Etta James - At Last!

Recorded between January and October 1960 and released by Argo Records (part of Chess Records) in 1961, at Last was Etta James debut studio album. She had already made a name for herself thanks to a succession of hit singles on the R&B chart, and four of these were to be found on her debut long player. Yet as impressive as the hits undoubtedly were, what made at Last stand head and shoulders above contemporary albums was the sheer variety of material, covering most musical bases such as blues and jazz with consummate ease. There is not a faulty performance to be found on any of the tracks, just as you might expect from an already seasoned performer such as Etta James. At Last has retained it's appeal, being regularly nominated and included into listings of the Top 500 albums of all time.

2015 repress. Etta James's debut album, originally released in 1961 on the Chess subsidiary Argo Records. The album's title-track and (All I Could Do Was Cry) co-written by future Motown founder Berry Gordy both went to number two on the R&B charts, while the album itself has gone down in history as one of the great classic albums of early R&B. Bonus tracks (My Heart Cries), (Spoonful), (It's a Crying Shame), and (If I Can't Have You) are taken from two 1960 singles featuring doo-wop idol Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows (best known for their 1954 hit Sincerely). Pressed on 180-gram vinyl, includes CD.

Limited 180gm colored vinyl LP pressing including six bonus tracks. "The question of whether Etta James became a pop singer, a jazz singer, or a blues singer needn't detain you long. She was all of those, as At Last bears out, and more besides. James touched on gospel, doo-wop and rhythm 'n' blues with equal facility. "Dance With Me, Henry" was a hit, but renamed "The Wallflower" and covered by Georgia Gibbs. Because James had a composition credit, it made her some money, but she didn't like to be bested. She made sure that the next time it would be her name on the label. " Penguin Guide to Jazz "At Last!, her debut LP, made for the celebrated Chicago label Chess, certainly is one of her most memorable. It's impossible to not be moved by the power of her voice, beginning with the opening notes of "Anything to Say You're Mine". Every phrase, every word is attacked with an energy that commands respect. But beware, this young woman (she was only 22 at the time) could also take on the sweetest forms of a melancholy ballad, such as "Stormy Weather", and manage to achieve tenderness. At Last! Is one of the key soul music albums of the early 1960's." Jazz Magazine ETTA JAMES, lead vocals; The Riley Hampton Orchestra. Arranged and conducted by Riley Hampton. Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, 1960 and 1961. Original sessions produced by Phil and Leonard Chess.

Etta James - At Last - Purple Marble Colored Vinyl with Bonus Tracks. Available on Vinyl. Released by Green Star. A blues release from 2025.

Tracklist: 15 tracks

1. Anything to Say You're Mine
2. My Dearest Darling
3. Trust in Me
4. Sunday Kind of Love
5. Tough Mary
6. I Just Want to Make Love to You
7. At Last
8. All I Could Do Was Cry
9. Stormy Weather
10. Girl of My Dreams
11. Bonus Tracks
12. My Heart Cries
13. Spoonful
14. It's a Crying Shame
15. If I Can't Have Toy
16. 1.16

Recorded between January and October 1960 and released on Argo Records (part of Chess Records) in 1961, "At Last" was Etta James' debut studio album.

"At Last!" album on 180-gram crystal clear vinyl with bonus tracks, presented as a limited edition. It was during the Sixties when Etta James truly found her musical direction and made a lasting mark as a soulful pop and blues diva. Her debut album At Last! Was released in late 1960 and was noted for it's varied choice in music from jazz standards to blues numbers to doo-wop and rhythm & blues. It ranked #119 on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Etta James - AT Last (CD). Available on CD. Released in 2024.

It was in the 1960s that Etta James truly came into her own, forging a distinctive musical identity and establishing herself as one of the era's most compelling soul, pop, and blues singers. Her debut album, At Last!, originally released in late 1960, showcases the full breadth of her talent through an eclectic repertoire that spans jazz standards, blues, doo-wop, and rhythm & blues. Ranked No. 119 on Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the album remains a landmark recording. This edition is further enriched by sixteen bonus tracks from the same period, including "The Wallflower," which gained renewed popularity after being featured in the soundtrack of the 1985 blockbuster Back to the Future, making this release a genuine greatest-hits collection. CD DIGIPACK EDITION - INCLUDES SPECIALLY PREPARED LINER NOTES BY RENOWNED JAZZ WRITER BRIAN MORTON - THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 16 BONUS TRACKS - 26 TRACKS - TOTAL TIME: 76 MINUTES

2015 repress. Etta James's debut album, originally released in 1961 on the Chess subsidiary Argo Records. The album's title-track and (All I Could Do Was Cry) co-written by future Motown founder Berry Gordy both went to number two on the R&B charts, while the album itself has gone down in history as one of the great classic albums of early R&B. Bonus tracks (My Heart Cries), (Spoonful), (It's a Crying Shame), and (If I Can't Have You) are taken from two 1960 singles featuring doo-wop idol Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows (best known for their 1954 hit Sincerely). Pressed on 180-gram vinyl, includes CD.