JAMES, ETTA - AT LAST! 

 

Clear vinyl. Numbered. Her first for Chess, 1961's At Last! was a stunning comeback album for Etta James, with hits 'All I Could Do Was Cry,' 'Trust In Me' and the title track bringing her to both the pop and R&B charts in the USA. The varied approach brought out the best in James, tackling Willie Dixon's 'I Just Want To Make Love To You' as competently as her takes of 'Stormy Weather' and 'A Sunday Kind Of Love,' and there are stirring originals co-written by Harvey Fuqua in 'It's A Crying Shame,' 'If I Can't Have You' and 'My Heart Cries.' She's clearly at the top of the peak throughout this beautiful record, which is easily one of her very best.