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

link

Etta James – Call My Name 1966

 

Etta James – Call My Name LP (Cadet Records): Soul Classic Vinyl Review

Cadet Records 1966 ‎– LP 4055

notes:

Released in 1967, Call My Name captures Etta James at 

a turning point in her career, blending deep soul, gospel 

influences, and emotional storytelling. This album stands 

as a powerful example of late-60s rhythm and blues evolution.

Released January 27, 1967

Recorded December 1966

Studio Ter Mar Studios, Chicago

credits:

Producer Monk Higgins & Ralph Bass

Engineer – Doug Brand

While exact session credits for every track may vary or 

be partially undocumented, recordings from this period 

at Cadet/Chess studios commonly featured:

 Piano and Hammond organ players from Chicago’s soul scene

 Electric guitar session musicians specializing in blues-R&B fusion

 String orchestras arranged for emotional depth

Horn sections (trumpet, saxophone, trombone)

 Professional rhythm section drummers and bassists from studio pools

These musicians were not always credited individually, 

but they were essential to shaping the rich soul sound of the album.

tracklist:

A1 Happiness 2:48

written by Smith, Dollison

A2 That's All I Want From You 2:45

written by Rotha

A3 Have A Little Faith In Me 2:40

written by Higgins, Wrencher

A4 I'm So Glad (I Found Love In You) 3:12

written by Smith, Dollison

A5 You Are My Sunshine 2:37

written by Davis, Mitchell

A6 It Must Be Your Love 2:52

written by Bernard, Higgins, Dollison, Foster

B1 842-3089 (Call My Name) 2:57

written by Higgins, Dollison, Foster

B2 Don't Pick Me For Your Fool 2:31

written by Higgins, Dollison, Foster

B3 I Prefer You 2:50

written by Higgins, Dollison

B4 Nobody Loves Me 2:45

written by Higgins, Wrencher

B5 It's All Right 2:37

written by C. Mayfield

B6 Nobody Likes You 2:53

written by Higgins, Dollison

link

Etta James – At Last! 1960

 

Etta James – At Last! Album Review, Songs, Meaning & Legacy

Argo Records ‎1961 – LPS 4003

notes:

At Last! is the debut studio album by American blues 

and soul artist Etta James. Released on Argo Records

 in November 1960, the album was

 produced by Phil and Leonard Chess

Released in 1960, At Last! is one of the most 

influential soul and blues albums ever recorded. Performed 

by legendary artist Etta James, the album blends R&B, jazz, 

blues, and soul into a timeless masterpiece.

The album is best known for its iconic title track “At Last”, 

which has become a cultural symbol of romance and emotional depth.

credits:

    Etta James – vocals

    Harvey Fuqua – vocals

    Riley Hampton – arranger, conductor

    Arranged By, Conductor – Riley Hampton

    Orchestra – Riley Hampton Orchestra

    Producer – Leonard Chess, Phil Chess

All tracks recorded in Chicago. Recording dates:

1960 - January, Chicago: A5. B3, B5.

May, Chicago: A2, B1.

September, Chicago: A1.

October, Chicago: A3, A4, B2, B4.

 Probable Chicago Session Musicians

Research by Chess historians indicates that Hampton's orchestra 
was assembled from Chicago's leading studio musicians. Although 
not documented track-by-track, the orchestra likely
 included members of the regular Chess session pool, such as:

Lefty Bates – guitar
Matt Murphy – guitar
Louis Satterfield – bass
Al Duncan – drums
Lafayette Leake – piano
Sonny Thompson – piano (some sessions)
Gene Barge – tenor saxophone
Phil Upchurch – guitar (possible later 1960 sessions)

tracklist:

A1 Anything To Say You're Mine

Written-By – S. Thompson*

A2 My Dearest Darling

Written-By – E. Bocage*, P. Gayten*

A3 Trust In Me

Written-By – Schwartz*, Ager*, Wever*

A4 Sunday Kind Of Love

Written-By – Leonard*, Belle*, Prima*, Rhodes*

A5 Tough Mary

Written-By – C. Uto

B1 I Just Want To Make Love To You

Written-By – W. Dixon*

B2 At Last

Written-By – Warren*, Gordon*

B3 All I Could Do Was Cry

Written-By – B. Davis*

B4 Stormy Weather

Written-By – Arlen*, Koehler*

B5 Girl Of My Dreams (Rendered As Boy Of My Dreams)

Written-By – Charles Clapp

link

Etta & Harvey – Spoonful / It’s a Crying Shame 1960

 

Etta & Harvey – Spoonful / It’s a Crying Shame 1960s Soul Classic Review & History

Chess ‎Records 1960 – single 1771

notes:

“Spoonful” by Etta James and Harvey Fuqua stands as a 

powerful fusion of blues and soul, showcasing the raw 

vocal chemistry between two legendary performers. 

Originally rooted in blues traditions popularized by 

Willie Dixon, this version transforms the track into a 

deeply emotional duet. On the flip side, “It’s a Crying Shame” 

delivers a heartfelt performance that highlights 

the expressive depth of classic 1960s R&B.

credits:

Etta James, duet with Harvey Fuqua.

Arranged By, Conductor – Riley Hampton

Session Musicians (Probable Lineup)

Phil Upchurch – guitar

Louis Satterfield – bass

Morris Jennings – drums

Isaac 'Redd' Holt – drums (alternate sessions)

Sonny Thompson – piano / musical direction

Recorded in Chicago around September 1960, “Spoonful” 

and its B-side “It’s a Crying Shame” were issued on 

Chess Records (catalog number 1771).

Chess Studios, Chicago

tracklist:

A Spoonful

Written-By – W. Dixon*

B It's A Crying Shame

Written-By – James*, Fuqua*

link

Etta James , Songs & Legacy

Etta James Biography, Songs & Legacy (At Last Singer Guide)

Argo Records ‎1960/62 – LPS-4013

notes:

Etta James is the self-titled third studio album by American blues artist, 

Etta James. The album was released on Argo Records in 1962

 and was produced by Ralph Bass. 

The legendary Etta James remains one of the most powerful voices 

in blues, soul, and R&B history. Among her early releases, 

Argo Records ‎– LPS-4013 stands out as a highly collectible vinyl 

that captures her raw, emotional depth.

Released under Argo Records, this album showcases the signature 

blend of gospel, blues, and jazz that defined her early career.

This pressing reflects the golden era of analog recording, 

where Etta’s vocals were front and center—unfiltered and deeply 

expressive. Collectors and audiophiles value this record for both 

its sound quality and historical significance.

credits:

    Etta James - lead vocals

    The Riley Hampton Orchestra

    Riley Hampton - arranger, conductor

    Harvey Fuqua - duet vocals on "If I Can't Have You" and "Spoonful"

Phil Upchurch – guitar 

   Louis Satterfield – bass 

   Gene Barge – saxophone and arrangements

Released May 5, 1962

Recorded 1960-62

Studio Chess Studios, Chicago, Illinois

Ron Malo - engineer

Producer

Leonard Chess

Phil Chess

tracklist:

A1 Waiting For Charlie To Come Home

Written-By – Hilliard*, Bacharach*

A2 Guess Again

Written-By – Schroeder*, Glazer*, Gold*

A3 A Lover's Mourn

Written By – Reese

A4 You Can Count On Me

Written By – Singleton

A5 If I Can't Have You

Written-By – James*, Fuqua*

B1 Something's Got A Hold On Me

Written-By – James*, Kirkland*, Woods*

B2 My Dear

Written By – Reese

B3 Nobody But You

Written-By – W. Dixon*

B4 Let Me Know

Written-By – Gordy*, Davis*

B5 Spoonful

Written-By – W. Dixon*

link