Some of the Amazing Songs of Etta James‍

“At Last”

“At Last” was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren in 1941. It was first performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocalist Ray Eberle. The recording was released as a Bluebird 78 and became a No. 1 hit. It was also recorded by the Harry James Orchestra with vocalist Betty Hutton for Columbia Records. Etta James first recorded “At Last” in 1961 with musical backing from the Teddy Charles Tentet. It was released as a single on the Fantasy Records label. It was also included on her 1961 debut album called “The Soul of Etta James.” The song became one of her signature tunes and a jazz standard. It is one of the most covered songs of all time.

“Good Morning, Heartache”

“Good Morning, Heartache” was written by Arthur Herzog Jr. in 1933. It was first performed by Charles R Durham and His Orchestra with vocalist Jo Ann Johnson. The song was published by B. Feldman & Company in 1933. Etta James first recorded “Good Morning, Heartache” in 1967 for the Modern Records label. It was released as a single and was included on her 1967 album called “The Great James.” According to one of James’ autobiographies, she wrote the lyrics of “Good Morning, Heartache” in the style of a poem when she was 16 years old. She claims that she wrote it as a letter to her boyfriend.

“I’d Rather Go Blind”

“I’d Rather Go Blind” was written by Ervin Drake in 1967. It was first recorded by Etta James on her 1967 Modern Records album entitled “Tell Mama.” The song has become a jazz standard, having been recorded by many other artists, including Rod Stewart, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ronnie Hawkins. In 2004, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2010, “I’d Rather Go Blind” was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Recording in 2011.

“Trust in Me”

“Trust in Me” was written by Milton Hamilton in 1956. It was first recorded and released as a single by Georgia Gibbs in 1956. The song was also recorded by Julie London for Liberty Records in the same year. Later, Etta James recorded “Trust in Me” for her 1961 Fantasy Records debut album “The Soul of Etta James.” It was released as a single and became a Top 40 hit. The song was also recorded by Dusty Springfield for her 1968 album “Dusty in Memphis.” The song was released as a single and became a Top 40 hit.

“Tell Mama”

“Tell Mama” was written by Ervin Drake in 1956. It was first recorded by Etta James for her 1967 Modern Records album entitled “Tell Mama.” Etta’s version of “Tell Mama” was a Top 40 hit in 1968. The song was also recorded by many other artists including The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Buddy Miles Express, and The Jerry Garcia Band. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012. It was also selected for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 songs that shaped the history of rock and roll.

“A Sunday Kind of Love”

“A Sunday Kind of Love” was written by Sam H. Stept and Irving Townsend in 1945. It was performed by Jo Stafford and released as a single on the Capitol Records label. Etta James first recorded the song in 1960 for her first album and also released it as a single on the Modern Records label. The song was also recorded by Boyz II Men for their 2002 album “Underneath the Underwear” and by The Platters for their 1996 album “Uptown.”

Shout

“Shout” was written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns in 1962. It was first recorded by the Isley Brothers for their 1962 album “The Isley Brothers.” Etta James first recorded “Shout” for her 1967 Modern Records album “Tell Mama.” The song was released as a single and became a Top 40 hit. The song was also recorded by the Human Beings, The Beatles, The Blues Brothers, The Hollies, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and The Rolling Stones.

Summing up

There is no doubt that Etta James is one of the greatest singers of all time. Her voice is so rich and filled with raw emotion that it has moved even the hardest of listeners to tears. Her songs are filled with passion, sensitivity, and pain. They tackle subjects like unrequited love, being jilted by someone you love, heartbreak, and loss.