Whether she sings string-laden pop ballads, lively soul, or gritty electric blues, James's high-powered, enormously expressive voice displays a knack for passionate blues inflections. Emotionally charged ballads including "At Last" and "All I Could Do is Cry" find James blasting through the orchestra with unearthly wails and moans. "If I Can't Have You," a duet with Harvey Fuqua, drops the orchestra in favor of horn-driven R&B and "Something's Got a Hold On Me" is a gospel-flavored romp reminiscent of Ray Charles. A live version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" shows her raunchiest Chicago-blues style, and "In the Basement," with Sugar Pie DeSanto, is a funky workout. Also here are three classics from her soul-drenched 1967 Muscle Shoals sessions. --Marc Greilsamer

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upc:	0076732936726
tracklisting:	At Last All I Could Do Was Cry If I Can't Have You - Harvey Fuqua Sunday Kind of Love My Dearest Darling Something's Got a Hold on Me Trust in Me Next Door to the Blues Don't Cry Baby Fool That I Am Two Sides to Every Story Pushover Stop the Wedding In the Basement, Pt. 1 - Sugar Pie DeSanto Baby, What You Want Me to Do [Live] I'd Rather Go Blind Security Losers Weepers, Pt. 1 All the Way Down Tell Mama
title:	Her Best : The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	25-03-1997
price:	$18.98
net Rating:	4.5
last lookup time:	137388736
genre:	Classic Female Vocal Blues Traditional Blues Chess Records
fullTitle:	Her Best : The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
currentValue:	$7.00
created:	137388720
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD Original recording remastered
asin:	B000005KQE
artist:	Etta James