moved to its current venue St Moritz in Wardour Street. The club promotes live bands each week.

Compiled by Gaz Mayall, eldest son of blues legend John Mayall, and owner of the legendary London club Gaz's Rockin' Blues, this CD updates the original LP released in 1981. Gaz's Rockin' Blues celebrates it's 25th anniversary this year. London's hippest club is known worldwide and is especially popular with Japanese visitors. The first 14 tracks replicate the 1981 release, and ten tracks are new to CD. Gaz tells the club's story in his entertaining and lavishly illustrated sleeve notes.

Gaz's Rockin' Blues mc
Gaz's Rockin' Blues zippy

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Etta James - Queen Of Soul (With Bonus Tracks)

Size: 158,3 MB
Time: 68:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1964/2012
Styles: Blues Soul, R&B
Art: Full

01. Bobby Is His Name (3:32)
02. I Wish Someone Would Care (2:37)
03. That Man Belongs Back Here With Me (2:28)
04. Somewhere Out There (2:45)
05. Breaking Point (2:27)
06. Flight 101 (3:29)
07. Loving You More Every Day (3:21)
08. Do Right (1:59)
09. I Worry About You (3:15)
10. Mellow Fellow (3:01)
11. You Got Me Where You Want Me (2:52)
12. Only Time Will Tell (3:22)
13. Pushover (2:56)
14. You Can't Talk To A Fool (3:14)
15. Would It Make Any Difference To You (2:40)
16. Stop The Wedding (2:52)
17. How Do You Speak To An Angel (2:39)
18. Be Honest With Me (3:06)
19. Pay Back (2:40)
20. Lover Man (Oh, Were Can You Be ) (3:55)
21. Two Sides (To Every Story) (3:03)
22. Tomorrow Night (3:20)
23. I Can't Hold It In Anymore (2:40)

In part because it didn't have any of her biggest hits, the 1964 album Queen of Soul is a relatively overlooked one in Etta James' discography, even for an artist whose LPs weren't all that well known. The ten songs are dependable early soul music, though the material isn't quite on the level of her best mid-'60s work. "I Wish Someone Would Care" is about the best tune, but Etta was beaten to the punch on that score by Irma Thomas, who not only recorded the original and superior version, but also wrote the song. The one track to bear a James writing credit ("Bobby Is His Name," co-penned with Ed Townsend) is a pretty lightweight, almost teen pop-influenced number; "That Man Belongs Back Here with Me," co-composed by noted tunesmith Clint Ballard, is fair but not great pop-soul with a jazzy touch; "Flight 101" has a tinge of over-melodrama, though Etta's typically strong vocal saves it. "Loving You More Every Day" has a satisfying blues-gospel feel, but much of this has dated orchestration, even the closing "Mellow Fellow," which has one of her trademark throaty drawn-out testifying openings. Perhaps some of the album's overall unevenness can be attributed to it having been taken from sessions done over a period of two years, though such haphazard LP track selection was not rare in the early to mid-'60s. What really separates this CD reissue from the pack when it comes to collecting James, however, are the 13 bonus tracks, the majority of them taken from 1962-1965 singles, though there are also some cuts from the period that weren't released until 1997 or 2000. A couple of them are pretty familiar to James fans ("Pushover" and "Stop the Wedding," both of which are among her best Chess sides), but most of these will be new to most listeners, even ones with a few James records in their collection. Again, the quality among these cuts is a little up and down, but overall it's better than what's heard on Queen of Soul, including not only some bluesy soul, but also the country-pop-influenced "Would It Make Any Difference to You" (recorded in Nashville in 1962); the lush ballad "How Do You Speak to an Angel"; and the girl group-ish "Two Sides (To Every Story)." ~Review by Richie Unterberger

Queen Of Soul

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VA - A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues

Size: 148,2153,6 MB
Time: 62:16+64:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: R&B, Blues, Soul, Rock
Art: Front

CD 1:
01 Arthur Alexander - A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues (1:59)
02 Eugene Church - Pretty Girls Everywhere (2:58)
03 Clyde McPhatter - Stop (2:01)
04 Eddie Bo - Every Dog Has Its Day (2:17)
05 Ike & Tina Turner - A Fool In Love (2:34)
06 Etta James - Next Door To The Blues (2:44)
07 Little Willie John - Leave My Kitten Alone (2:31)
08 Jimmy McCracklin - The Walk (2:44)
09 Lula Reed - Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me (2:28)
10 Bo Didley - I Can Tell (3:06)
11 Nappy Brown - Don't Be Angry (2:24)
12 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Money (That's What I Want) (3:44)
13 Charles Sheffield - It's Your Voodoo Working (1:46)
14 Rosco Gordon - Just A Little Bit (2:04)
15 Bobby Parker - Watch Your Step (2:42)
16 Ruth Brown - I Burned Your Letter (2:43)
17 King, Bobby - Thanks Mr Postman (2:44)
18 Betty James - I'm A Little Mixed Up (2:48)
19 Howlin' Wolf - I've Been Abused (2:14)
20 Baby Washington - Your Mama Knows What's Right (1:53)
21 The Del Vikings - Confession Of Love (2:21)
22 Lavern Baker - Humpty Dumpty Heart (2:32)
23 Benny Spellman - Fortune Teller (2:09)
24 Earl King - Trick Bag (2:38)
25 Buddy Guy - The Treasure Untold (2:00)

CD 2:
01 Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Broke And Lonely (2:56)
02 Etta James - Seven Day Fool (2:53)
03 Albert King - This Morning (2:08)
04 Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover (2:43)
05 Royal J. Abbit - Send Me Somebody (3:25)
06 James Brown - Night Train (3:13)
07 Lavern Baker - Love Me Right (1:57)
08 Eugene Church - I Ain't Goin' For That (2:17)
09 Nappy Brown - Little By Little (2:33)
10 Baby Washington - Hush Heart (2:10)
11 Richard Berry - Have Love, Will Travel (2:37)
12 Marv Johnson - Come To Me (2:20)
13 Clyde McPhatter - Tomorrow Is A-Comin' (2:23)
14 Ruth Brown - Somebody Touched Me (2:27)
15 Little Walter - My Babe (2:31)
16 Aaron Neville - Humdinger (2:38)
17 Thurston Harris - Over And Over (2:15)
18 The Midnighters - Work With Me Annie (2:45)
19 Ben E. King - A Help Each Other Romance (2:42)
20 Little Willie John - Let Nobody Love You (2:49)
21 El Pauling - Come On Let's Have A Good Time (2:42)
22 Bill Doggett - Hold It (2:29)
23 Irma Thomas - Don't Mess With My Man (2:17)
24 Freddie King - You Can't Hide (2:56)
25 Bobby Parker - Steal Yourt Heart Away (2:22)

On A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues CD 1
On A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues CD 2

Etta James - Losers Weepers

Year: 1970/2011
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:09
Size: 174,4 MB
Styles: Soul, R&B
Scans: Full

1. Take Out Some Insurance (3:03)
2. The Day Will Come (4:31)
3. Shake (3:57)
4. Someone (3:52)
5. Losers Weepers (2:40)
6. Weepers (2:32)
7. Hi Ho Silver Lining (2:47)
8. Hold Back My Tears (6:10)
9. For All We Know (3:45)
10. Look At The Rain (3:02)
11. Ease Away A Little Bit At A Time (3:41)
12. The Love Of My Man (Bonus Track) (2:41)
13. Tighten Up Your Own Thing (Bonus Track) (2:40)
14. Quick Reaction And Satisfaction (Bonus Track) (2:36)
15. Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing (Bonus Track) (3:36)
16. The Sound Of Love (Bonus Track) (2:49)
17. The Man I Love (Bonus Track) (2:49)
18. I Found A Love (Bonus Track) (3:26)
19. W.O.M.A.N. (Bonus Track) (3:15)
20. Tell It Like It Is (Bonus Track) (3:24)
21. Never My Love (Bonus Track) (3:50)
22. I Never Meant To Love Him (Bonus Track) (3:52)

Although the 1970 album Losers Weepers was not a landmark in Etta James' career, and doesn't include any of her most famous or outstanding tracks, it's a solid enough album that has an edge on some of the other LPs from the later part of her time with Chess Records. To its credit, it doesn't seem to be trying as hard or self-consciously to absorb some influences from contemporary soul trends; largely, it lets James do what she does best: give romantic songs everything she's got, without holding back on some of her grittiest phrasing and throatiest belting.

Were the material up to her vocal finesse, this would be up there with the likes of what Aretha Franklin was doing at the time. It's not, but the songs are OK vehicles for her tense and frustrated takes on love. The title track gave her a small R&B hit, and is certainly the best song here. If it's a little reminiscent of her own "I'd Rather Go Blind" in the verse, the jubilant, ascending chorus sets it off as a worthwhile tune on its own merits (and the next track, "Weepers," is a "part two" of sorts that also served as the B-side). It's a satisfying mix of ballads and more uptempo cuts (like "Look at the Rain," written by Jackie Edwards, famous for writing early hits for the Spencer Davis Group), also putting some pop into the arrangements and melodies alongside the expected soul. /Richie Unterberger, AllMusic

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Etta James - Good Rockin' Mama: Her 1950s Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:39
Size: 79.3 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[2:08] 1. Tough Lover
[2:24] 2. Good Rockin' Daddy
[2:44] 3. W-O-M-A-N
[2:30] 4. Shortnin' Bread Rock
[2:19] 5. The Pick-Up
[2:08] 6. Good Lookin'
[3:04] 7. Dance With Me Henry
[2:21] 8. Dance With Me Henry
[2:21] 9. Every Night
[3:00] 10. Hickory Dickory Dock
[2:28] 11. Strange Things Happening
[2:51] 12. Hey Henry
[2:03] 13. Come What May
[2:13] 14. That's All

When Ace last released a vinyl LP on Etta James, the CD medium was still in its infancy, Etta’s career was on hiatus and she hadn’t put out a new album in years. Flash forward 30 years and Etta is now regarded as one of music’s most cherished icons. She staged a comeback with excellent new albums and the popularity of her classic recordings for the Modern and Chess labels increased as some began to appear in TV ad campaigns. When she died last year, Etta was more popular than she had ever been.

Etta spent most of her career with Chess; we have several exceptional CDs of her recordings for that company in the Kent catalogue. Prior to Chess, she spent four years with Modern, where she cut almost three dozen superb R&B sides; we also have all of those out on a great 2 CD set, but we felt that Etta was deserving of a good old-fashioned vinyl album as part of our new HIQLP series. “Good Rockin’ Mama” compiles all of Etta’s best up-tempo Modern tracks into a set that will prod any dancin’ party into life, from her first single ‘The Wallflower’ (aka ‘Roll With Me Henry’) through to her final recording for the company, ‘“Baby, Baby” Every Night’. All 14 tracks are classic examples of the young Etta.

For anyone who needs further enlightenment, Etta sounds like the female Little Richard on ‘Tough Lover’ and ‘Dance With Me Henry’ (a ‘Wallflower’ remake) – both recorded in New Orleans with many of the musicians who frequently backed Richard. There’s her original take on ‘W-O-M-A-N’, which she returned to on a couple of occasions later in her career, and for lovers of TV ads everywhere, ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ and ‘Good Rockin’ Daddy’. It’s a safe bet that anyone who plays this hot biscuit will just flip it over and play it again from start to finish when it’s through. Not just good rockin’, but great. ~Tony Rounce

Good Rockin' Mama: Her 1950s Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party

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B.B. King - Blues Summit

Year: 1993
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:42
Size: 146,3 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Playin' With My Friends (w. Robert Cray) (5:18)
2. Since I Met You Baby (w. Katie Webster) (4:45)
3. I Pity The Fool (w. Buddy Guy) (4:36)
4. You Shook Me (w. John Lee Hooker) (4:59)
5. Something You Got (w. Koko Taylor) (4:02)
6. There's Something On Your Mind (w. Etta James) (6:02)
7. Little By Little (w. Lowell Fulson) (4:07)
8. Call It Stormy Monday (w. Albert Collins) (7:17)
9. You're The Boss (w. Ruth Brown) (4:07)
10. We're Gonna Make It (w. Irma Thomas) (3:51)
11. I Gotta Move Out Of This Neighborhood/Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (B.B. King Orchestra) (8:57)
12. Everybody's Had The Blues (w. Joe Louis Walker) (4:35)

On this release, King comes close to equaling his past triumphs on small independent labels in the '50s and '60s. He's ditched the psuedo-hip production fodder and cut a 12-song set matching him with blues peers. His duets with Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, and Albert Collins are especially worthy, while the songs with Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, and Irma Thomas have some good-natured banter and exchanges, as well as tasty vocals.

The master gives willing pupils Joe Louis Walker and Robert Cray valuable lessons on their collaborations. There's also a medley in which King invokes the spirit of his chitlin circuit days, taking the vocal spotlight while his Orchestra roars along underneath. /Ron Wynn, AllMusic

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Etta James - Tears Of Joy: Modern & Kent Sides 1955-1961

Year: 2016
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:44
Size: 178,8 MB
Styles: R&B
Scans: Full

1. Hey Henry (2:54)
2. Be Mine (2:51)
3. Good Rockin' Daddy (2:28)
4. Crazy Feeling (3:19)
5. W-O-M-A-N (2:47)
6. That's All (2:13)
7. My One And Only (2:31)
8. I'm A Fool (2:32)
9. Shortnin' Bread Rock (2:32)
10. Tears Of Joy (2:29)
11. Tough Lover (2:11)
12. Fools We Mortals Be (2:21)
13. Good Luck (2:12)
14. Then I'll Care (2:34)
15. The Pick-Up (2:22)
16. Market Place (2:57)
17. Come What May (2:07)
18. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (2:13)
19. Baby Baby Every Night (2:25)
20. Sunshine Of Love (2:27)
21. How Big A Fool (2:40)
22. Dance With Me, Henry (2:24)
23. Don't You Remember (3:03)
24. Hickory Dickory Dock (3:01)
25. Nobody Loves You Like Me (2:25)
26. You Know What I Mean (3:06)
27. Strange Things Happening (2:29)
28. The Wallflower (Etta James & The Peaches) (3:07)
29. Hold Me, Squeeze Me (Etta James & The Peaches) (2:29)
30. If It Ain't One Thing (Betty & Dupree) (2:18)

This special release includes 30 studio tracks, consisting of the sensational sides Etta James made for the Bihari brothers' Modern and Kent labels between 1955 and 1961. Contained here are the cream of the crop from Etta's early years. This set also presents a number of James' lesser-known songs which are just as enjoyable as the classics from that period.

All of these fabulous recordings have been remastered and packaged together in this collector's edition, which gives ample proof of Etta James' versatility as well as her rightful place in the R&B pantheon. Without a doubt, this is the material upon which her kingdom was built.

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Etta James - Life, Love & The Blues

Year: 1998
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:39
Size: 136,9 MB
Styles: Blues, soul-blues
Scans: Full

1. Born Under A Bad Sign (3:29)
2. I Want To Ta Ta You, Baby (5:56)
3. Here I Am (Come And Take Me) (4:55)
4. Running Out Of Lies (5:03)
5. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (7:01)
6. Spoonful (4:09)
7. Life, Love & The Blues (5:17)
8. Hoochie Coochie Gal (4:25)
9. Cheating In The Next Room (4:57)
10. If You Want Me To Stay (5:21)
11. The Love You Save May Be Your Own (4:01)
12. I'll Take Care Of You (4:59)

Etta James' fine self-produced Life, Love & The Blues touts itself as a straight blues album, the one Etta says she always wanted to record. This isn't entirely accurate, since the smart choice of tunes here includes Al Green's "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" and Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues". But why quibble with a legend, especially since she delivers the goods with such class and professionalism?

By 1998, her voice had lost some of its upper purity but hardly any of its flexibility and force. She's not riding any past glory as she steps forthrightly into Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" like she owns it, as well as modern blues classics like Willie Dixon's "Spoonful" and "Hoochie Coochie Man (Gal)". Speaking of ownership, Etta co-wrote the title song - a smoldering statement of purpose cut with some fine slide acoustic work courtesy of her ace back-up guys, The Roots Band.

Personnel: Etta James (vocals); Josh Sklair (guitar, dobro); Leo Nocentelli, Bobby Murray (guitar); Jimmy "Z" (saxophone, harmonica); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone); Tom Poole (trumpet); Dave Mathews (keyboards); Mike Finnigan (Hammond B-3 organ); Sametto James (bass); Donto James (drums, percussion).

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Etta James - Observations

Released: 2013
Size: 100.5 MB
Time: 43:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: R&B, Soul
Art: Front & Memorial Plaque

1. My Dearest Darling [3:04]
2. I'll Dry My Tears [2:42]
3. Anything To Say You're Mine [2:38]
4. A Sunday Kind Of Love [3:18]
5. Girl Of My Dreams [2:24]
6. In My Diary [2:36]
7. All I Could Do Was Cry [2:58]
8. Spoonful [2:50]
9. Stormy Weather [3:10]
10. Seven Day Fools [3:02]
11. Plum Nuts [3:04]
12. I Just Want To Make Love To You [3:08]
13. Trust In Me [3:00]
14. At Last [3:02]
15. Tough Mary [2:27]

Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an American singer who spanned a variety of music genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind" for which she wrote the lyrics. She faced a number of personal problems, including drug addiction, before making a musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch.

James is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and was the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008. Rolling Stone ranked James number 22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists.

Observations

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Etta James - Stickin' To My Guns

Released: 1990
Size: 90.1 MB
Time: 39:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Blues, Soul
Art: Front

1. Whatever Gets You Through The Night [3:47]
2. Love To Burn [3:26]
3. The Blues Don't Care [3:39]
4. Your Good Thing (Is About To End) [3:50]
5. Get Funky [4:42]
6. Beware [3:36]
7. Out Of The Rain [4:33]
8. Stolen Affection [3:51]
9. A Fool In Love [3:22]
10. I've Got Dreams To Remember [4:24]

At one time, laying claim to the title Queen of the Blues was of paramount importance to powerhouse singers like Koko Taylor and Etta James, because it translated into financial success, if only within their market niche. Now that they understandably crave wider recognition after their many years of notable work, however, such a designation might well prove a roadblock to success because of the blues' reputation as an arcane music.

Etta James is a little further along in her effort to come up with a more contemporary sound. Stickin' to My Guns pays homage to James's roots in that the lyrics are highly personal and blues oriented, but the accompaniment is completely contemporary. We're talking about a nonstop dance party filled with house rockers like "Love to Burn" and turn-the-lights-down-low, slow-grind numbers like "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)." But to say that this album is blues, in the traditional sense of the word, is a bit of a stretch. If you're looking for the Etta James of the Chess years, you're bound to be disappointed. But if you check your preconceived notions at the door, you're gonna have a good time.

Stickin' to My Guns

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B.B. King & Friends - A Night Of Blistering Blues

Year: 2005
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:59
Size: 128,8 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Why I Sing The Blues (Intro) (6:21)
2. Please Send Me Someone To Love (5:10)
3. The Thrill Is Gone (7:00)
4. I'd Rather Go Blind (6:03)
5. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (4:17)
6. The Sky Is Crying (6:28)
7. Something's Got A Hold On Me (3:52)
8. In The Midnight Hour (4:10)
9. Ain't Nobody's Business (4:46)
10. Let The Good Times Roll (3:21)
11. Take My Hand, Precious Lord (3:34)
12. Closing (0:50)

It's an all-star blues extravaganza as legendary guitarist B.B. King brings a whole host of popular performers to the stage for a magical night of music captured live at the Ebony Showcase Theater, Los Angeles, on April 15, 1987. In addition to such classics as "The Thrill Is Gone" and "In the Midnight Hour", King is joined by such talented contemporaries as Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Dr. John, Phil Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Billy Ocean, Gladys Knight and Chaka Kahn in performing nine more songs including "Ain't Nobody's Business", "The Sky Is Crying," and "Let the Good Times Roll".

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Etta James - Matriarch Of The Blues

Year: 2000
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:26
Size: 147,5 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Gotta Serve Somebody (6:48)
2. Don't Let My Baby Ride (5:16)
3. Rhymes (4:35)
4. Try A Little Tenderness (4:47)
5. Miss You (5:59)
6. Hawg For Ya (3:45)
7. You're Gonna Make Me Cry (6:17)
8. Walking The Back Streets (7:07)
9. Let's Straighten It Out (5:24)
10. Born On The Bayou (4:41)
11. Come Back Baby (5:57)
12. Hound Dog (3:43)

The mark of great singers is their ability to turn a trifling song into an emotional masterwork. R&B legend Etta James has done it live for nearly 20 years with Kiki Dee's "Sugar on the Floor" and a few others. But what's really sublime is hearing James sink her teeth into numbers that stand up to her own greatest work - "At Last" and the other Chess hits that built her reputation. James ignites such sparks all over this new disc of mostly well-chosen covers, wrapping her deep, supple, and saucy pipes around Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" and "Hawg for You"; replacing Mick Jagger's flippancy with real heart on the Rolling Stones' "Miss You"; putting the gospel fire into Bob Dylan's "You Got to Serve Somebody"; and digging down 'n' dirty into O.V. Wright's "Don't Let My Baby Ride." The straight-ahead arrangements and undistinguished playing leave James to carry the album herself, but at 62, she's still a fireball and more than up to the task. /Ted Drozdowski, Amazon

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