Etta James – Tell Mama (Cadet LPS 802)

Etta James – Tell Mama (Cadet LPS 802) Review

Cadet Records 1967 – LPS 802

 

notes:

Tell Mama is the seventh studio album by American singer 
Etta James. Her second album release for Cadet Records, 
Released in 1968 on Cadet Records (LPS 802), Tell Mama marked 
one of the greatest comebacks in soul music history. Recorded
 primarily at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, 
Alabama, the album revitalized Etta James' career by 
combining Southern soul, blues, gospel, 
and R&B into one unforgettable recording.
Backed by the celebrated Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, 
Etta delivered some of the most emotionally charged performances 
of her career. Her powerful voice perfectly matched producer
 Rick Hall's raw Southern sound, resulting in timeless classics 
such as Tell Mama, I'd Rather Go Blind, and Security.
Today, Tell Mama remains one of the finest soul albums ever 
recorded and an essential LP for collectors of vintage soul and blues vinyl.


credits:

Etta James – lead vocals
Jimmy Johnson – guitar
Albert Lowe Jr. – guitar
David Hood – bass
Roger Hawkins – drums
Keyboards

The keyboard personnel varied slightly between sessions:

August 1967 sessions

Dewey "Spooner" Oldham – piano, organ
Carl Banks – organ

November–December 1967 sessions

Barry Beckett – organ
George Davis – piano
Marvell Thomas – piano (selected tracks)
Carl Banks – organ (selected tracks)
Horn Section
Charles Chalmers – tenor saxophone
Floyd Newman – baritone saxophone
Aaron Varnell – tenor saxophone
James Mitchell – saxophone (later sessions)
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller – trumpet
Recording Sessions by Date
August 22, 1967

Recorded:

Steal Away
Don't Lose Your Good Thing
Just a Little Bit

Personnel:

Etta James
Jimmy Johnson
Albert Lowe Jr.
David Hood
Roger Hawkins
Dewey Oldham
Carl Banks
Charles Chalmers
Floyd Newman
Aaron Varnell
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller
August 23, 1967

Recorded:

I'd Rather Go Blind
Watch Dog
I'm Gonna Take What He's Got

Same core Muscle Shoals band as above.

August 24, 1967

Recorded:

Tell Mama
The Love of My Man
It Hurts Me So Much

Same personnel as the August sessions.

November 30 – December 6, 1967

Recorded:

The Same Rope
Security
My Mother-in-Law
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Personnel changes:

Barry Beckett replaced Dewey Oldham on many organ parts.
George Davis and Marvell Thomas shared piano duties.
James Mitchell joined the horn section on several tracks.

Recording studio: FAME Studios
Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Recording dates:
August 22–24, 1967
November 30 – December 6, 1967
Producer: Rick Hall
Recording engineer: Rick Hall
Arranger: Rick Hall

trackslist:

A1 Tell Mama
Written-By – Carter*
A2 I'd Rather Go Blind
Written By – Foster
Written-By – Jordan*
A3 Watch DogWritten-By – Rosco Gordon
Written-By – Covay*
A4 The Love Of My Man
Written-By – Townsend*
A5 I'm Gonna Take What He's Got
Written-By – Covay*
A6 The Same Rope
Written-By – Caston*, Webber*
B1 Security
Written-By – Redding*
B2 Steal Away
Written-By – Hughes*
B3 My Mother-In-Law
Written-By – George David*, Lee Diamond
B4 Don't Lose Your Good Thing
Written By – Robert Killen
Written-By – Hall*, Oldham*
B5It Hurts Me So Much
Written-By – Chalmers*
B6 Just A Little Bit
Written-By – Rosco Gordon

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