Tag Archives: Etta James

Etta James: Etta James Rocks The House

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On December 13, 1963, “Argo” label released “Etta James Rocks the House”, the first Etta James live album. It was recorded in September 1963, at the “New Era Club” in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by Leonard Chess and Etta James.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocals
  • David T. Walker – guitar
  • Vonzell Cooper – organ
  • Marion Wright – bass
  • Freeman Brown – drums
  • Richard Waters – drums
  • Garnell Cooper – tenor saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Something’s Got a Hold on Me – Etta James, Leroy Kirkland, Pearl Woods
  2. Baby What You Want Me to Do – Jimmy Reed
  3. What’d I Say – Ray Charles
  4. Money (That’s What I Want) – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy, Jr.
  5. Seven Day Fool – Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, Jr., Sonny Woods
  6. Sweet Little Angel – Robert McCollum
  7. Ooh Poo Pah Doo – Jessie Hill
  8. Woke Up This Morning – B.B. King

Steve Cropper

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On December 3, 2025, Steven Lee Cropper died aged 84. He was musician, songwriter, record producer and actor, known as “The Colonel”. He was the guitarist of the “Stax Records” house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, which backed artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. He was also member of the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded and performed with many other artists including Alabama, Jimmy Barnes, William Bell, Barbi Benton, Big Star, Stephen Bishop, Frank Black, Bobby and the Midnites, Booker T. & MG.’s, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Burnette, Brian Cadd, Cate Brothers, Chicago, David Clayton Thomas, A. J. Croce, Patti Dahlstrom, Delaney & Bonnie, Ned Doheny, Yvonne Elliman, Jose Feliziano, Eddie Floyd, Peter Frampton, Richie Furay, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Grecco, Levon Helm, Chris Hillman, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Etta James, Wynonna Judd, Albert King, B.B. King, Al Kooper, John Lennon, Ann Margret, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., Craig Morgan, Aaron Neville, Wayne Newton, Harry Nilsson, John Oates, Nigel Olsson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Wilson Pickett, Michel Polnareff, John Prine, Otis Redding, Bruce Roberts, Leon Russell, Sanford & Townsend, Leo Sayer, Poncho Sanchez, Guy Sebastian, Neil Sedaka, Paul Shaffer, Paul Simon, Percy Sledge, Broderick Smith, The Soul Children, The Staple Singers, Mavis Staple, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Livingston Taylor, Carla Thomas, Mickey Thomas, Wendy Waldman, Tower of Power, The Manhattan Transfer, Dale Watson and Jerry Lynn Williams. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him 36th on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists”. Cropper won two “Grammy Awards”, and as leader or co-leader Cropper released 13 albums.

Taj Mahal: Dancing The Blues

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On June 15, 1993, “Private Music” label released “Dancing the Blues”, the 18th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 1993, and was produced by John Porter.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – lead vocals, organ, guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, piano, liner notes
  • Etta James – vocals
  • John Porter – guitar
  • Johnny Lee Schell – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian McLagan – organ, piano
  • Bill Payne – piano
  • Mick Weaver – organ
  • Chuck Domanico – upright bass
  • Bob Glaub – bass
  • Tony Braunagel – drums, percussion
  • Richie Hayward – drums
  • Joe McGrath – percussion, engineer
  • Michito Sanchez – percussion, conga
  • Marty Grebb – alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, backing vocals
  • Joe Sublett – soprano and tenor Saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – trombone, trumpet, trombonium
  • Texacali Horns – horn
  • Sir Harry Bowens – backing vocals
  • Rich Veltrop – second engineer
  • Helix Hadar – second engineer
  • Jerry Finn – second engineer
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Melanie Penny – art direction
  • William H. Johnson – illustrations
  • Kurt DeMunbrun – design
  • Robin Visotsky – photography
  • Ron Goldstein – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Blues Ain’t Nothin’ – Taj Mahal
  2. Hard Way – Grover McDaniel, T-Bone Walker
  3. Strut – Taj Mahal
  4. Going to the River – Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino
  5. Mockingbird – Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx
  6. Blue Light Boogie – Jessie Mae Robinson
  7. The Hoochi Coochi Coo – Hank Ballard, Billy Myles
  8. That’s How Strong My Love Is – Roosevelt Jamison
  9. Down Home Girl – Arthur Butler, Jerry Leiber
  10. Stranger in My Own Home Town – Percy Mayfield
  11. Sitting on Top of the World – Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson
  12. I’m Ready – Sylvester Bradford, Fats Domino

Beth Hart And Joe Bonamassa: Don’t Explain

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On September 27, 2011, “J&R Adventures” label released “Don’t Explain”, the first Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa collaborative album. It was recorded in 2011, and was produced by Kevin Shirley.

Personnel:

  • Beth Hart – vocals, piano, liner notes
  • Joe Bonamassa – vocals, guitar
  • Blondie Chaplin – guitar
  • Arlan Schierbaum – keyboards
  • Carmine Rojas – bass guitar
  • Anton Fig – drums, percussion
  • Jared Kvitka – engineer
  • James McCullagh – engineer
  • Vanessa Parr – engineer
  • Ghian Wright – engineer
  • Kevin Shirley – mixing
  • George Marino – mastering
  • Mike Prior – photography
  • Laura Grover – liner notes
  • Roy Weisman – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Sinner’s Prayer – Lowell Fulson, Lloyd Glenn
  2. Chocolate Jesus – Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan
  3. Your Heart Is as Black as Night – Melody Gardot
  4. For My Friend – Bill Withers
  5. Don’t Explain – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  6. I’d Rather Go Blind – Etta James, Ellington Jordan, Billy Foster
  7. Something’s Got a Hold on Me – Etta James, Leroy Kirkland, Paer Woods
  8. I’ll Take Care of You – Brook Benton
  9. Well, Well – Delaney Bramlett
  10. Ain’t No Way – Carolyn Franklin

Etta James: Let’s Roll

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On May 6, 2003, “Private Music” label released “Let’s Roll”, the twenty-sixth Etta James studio album. It was recorded in 2003, and was produced by Etta James, Josh Sklair, Donto Metto James and Sametto James. “Let’s Roll” won a “Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album” in 2003, and in 2004 the “W. C. Handy Award” as the “Soul/Blues Album of the Year” from the “Blues Foundation”.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocal
  • Josh Sklair – banjo, 12 string guitar, acoustic and electric, slide guitar, synthesizer
  • Bobby Murray – electric guitar
  • Jimmy “Z” Zavala – harmonica, tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Sametto James – bass guitar
  • Donto James – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Tom Poole – trumpet
  • Lee Thornburg – trombone

Track listing:

  1. Somebody to Love – Delbert McClinton, Gary Nicholson
  2. The Blues Is My Business – Kevin Bowe, Todd Cerney
  3. Leap of Faith – Glen Clarke, Gary Nicholson
  4. Strongest Weakness – Bekka Bramlett, Gary Nicholson
  5. Wayward Saints of Memphis – Kevin Bowe, Delbert McClinton
  6. Lie No Better – Gary Nicholson
  7. Trust Yourself – Kevin Bowe, Grady Champion
  8. A Change Is Gonna Do Me Good – Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero
  9. Old Weakness – Gary Nicholson
  10. Stacked Deck – Billy Wright
  11. On the 7th Day – Kevin Bowe, Kostas Lazarides
  12. Please, No More – David Egan, Greg Hansen

Etta James: Love’s Been Rough On Me

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On April 29, 1997, “Private Music” label released “Love’s Been Rough on Me”, the twentieth Etta James studio album. It was recorded in 1997, and was produced by Barry Beckett.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – lead vocals
  • Don Potter – acoustic guitar
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar
  • Brent Rowan – electric guitar
  • Josh Sklair – electric guitar
  • Dann Huff – electric guitar
  • Steve Nathan – keyboards
  • Barry Beckett – keyboards
  • Michael Rhodes – bass guitar
  • Eddie Bayers – drums
  • Terry McMillan – percussion
  • Jim Horn – saxophone
  • Sam Levine – saxophone
  • Joe McGlohon – saxophone
  • Mike Haynes – trumpet
  • Chris McDonald – trombone
  • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Hodges – backing vocals
  • Donna McElroy – backing vocals
  • Louis Dean Nunley – backing vocals
  • John Wesley Ryles – backing vocals
  • Dennis Wilson – backing vocals
  • Curtis Young – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. The Rock – Russell Smith, Jim Varsos
  2. Cry Like a Rainy Day – Greg Barnhill, Kenny Greenberg
  3. Love’s Been Rough on Me – Gretchen Peters
  4. Love It or Leave It Alone – Kara Cody, Will Jennings, John Keller
  5. Don’t Touch Me – Hank Cochran
  6. Hold Me – Graham Lyle, Troy Seals
  7. If I Had Any Pride Left at All – John Greenbaum, Seals, Eddie Setser
  8. I Can Give You Everything – Al Anderson, Terry Anderson
  9. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
  10. Done in the Dark – Josh Sklair, Etta James

Etta James: The Second Time Around

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On December 14, 1961, “Argo” label released “The Second Time Around”, the second Etta James studio album. It was recorded 1960 – 1961, and was produced by Phil Chess and Leonard Chess.

Personnel:

  • Etta Jemes – vocals
  • Riley Hampton – arrangements, conductor
  • Johnny Magnus – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Cry Baby – Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, Stella Unger
  2. Fool That I Am – Floyd Hunt
  3. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  4. In My Diary – Michael Angelo Graham, Mark Silverman
  5. Saven Day Fool – Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, Sonny Woods
  6. It’s Too Soon to Know – Deborah Chessler, E.H. Morris
  7. Dream – Johnny Mercer
  8. I’ll Dry My Tears – Etta James, Clyde Walker
  9. Plum Nuts – Robert Plummer
  10. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell

Etta James: Matriarch Of The Blues

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On December 12, 2000, “Private Music” label released “Matriarch of the Blues”, the twenty-fourth Etta James studio album. It was recorded in 2000, and was produced by Donto Metto James and Sametto James.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – lead and backing vocals, liner notes
  • Josh Sklair – acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar, keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Bobby Murray – guitar
  • Leo Nocentelli – guitar
  • Mike Finnigan – Hammond organ
  • Jimmy Zavala – harmonica, tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Sametto James – bass, engineer, mixing
  • Donto Metto James – drums, engineer, mixing, percussion
  • Tom Poole – trumpet
  • Terrance Galloway – engineer assistant
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Julie Bruzzone – creative director
  • Sonny Mediana – design, photography
  • Rudy Calvo – make-up
  • Lupe DeLeon – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Gotta Serve Somebody – Bob Dylan
  2. Don’t Let My Baby Ride – Deadric Malone, O. V. Wright
  3. Rhymes – Al Green, Teenie Hodges
  4. Try a Little Tenderness – Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods
  5. Miss You – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  6. Hawg for Ya – Otis Redding
  7. You’re Gonna Make Me Cry – Deadric Malone
  8. Walking the Back Streets – Sandy Jones, Jr.
  9. Let’s Straighten It Out – Benny Latimore
  10. Born on the Bayou – John Fogerty
  11. Come Back Baby – Ray Charles, Lightnin’ Hopkins
  12. Hound Dog – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Etta James: Queen Of Soul

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On December 5, 1964, “Argo” label released “Queen of Soul”, the fifth Etta James studio album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Leonard Chess.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocal
  • Riley Hampton – arranger
  • Bert Keyes – arranger
  • Cliff Parman – arranger
  • Al Pokonka – arranger
  • Phil Wright – arranger

Track listing:

  1. Bobby Is His Name – Etta James, Ed Townsend
  2. I Wish Someone Would Care – Irma Thomas
  3. That Man Belongs Back Here with Me – Angela Riela, Clint Ballard Jr.
  4. Somewhere Out There – Billy Davis, Carl Smith, Wilfred McKinley
  5. Breaking Point – Maurice McAlister
  6. Flight 101 – Cathy Lynn, Robert Higginbotham
  7. Loving You More Every Day – Ronnie Mitchell
  8. Do Right – Fred Johnson, Leroy Kirkland, Pearl Woods
  9. I Worry ‘Bout You – Norman Mapp
  10. Mello Fellow – Ed Townsend

Etta James: At Last!

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On November 15, 1960, “Argo” label released “At Last!”, the debut Etta James studio album. It was recorded January – October 1960, and was produced by Phil Chess and Leonard Chess. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “At Last!” at number 191 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Etta James – vocals
  • Harvey Fuqua – vocals
  • Riley Hampton – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Bronstein – cover
  • Don Kamerer – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Anything to Say You’re Mine – Sonny Thompson
  2. My Dearest Darling – Edwin “Eddie Bo” Bocage, Paul Gayten
  3. Trust in Me – Milton Ager, Jean Schwartz, Ned Wever
  4. A Sunday Kind of Love – Louis Prima, Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes
  5. Tough Mary – Etta James, Joe Josea
  6. I Just Want to Make Love to You – Willie Dixon
  7. At Last – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  8. All I Could Do Was Cry – Billy Davis, Gwen Fuqua, Berry Gordy
  9. Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  10. Girl of My Dreams – Charles “Sunny” Clapp