Reviews (5)

This is some Blues
Koko Really puts all effort into this album.Good Foot Stompin Blues Music to enjoy in the car or at home or anywhere.This album is a keepers so I reccomend to buy this album for keepers.For a (63 year old Mama) She can tell someone they are a (houndog).

koko taylor force of nature
great music great blues great version w/buddy guy of born under a bad sign the main reason i brought the cd

Time will Tell
Born a sharecroppers daughter in the deep south, Cora Mae Walton used to play the blues with a piece of barbed wire and washing board . Thus was the beginning of a blues icon. Miss KOKO TAYLOR ,the premiere down home blues diva is a national , living ,treasure ! A life lived on the road in tour buses ,she can teach a few lessons to any younger artist. Koko sings like there is no tomorrow and drags you through the blues as low as it gets. Her recordings do not give her justice, nothing against her in any means , her live performances are simply monumental, almost a religous experience!Time will tell what great masterpiece Koko will do next.

vintage koko
If you are a blues fan you already know about Koko Taylor. She is on top of her game here. If you aren't a blues fan, I pity you.

I did want to mention "Nothing Takes the Place of You," a soul ballad given a powerful, moving performance here. And I wanted to mention the good guitar support of Cris Johnson throughout the CD.

This woman and her band can really put on a outstanding show
This CD is my personal favorite. Every song is powerful and moving, and It will have you feet pounding on the floor and have you ready to get up and ( from one of her song)... shake your rump! If you go see her in concert be prepared to stand up and want to dance. Both times I've seen her perform, groups of people are dancing. In one song she mentions her age, and this Cd shows that age has not slowed her, and for a woman of her age, (Sorry KoKo) she can easily perform as well or better than women half her age. I recommend this Cd with 5 stars because if you like the blues you will love this CD! ... Read more

Album Description

Japanese limited edition Verve label jazz reissue featuring 24 bit remastering & the original artwork reproduced as a miniature LP sleeve. 2000 release. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Decent testament, solid 1950's Billie
Recorded a couple of months before Billie's passing and more than a year after the elegaic if not depressing "Lady in Satin," "Last Recordings" is not the death rattle that the jazz press has portrayed it to be. Granted, the voice lacks corporeal substance proportionate to Billie's dimininished body weight, but she's fully on top of phrasing and lyrics--moreso than on "Lady in Satin." Although "There'll Be Some Changes Made" seems less than an inspired song choice, all the tunes find Lady Day in good form, first with a small group featuring Al Cohn and Harry Edison, and second with the lush orchestral textures provided by Ray Ellis. The latter selections have a notably different audio quality from the small group, primarily due to exaggerated stereo separation and excessive reverb. Whether the idea was to enhance Lady Day's voice or cover up weaknesses, it no doubt had the opposite effect.

Leonard Feather's notes about the session--including Billie's physical appearance ("She walked into the studio statuesque and sharp as ever")--are, as usual, both edifying and engaging. One wishes more listeners would take the time to read them, as they provide a compelling "portrait of the artist as an older woman."

Mirror to the soul
This is a poignant and at times terrifying album.Billie,reunited with Ray Ellis of "Lady in Satin" lays down her soul and offers a multi-dimentional glimpse into the private anguish of a transcendental artist. At the time of these recordings(March,1959), Billie had less than 5 months to live and her voice reflects years of physical and emotional abuse(some self-inficted). It doesn't matter. Her ability to transcend lyrics and infuse songs with feeling are never more apparent. At times her voice wavers and she struggles for breath, but her soul shines through. These are some extremely moving tracks.Ray Ellis' orchestration is less cloying than in "Lady In Satin" and have more of a jazz feeling. Particularly moving are "Don't Worry About Me","I'll Never Smile Again" and "All The Way". This is not the Billie of Columbia or Decca days. The voice has deteriorated to an ember of what it was. But Billie was always known as an artist with an uncanny ability of wearing her soul on her sleeve and the deterioration of her voice only crystalizes how effective she was in conveying feeling. This is one of the most indispensable albums in my collection. A moving and at times heartbreaking glimpse into the soul of one of the 20th Century's greatest interpreters of song. Don't miss it!

A poignant ending
This is Billie Holiday's last recording, made in March 1959, a little over a year after "Lady in Satin" was completed. This final studio date with Ray Ellis, who had earlier written the charts for "Lady in Satin," seems to rise out of the doldrums conveyed previously in "...Satin." Indeed, the first six tracks are sung and played in an optimistic, bright tempo. Even the bittersweet sentiment of "You Took Advantage of Me" and "Sometimes I'm Happy" is masked by a swinging horn section. The solos by Gene Quill (alto sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), and Jimmy Cleveland (trombone) complement Holiday's impeccable timing and phrasing. The string arrangements are less lush than in "Lady in Satin" and thus, do not pull you into an emotional spin. Billie's bright rendition of "'Deed I Do" seems to wash out the gloom in the previous album. That's where the optimism ends.

"Don't Worry 'Bout Me" brings back the Billie Holiday that fans know very well: a great singer with a sad story to tell. Listen to her sing; you could peek into her soul and see the anguish there. Only Frank Sinatra and The Four Freshmen can do an equally great job on this song. As if that wasn't enough, she goes on with "All The Way" [one of Sinatra's signature songs], "Just One More Chance" and "I'll Never Smile Again."

The album ends with a jaunty arrangement of "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home" as if to lift you out of your own doldrums. You will find yourself snapping your fingers and then before you know it, the song ends. So does the album. Then you realize this is Billie Holiday's last recording: a beautiful, poignant ending to her great but tragic career.

A Great final album by the Forever Great Billie Holiday!
This album IS Fantastic!! It's a fitting tribute to MY Queen of Jazz~! I Love Billie Holiday!

The last hurrah of a great artist.
This vastly underrated album brings us Lady Day in her sad final years. The voice may be ragged but all of her power and passion are still there. No one before or since could express the deep emotions of a song like "All the Way" and make us feel them. She has lived these lyrics and we know it. For anyone who is interested in real expression of emotions, I recommend this album. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nostalgia! Great songs with great singers.
A great colelction of songs. Irving Berlin wrote some of the millenium's greatest love songs. And, some of our greatest crooners have recorded his music. They are all here. Some even collaborate with each other for beautiful duets. Highly recommended for any audiophiles.

The Best of Sounds on one title...
When I sat down to this, I was expecting good. I wasn't expecting this to blow me away! One great Berlin song following another -- It was almost more than I hoped for, but knowing the performers and the writer of these songs, you get what you pay for. This is the best musical experience of Berlin's on cd I have ever heard. I recommend this to the most discriminating buyer who has maybe heard only a song or two. I promise, you wont be disappointed. You'll be thrilled... Always... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the Greats
I have thousands of CDs and the one artist who receives more request to be played and who I find myself going back to time and time again is Laura Smith. Her clarity, her intonation and her phrasing means the sometimes stunning Lyrics are delivered as though she beklievs every word.
The deep, sometimes husky voice never loses its melody or its surety.
I have so far only found two CDs and it would seem the "Complete works" are of course anything but complete, but I would certainly like to find other recordings.
There are a few singers that have the compelling ability to take you with them on every track the way Laura Smith does. I think she is one of the greats.

If Only There Were 10 Stars......
If you have not yet heard Laura Smith, you are in for a treat. She has the most incredible voice imaginable, and is an equally talented writer.

This CD offers several excellent tracks from her first three albums, plus a new one (Time and Money), so it is a great opportunity to hear some of her very best all in one collection.If I were rich, I would offer a money-back guarantee to anyone buying a Laura Smith album - you can't go wrong with anything from this artist, but "Vanity Pressed" gives an excellent sampling of her work.

Laura Smith is the only artist I have ever discussed with people who can recall "where they were" when they first heard her. She is simply amazing, with a voice that captivates and enthralls.

The excellent guitar of George Antoniak (who wrote the music for Armistice Day) contributes nicely to several tracks. There is more where this came from, but Vanity Pressed is a great start.

vanity pressed. a collection
laura Smith nos deleita en éste álbum con su particular y muy dulce voz. Los temas en este disco son especialmente bellos. Para quien no haya descubierto aUn a esta particular cantante, yo recomiendo comenzar a escucharla yá, y éste es un exelente álbum para hacerlo. Yo la descubrí como una perla en un disco de The Chieftains, cantando My Bonnie, tema incluido en este álbum y a partir de entonces comenzoo mi búsqueda de un cd de L. Smith. Este es uno de esos discos que uno nunca quiere sacar de la compactera. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A superbly recorded survey of music from around the world.
The Rough Guide Music Sampler offers the listener an inexpensive, superbly recorded survey of music and musicians from around the world. The selections include Habibi (4:19); Buka Tiende (5:00); Udlame (4:12); Likuta Bibi (3:52); Descarga En Faux (5:37); Mulata Coqueta (5:51); Tchori Tchori (3:29); el Hacha (5:25); Caminito (2:37); Venta Zoraida (3:46); Luck Break (4:40); Colm Cille Na Feile (4:48); Mairead nan Cuiread (4:39); Balfa Waltz (3:46); Fisherman (6:02); Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out (2:58). Total Time 71:38 ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A forgotten Lady, Mildred can swing or lay down the blues..
For starters, I don't get my colleague's comments about the absence of Mildred on 'Junk Man' - my copy of the Cocktail Hour certainly has a vocal on that track that sounds like Bailey (if it isn't her, maybe someone could clarify this for us? (--:).. anyway: this is a double CD of swing standards plus nifty straight-ahead blues: 'Washboard Blues', 'Me and The Blues', 'Downhearted Blues', etc.Her work with Red Norvo, whom she later married, is superb ('Says My Heart', 'The Gypsy in My Soul').'My Reverie' with her own Orchestra is a really sweet ballad.Mildred swings, but also she has a certain edgy sassiness that was missing with the popular 'sweet' female vocalists of the BigBand era. As always, Cocktail Hour delivers quality and great value.

if you like jazz vocalists............
I don't know toomuch about Mildred Bailey, although apparently she was very popular back in the 30's but is largely forgotten now.I have two of her CD's, some of her stuff is okay, but some of the other songs she songs are great.On this CD, the song "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is worth the price of the CD by itself.Mildred Bailey may not have had the greatest range of any singer, but she knew how to swing, and how to carry a song.I read somewhere that she was an influence on Billie Holiday, and on some of the songs you could imagine Lady Day singing these songs herself.

amatuerish amazon
the musical sample for junk man,a benny goodman recording in 1933, does not include mildred baileys vocal.Presumably shes the reason for the sample. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Funny, but her great work comes much later
As 82-years old blues survivor Alberta Hunter was artist with a heart big as the world (check her "Amtrak blues" CD) - howewer,as a young woman she was closer to Vaudeville/Cabaret music that made rich customers of the night clubs giggle,than to real passionate blues that Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith recorded at the same time.Closer in spirit to "whitened" and forgotten Ethel Waters than to famous black blues mama's Hunter used heavy vibratto and her half-spoken ditties made her sound like old woman when she just started her career!This compilation is showcase of her early successes but although she wrotte "Downhearted Blues" and sang "Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning",Bessie Smith and later Dinah Washington mopped the floor with her.If you like irresistible work of older Alberta Hunter,this CD is just curiosity that showes how much she progressed in the meantime.Of all the blues diva's from 20-es I still havent found anybody who can match Ma Rainey and great Bessie Smith,all others were just imitation.

A good disc!
A good sample of Alberta Hunter's jazz recordings(although some are blues). Highlights include YOU CANT TELL THE DIFFERENCE AFTER DARK and DOWNHEARTED BLUES which she wrote(which became Bessie Smith's big hit). Highly recommeded to all jazz vocal collectors & historians. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Great Collection
The songs on this CD are the ones you really want to hear. So often compilations fall short of depicting a great artist because they leave out so much. They usually only have the #1 hits and most requested songs that are already so easy to find. Not this time.

Here, the songs are all examples of why Lady Day's name is so closely associated with singing the blues. And in typical Verve fashion, the quality of the recordings is OUTSTANDING.

Billie Holiday's voice isn't the most powerful, the most refined, or the most acclaimed, but is it ever inspiring. Her ability to convey sorrow in a ballad is unparalleled. But one of the best things about this CD are the medium tempo'd, swinging songs like "Cheek to Cheek", "All Or Nothing At All", "Just One Of Those Things" and several others. You don't simply get lulled into sadness (for too long).

Highly recommended for the Billie enthusiast or casual Jazz fan. This compilation trumps others around it.

THIS IS THE ONE..........
OK, let me start by saying Billie Holiday was never a favorite of mine. If I had to pick a favorite 'blues singer' it would have been Dinah Washington....the "Queen" of the Blues! So how did I fall in love with Billie's "All or Nothing At All' album? Maybe it was that portrait on the cover...an artist's interpretation of 'pain' or 'soul' or 'suffering.' And then I heard the songs.....those particular songs, delivered by Billie's rough, jagged, tortured voice. Let's see, I graduated from high school in 1961 (yeah, I'm old) and I know I had the album before then. Just a kid, but felt something very ADULT in 'Ill Wind,' ''We'll Be Together Again,' 'Sophisticated Lady,' and 'Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me.' Maybe those lyrics, her voice, were something I shouldn't even have been experiencing, and certainly not understanding, at that young age. But I did. They've combined this classic album with another that included 'Body and Soul, 'One For My Baby and One More For the Road,' and 'Embraceable You.' For me, this is the perfect Holiday CD. If you want her actual 'classics' such as 'God Bless The Child,' try (seriously) Liza Minnelli's version, because it was a far more fitting, appropriate song for Liza to sing. THIS is the classic Billie Holiday CD for me......BUY IT! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excelente compilación!
Este disco es una excelente compilación de grabaciones hechas por Etta en fines de los años '50, para los sello Modern y Kent. Lo que hace interesante ésta colección en particular, es el hecho de que se incluyen temas inéditos en compilaciones anteriores como "R&B Dynamite" o "Hickory Dickory Dock", ambas contienen idéntica selección de temas. Los temas nuevos son: "The Wallflower" (en toda su extensión), "Hold me, Squeeze me" (lado B del tema anterior), "Do you remember", "Come what may" y "Dance with me Henry" (versión similar a la que copiara Georgia Gibbs de Etta, sin la participación de The Peaches ni de Richard Berry). Todos los tracks han sido remasterizados y cuentan con un muy buen sonido. Sólo por los cuatro tracks destacados, vale la pena comprar este disco. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's no way you can squeeze four decades' worth of music onto two CDs and make it exhaustive; nonetheless, Men Are Like Streetcars provides an overview of an important and vibrant subgenre within the blues: female blues singers. This CD is an excellent sample of some of the blues' greatest divas, from pioneer belters like Billie Holiday and Victoria Spivey; to guitarist Memphis Minnie, who was more than capable of keeping up with the boys; to reigning queens like Koko Taylor and Etta James, who have continued recording and performing well into the '90s. Other highlights include Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," Margie Day's "Take Out Your False Teeth Daddy," and Irma Thomas's "Good to Me." --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must-have item for any blues lover
While this is certainly not an exhaustive collection of women blues singers, I was impressed by the selection. Given that the time period covers more than forty years (on only 2 discs!), this compilation is much better than expected. The liner notes are fantastic and the art work is great. An essential item to add to your collection. Also, a great gift ... I have bought several copies for friends. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Lady Could Move
This, for me, is the best of the nine-volume Columbia "Essential" set of Billie Holiday albums, because she has so much enrgy and exuberence. On later sets the effects of her, shall we say 'exhausting', lifestyle seem to take some of the wind out of her sails.

Holiday can sound dirty without being dirty, if you get my drift. "I Wished On The Moon" gets across a pretty clear message, a very precise feel, without actually stating the message. Listen to the tune, you'll know exactly what I mean.

I love Billie Holiday, all of her stuff, but this record is a different Billie. She's younger and more vibrant, more romantic, more hopeful. She's always brilliant, but here she's in a kissing mood, rather than a crying mood.

Historic!
I was so excited on my way home, knowing that this CD have very first songs Billie Holiday ever recorded! It was such a archeological experience - listening this (then) young girl full of life and optimism, singing her heart out to a silly songs of the day.Being young colored singer, she couldnt started with some best songs from the era and had to work on some third-rate material, but it was her enthusiasm (and her musicians, of course) that turned this silly songs into gold.This is not very best of Billie Holiday, but it is neccesary to understand her artistic growth and also a beautiful reminder that she was once happy and glowing human being, not always that sad,destroyed lady with sado-masochistic tendencies.The liner nottes are simply stunning, they are written very poeticaly and Im looking forward to collect all 9 volumes of this essential "Columbia" treasure! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I'd give it ten stars if they'd let me!
Get yourself a nice glass of scotch and ice. Turn off all the lights. Prop yourself up at the head of your bed, with the pillows stacked on your lap. Then put this disc in your machine, and gently rock in the darkness. This collection is magic. These two discs capture the Lady's voice at it's peak of charming humanity. Billie's voice is a bittersweet puzzle. It sometimes stretches so brittle and thin that you feel you could almost poke holes in the sound of it. But so strong and powerful that it laid my blue collar beast to rest at the end of a hard day. Oh yes, she knows the blues. There is nothing more beautiful, more sexy, then a woman who feels your pain. This collection is a testament to a beautiful woman who lived a hard life. Her phrasing is impeccable, and brilliantly set against talented musicians like Charlie Shavers and the lot. Buy this set. It weighs a ton in inspiration. You're gonna fall in love with Billie Holiday, just like I did.

The Magnificent Billie!!!
As perfect a collection of music as one can imagine, this double CD showcases perhaps the finest singer we've ever had.Stupendous and not to be missed! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

OVERLOOKED ESTHER PHILLIPS MASTERPIECE!!!
Fresh from the commercial and artistic triumph of HER own major hit "Release Me" which is the definitive version of this classic, Esther Phillips was signed to her first major recording contract as an adult with Atlantic Records and more than rose to the occasion with this classic recording of Lennon/McCartney's "And I Love Him" which was also a hit for Esther! Esther is in peak form throughout this set of standards which are given fresh and original interpretations that rival the originals in greatness and the longing soulfully conveyed in "'Tis Autumn" is a winning example of this. Dreamy and romantic is the beautifully sung "Shangri-La" and hauntingly gorgeous is Esther's vocal on "Moonglow" which is the stunning theme song from the motion picture "Picnic" staring the incredibly beautiful Kim Novak. Too bad this vocal wasn't recorded in time to be in the Original Score as it truly becomes an unforgettable classic all over again by Esther. "Out Of The Blue" is another example of excellence in both phrasing and dramatic content at its peak in a song and "People" takes on a new life all of its own while "Makin' Whoopee" sounds superb here! Old chestnuts such as "The Girl From Ipanema" and "I Wish You Love" are given fresh and haunting interpretations which hold up to the original versions beautifully and Edith Piaf's "If You Love Me, Really Love Me" is dramatic, full of pathos and quite a stunner!!!! Esther turns "Too Soon To Know" inside out and matches Dinah's version in classic fashion in "Make Believe Dreams" and one can understand why veteran arranger-composer Ray Ellis kept calling for coffee-breaks just so he could play back the finished tracks for KICKS!!! This incredible singer really had it all and we are the lucky ones as this is just the finale of the 1st great LP on this incredible two-fer!!!! Next is the 1966 classic "Esther" which kicks off in high style with the Cole Porter classic "It's All Right With Me" that has never sounded quite as cooking as it does here!!! Oliver Nelson does the arrangement on this classic version and shares arranging honors with Ray Ellis on this overlooked masterpiece! "The Shadow Of Your Smile" has never sounded quite as haunting as it does here and "Crazy He Calls Me" is definitely the definitive version of this Carl Sigman classic who also composed "What Now My Love". Soulful is Esther on "He Touched Me" and classic and stirring in the standard "A Taste Of Honey". Jazzy and funky with "Let There Be Love" and haunting in the gorgeous "You Can't Go Home Again" which is definitely classic Esther at her finest!!! "Just Say Goodbye" is another example of what a great jazz singer Esther was and how sad it is that she was so overlooked and "I Could Have Told You So" shows Esther again matching the great Dinah and doing it in her own brilliant way. Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is given a real workout here that is stunning and a definitive reading of Mick Jagger's "As Tears Go By" show how versatile this great DIVA was and what a crime it was that she was so underappreciated!!! Hot and jazzy is the finale and "The Party's Over" is a real cooker!!! Thanks to Collectables that this masterpiece is available for all who care about great singing to enjoy for all time!! This is really an example of what Great Singing is all about-and it is All About Esther who is truly a once in a lifetime brilliant talent! BRAVO ESTHER AND THANK YOU... ... Read more

Album Description

2003 remastered reissue of 1962 album featuring 14 tracksincluding four bonus tracks not on original LP 'MakeBelieve Dreams', 'Something's Gotta Give', 'I'll Never Stop Loving You' & 'Me & My Gin'. Includes liner notes. EMI. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A PureGEM !
A most excellent CD!"Drinking Again" is lushly & plushly recorded by Dinah here,...a pure Gem!
"Destination Moon", "Red Sails","Me & My Gin" all 14 of Dinah's tracks here are PURE GOLD!

Too soon she left this world..,but she left us with some GREAT music!

Fantastic
I grew up with this album and loved every mintue of it.Her phrasing is unbeatable.Drinking Again... For All We Know.... If I had to choose one Dinah Washington album to listen to -- this would be it.

Dinah's fantastic style
Here you have the chance to have a long-time-out-of-print CD that reissues the first of Dinah's Roulette's album. Her style was changing a little, and she made use of pauses and whispers much more than in the past.

A must have to experience something really wonderful from the swinging Miss D.

You'll also have some rare track from unissued LPs.

Miky ... Read more

Album Description

40 CD box set. Artists include John Lee, 'Sonny Boy' Williamson, Leadbilly, Big Bill Broonzy, Bessie Smith, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, Memphis Minnie, John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams and many more. 725 tracks all digitally remastered to enhance the original recordings without manipulating the character of the music. Recorded between 1923 & 1948. 20 double slimline jewel cases housed together in a cardboard box. Measures 8 x 6 x 5 inches approx. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Best Boxed Set of its kind?
10 STARS!!! It's like having a huge collection of vintage LPs from the early- to mid-20th century. 10 CDs with an average 17-18 songs per, with superb remastering. There are so many artists -- some big names and some not, but all choices on this set are notable. Lyrics go from the sublime to the hilarious: "I sent my woman a $20 bill ... If that don' bring her back, my shotgun prob'ly will" ... the masterful guitar, piano and voices are as remarkable today as they were then.

Awesome collection!!
Simply one of the best collections of early blues. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Etta James, Ruth Brown, and Little Esther Phillips helped revolutionize American music with early-'50s rock & roll hits, but they grew up thinking of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington as the ultimate in singing. As they got older, James, Brown, and Phillips all recorded pop standards in the style of their original heroes, but James made the most convincing transition from sock-hop shouter to cabaret crooner, recording standards while still with Chess in the early '60s, and ultimately garnering a mid-'90s Grammy for her album of Holiday songs, Mystery Lady.James's early attempts at standards for Chess have now been gathered into an impressive CD anthology called These Foolish Things--The Classic Balladry of Etta James. The collection includes seven selections from the '62 album, Etta James Sings for Lovers, one number from the '71 album, Losers Weepers, plus six songs which have never appeared on an album before. James was only 24 when she cut the earliest tracks with producer Ralph Bass, and she plows through these romantic ballads with the same gospel-soul power which would soon turn songs such as "Tell Mama" and "I'd Rather Go Blind" into R&B classics. Highlights include the Lonnie Johnson hit "Tomorrow Night" and the Aaron Neville hit "Tell It Like It Is," which are transformed by the bluesy desperation of James's pleading. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Etta--An Overlooked Diva
This gritty soul-filled woman can move me like no other R&B singer. Her version of the classic These Foolish Things scales the octaves like 'a fairground's painted swings/these foolish things/remind me of you'. A mix of Holiday and Fitzgerald, Etta takes us with her as she loses herself in the music. When she wails I just want to do the same. And that's her magic, she knows, God how she knows, how a woman feels. A great cd a great singer.

The cd you take with you to a desert island...
If you can have but one blues cd...make it this one. Etta is at her very best in these recordings and brings a sweaty, kettle-about-to-boil-over passion reminiscent of Big Maybelle's Okey Sessions to these blues standards.
The greats of the past must be smiling down from blues heaven on this disc...it is perfection!

This is one of the best cd of Miss Etta James
The Classic Balladry Of Etta James.She sings with grace and class.She brings new meaning to the classic.The songs on this cd are a true testament of her singing ability.When Etta sings (You Cant Talk To A Fool) you can fell the pain in her voice with the hurt.Miss Etta James is one of the best singer of our times.And the last song on this cd (Hold Back the Tears) will move you .This is a hallmark of a great singer.This is a must have cd for all of Etta James fans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great effort by an incredible singer ...
Have purchased the first 3 releases ... the first 2 at live shows ... make that incredible live shows! ... A must hear, a must see! (especially w/the Swingin Armadillo's) ... Read more