Overview
“At Last!” is the first studio album by Etta James, an American singer known for her powerful vocals, who worked since the mid-1950s in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock, and soul.
Background of the Production
Etta James was born in Los Angeles, California in 1938.
She released the R&B song “The Wallflower” on Modern Records as a single under the name of Etta James and the Peaches in 1955. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Tracks chart.
After releasing a second R&B hit, “Good Rockin’ Daddy,” the Peaches broke up and James signed a contract with Chess Records in 1960.
Commentary
The album “At Last!” was recorded in 1960 and was released by Argo Records, a label of Chess Records, as a LP consisting of ten tracks in the same year.
“At Last!” is a pop-oriented album that contains a variety of songs, from blues to R&B ballads and jazz standards, with orchestral arrangements. The highlights of the album are James’ powerful and soulful shouting vocals.
It was produced by Phil Chess and Leonard Chess.
The orchestra was arranged and conducted by Riley Hampton.
“All I Could Do Was Cry” is a doo-wop/R&B song. It was released as a single and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart.
“My Dearest Darling” is a soul ballad. It was released as a single and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard R&B chart.
“At Last” is a cover of Glenn Miller and His Orchestra’s 1942 hit. It was released as a single and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart.
“Trust in Me” is a cover of Mildred Bailey’s 1937 hit. It was released as a single and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard R&B chart.
“I Just Want to Make Love to You” is a cover of Muddy Waters’ 1954 blues song (written by Willie Dixon).
“A Sunday Kind of Love” is a cover of a 1946 popular song composed by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes, and Louis Prima.
“Stormy Weather” is a cover of a 1933 torch song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler.
In 1999, MCA Records released the digitally remastered CD of the album with four additional bonus tracks (duets with Harvey Fuqua recorded in 1959–1960).
In 2023, “Rolling Stone” ranked the album at No. 191 on their “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Track Listing
Side One
- “Anything to Say You’re Mine” – 2:37
- “My Dearest Darling” – 3:05
- “Trust in Me” – 3:01
- “A Sunday Kind of Love” – 3:18
- “Tough Mary” – 2:27
Side Two
- “I Just Want to Make Love to You” – 3:08
- “At Last” – 3:02
- “All I Could Do Was Cry” – 2:58
- “Stormy Weather” – 3:10
- “Girl of My Dreams” – 2:25
Bonus tracks on 1999 CD reissue
- “My Heart Cries” – 2:36
- “Spoonful” – 2:50
- “It’s a Crying Shame” – 2:54
- “If I Can’t Have You” – 2:50