エタ・ジェイムズ　Etta James

1938年1月25日にロサンジェルスで生まれました。本名はジェイメセッタ・ホーキンズ( Jamesetta Hawkins )で、イタリア系の父と黒人の母の間に生まれました。1955年にジョニー・オーティス( Johnny Otis )に見出され、モダンから「Hey Henry」のヒット作のほか数多くのレコードを出しました。1960年にチェスに移籍すると、1967年「Tem Mama」､その他「At Last」、「I'd Rather Go Blind」など4年間で18曲以上のヒットを放っています。その後、ドラッグ中毒を克服するため社会復帰の訓練を受け、1973年から再びチェスで吹き込み初めました。打撃力があり緩急を制御した陰影に富んだ歌唱は多くの女性歌手達に影響を与えています。2012年1月20日にカルフォルニア州リヴァーサイドで白血病の合併症のため死去しました。
1992年に来日しています。

At Last!

Etta James
[収録曲]

Anything to Say You're Mine
My Dearest Darling
Trust in Me
Sunday Kind of Love
Tough Mary
I Just Want to Make Love to You
At Last
All I Could Do Was Cry
Stormy Weather
Girl of My Dreams
My Heart Cries [Duet with Harvery Fuqua]
Spoonful [Duet with Harvery Fuqua][*]
It's a Crying Shame [Duet with Harvery Fuqua][*]
If I Can't Have You [Duet with Harvery Fuqua][*]

Etta James - At Last

Beyonce singing the Etta James Classic 'At Last'
敬愛するエタ・ジェイムズの前でビヨンセによる追演です。ビヨンセは映画『キャデラック・レコード』の中でエタ・ジェイムズを演じています。

Beyonce' As: Ms. Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind

Blues to the Bone

Etta James
[収録曲]

Got My Mojo Working
Don’t Start Me To Talking
Hush Hush
Lil’ Red Rooster
That’s Alright
Crawlin’ Kingsnake
Dust My Broom
The Sky Is Crying
Smokestack Lightnin’
You Shook Me
Driving Wheel
Honey, Don’t Tear My Clothes

Etta James - The Sky Is Crying

Tell Mama: Comp Muscle Shoals Sessions

Etta James
[収録曲]

Tell Mama
I'd Rather Go Blind
Watch Dog
The Love Of My Man
I'm Gonna Take What He's Got
The Same Rope
Security
Steal Away
My Mother In Law
Don't Lose Your Good Thing
It Hurts Me So Much
Just A Little Bit
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
You Took It
I Worship The Ground You Walk On
I Got You Babe
You Got It
I've Gone Too Far (Previously Unreleased)
Misty (Previously Unreleased)
Almost Persuaded
Fire
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Alternate)

Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind
範たるにふわさしい簡潔で淡々とした中に情感のこもる見事な歌いっぷりです。

Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind [歌詞]

Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talkin'
Something deep down in my soul said, 'Cry, girl'
When I saw you and that girl walkin' around

Whoo, I would rather, I would rather go blind, boy
Than to see you walk away from me, child, no

Whoo, so you see, I love you so much
That I don't wanna watch you leave me, baby
Most of all, I just don't, I just don't wanna be free, no

Whoo, whoo, I was just, I was just, I was just
Sittin here thinkin', of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah

Whoo and baby, baby, I'd rather, I'd rather be blind, boy
Than to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Whoo, baby, baby, baby, I'd rather be blind...