Fabulous Etta!, June 29, 2003

By Diana Watts (Tampa, Florida United States) –

This review is from: Love Songs (Audio CD)

Buy it. Don’t even hesitate. Every song is great,the best. “At Last” gave me chills in 1958 as a youngteenager falling in love for the first time. Now, over40 years later, I’m still getting chills every time Ilisten to it. “How Do You Speak To An Angel” and “Again”are two more that I have discovered and move me beyondwords. I love this CD!

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Etta Forever !, August 11, 2002

By Armando M. Mesa (Chandler, AZ) –
  

This review is from: Love Songs (Audio CD)

Etta is pure, raw, vocal sensuality ! All my years of collecting various recordings by artists of various genres did I imagine I would every buy an Etta cd. Why ? Probably because I had been living under a rock. This woman is incredible to say the least. She is in that same category with the real divas of blues, jazz, soul, and yes, even some pop like Aretha Franklin,Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Patti Austin. This collection hihglights her more popular bluesy jazz-like ballads of the 60′s without ever turning into calculated elevator mush muzak. She makes a ballad sound sultry and sexy without making it become a melodramatic fluff piece;Songs like the classic At Last and A Sunday Kind Of Love prove this. Buyers should not be put off by the Love Songs title (there is absolutely no slowed down mush here). There is so much strength, energy, and vitality to her songstress approach. Etta James is the last century’s and this one’s most easily accessible and awe-inspiring female vocalists without a doubt. While I am not a die hard James fan since I just recently discovered this gem I can understand why she would be or is an inspiration to so many musical artists. After hearing this collection I am a fan now. Most definitely I will be pursuing her other recordings in the very near future !…Love Songs is an amazing start for my Etta James collection !

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the soulful Miss Peaches, September 28, 2003

By Alejandra Vernon “artist & illustrator” (Long Beach, California) –
  

This review is from: Love Songs (Audio CD)

Etta James’ big, brassy and bold voice sings some great love songs in this bluesy, R & B collection, starting with her 1961 hit of the Warren/Gordon “At Last”, which is one of the standouts. Others include another hit from 1961, “Trust in Me”, and an earthy, scrumptious duet with Harvey Fuqua (lead and founder of the Moonglows), “If I Can’t Have You”. I also like her take on the Gershwin brothers’ “Someone to Watch Over Me”, with Ira’s terrific lyrics; I always appreciate his split phrases, like “Although he may not be the man some / girls think of as handsome”With the exception of “Lovin’ Arms” which was recorded in 1974, and the cover of The Association’s “Never My Love” (1973), these recordings are from the ’60s, but Etta is a classic singer, and never sounds dated. Digitally remastered, they did a good job of the audio quality, with crisp highs and nice depth. there are no liner notes in the foldout insert which only includes a song list, and the total time is 45’48.Fondly known as Miss Peaches, one wonders if Etta’s huge voice, with it’s powerful, slightly abrasive top notes, would have become more famous had she not been shadowed and hindered by personal problems; Etta is a major song stylist, appealing to listeners of jazz, R & B, soul, and blues, and this is a fine compilation for fans of this splendid artist.

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