Etta James - Queen Of Soul
Release Date: Date: May 28, 2012 (Originally released 1964)
Label: Kent Records (CDKEND 377)
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)." --Richie Unterberger, AllMusicGuide
That Etta James stands as one of the greatest female singers of the post-World War 2 era is unarguable, yet she only ever enjoyed one UK hit record and did not trouble the US singles charts after 1978. This meant the accolades that followed her recent death dealt with something more than a string of hits or showbiz earning power. Instead, commentators talked of her in terms of her artistry, the majesty of her voice and the visceral emotions she conjured up no matter what she sang.
When I was asked to write the notes for this reissue of her “Queen Of Soul” album, I was more than thrilled. Here was an LP I had never owned and it came with 13 bonus tracks, many of which I’d not heard. Talk about work being a pleasure. I’ve always listened to a lot of Etta James, but concentrating on a favourite artist’s life story encourages intensive listening. I played the hell out of all the records I could get my hands on, yet I kept returning to her classic Chess sides where she found her many voices and how to employ them across material that ranged from big band standards to the greasiest soul.
I’ve never been able to track down all of Etta’s albums, so I was grateful for Ace’s recent “Who’s Blue?”, “Losers Weepers” and “Call My Name” releases. Across these magnificent discs one gets a sense of just how versatile a vocalist she was, and just how much fabulous material got left as B-sides or album tracks or even went unissued.
Chess must have had much to be confident about with “Queen Of Soul” – its very title implying that the company’s bestselling artist brooked no pretenders. Released in November 1964, its cover portrait suggests an emotional engagement that looks painful. Etta is in fine voice throughout and the album’s tracks – which stem from sessions recorded between late 1962 and late 1964 – represent extremely compelling soul music. Opening tune ‘Bobby Is His Name’ is gorgeous, while her take on Irma Thomas’ ‘I Wish Someone Would Care’ fits her perfectly. Yet “Queen Of Soul” failed to ignite upon release and appears largely forgotten today. Strange for an album that offers up such a potent claim to be the new ruler of the hippest black music form taking shape across the USA, and strange that one packed with so much good music has been overlooked for so long.
Her next album, 1967’s “Call My Name”, also passed unnoticed. By then an old friend of hers – whose career on Columbia had seen her underachieve while Etta reigned – had signed to Atlantic and cut a startling 45 in Muscle Shoals. From then on Aretha Franklin would be acknowledged as the Queen Of Soul and Etta would forever trail in her wake, but she would be back time and again to record great material and wow listeners. But, for now, we have her album “Queen Of Soul” from the time when she was, undoubtedly, the monarch. --Garth Cartwright, Ace/Kent Records
Track Listing:
1. Bobby Is His Name
2. I Wish Someone Would Care
3. That Man Belongs Back Here With Me
4. Somewhere Out There
5. Breaking Point
6. Flight 101
7. Loving You More Every Day
8. Do Right
9. I Worry About You
10. Mellow Fellow
Bonus tracks:
11. You Got Me Where You Want Me
12. Only Time Will Tell
13. Pushover
14. You Can't Talk To A Fool
15. Would It Make Any Difference To You
16. Stop The Wedding
17. How Do You Speak To An Angel
18. Be Honest With Me
19. Pay Back
20. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)
21. Two Sides (To Every Story)
22. Tomorrow Night
23. I Can't Hold It In Anymore
24. I Won't Cry Anymore
Another great Etta James album with plenty of bonus tracks!
Personal picks: Bobby Is His Name, Do Right, Only Time Will Tell, Stop The Wedding and Two Sides (To Every Story).
Enjoy!