New Edge to "Old" Love Songs
For years I have said that even though Etta James did not have many "Top Ten" hits on the charts, she is the best interpreter of other singers' songs, the best who ever lived and sang on a New Orleans or a Chicago stage or bar stool. She takes every song she sings and makes it all new and all Etta. She is the single most important reason I became a fan of the blues _ _ _ years ago. You get the picture? I am an old lady and am an old fan.
She's been through many years of problems and heartache, but then, here she still is, with a voice that is even better (if that's possible!) than when she was a sweet young thing performing with Louie Armstrong, Ray Charles, BB King and all the great band leaders and blues singers. She even has a new thin physique!
A couple of the tunes are ones she had in her regular repertoire forty-five years ago and others are contemporary hits from other artists. Each one is "pure Etta." I seem to play this one over and over and over. I can't get enough. I even have it on my computer so I can listen to it when I am doing other work!
This CD is a great example of what the blue are and the influence it can have on all kinds of music. Some of the tunes one will hardly recognize at first. And--the best part of this recording is that you don't have to be in love to enjoy it! (though it wouldn't be bad that way, too)
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