Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions

by Etta James

Overview

As the title suggests, this is the definitive edition of Etta James' Tell Mama long-player. For this single-disc release the original album is augmented with five previously unissued tracks -- documented during James' four Muscle Shoals sessions circa '67-'68. The question of why a rural Alabama town became a conduit for some of the most memorable and instantly identifiable grooves may still be up for debate. The evidence exists in droves and Tell Mama could certainly be considered exhibit A. These sessions feature the same impact that would redirect several first ladies of soul. Notable among them are Dusty Springfield's Dusty in Memphis, Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) and to somewhat lesser acclaim, Jackie DeShannon's Jackie. Tell Mama showcases some of the unique and admittedly darker qualities of what might best be described as R&B noir. "I'd Rather Go Blind," "Steal Away," "I'm Gonna Take What He's Got" all exemplify the essence of the blues -- making the best of a bad situation. The flipside of the sombre subject matter is the satisfying conviction in the music -- which is where the remastering becomes particularly noticeable. No longer does the brass section sound alternately muffled or harsh as it has on previous releases. Likewise, the churning Hammond B-3 organ swells with rich textures. Perhaps the most sonically evident improvements are the subtle ones, such as the supple fretwork on "Sweet Dreams," "I'd Rather Go Blind," and the jazzy percussive shuffle of "The Same Rope." ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2001
Label:	Chess / Ims / Mca/Chess / Universal
UPC:	0008811251826
Rank:	41548

Tracks

1. Tell Mama
2. I'd Rather Go Blind
3. Watch Dog
4. The Love of My Man
5. I'm Gonna Take What He's Got
6. The Same Rope
7. Security
8. Steal Away
9. My Mother in Law
10. Don't Lose Your Good Thing
11. It Hurts Me So Much
12. Just a Little Bit
13. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
14. You Took It
15. I Worship the Ground You Walk On
16. I Got You Babe
17. You Got It
18. I've Gone Too Far
19. Misty
20. Almost Persuaded
21. Fire
22. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Etta James   Primary Artist,Vocals
Aaron Varnell   Saxophone
Carl Banks   Organ
Roger Dawkins   Drums
Gene Miller   Trumpet
David Hood   Bass,Bass (Electric)
Spooner Oldham   Organ,Piano
Floyd Newman   Saxophone
Barry Beckett   Organ
Charles Chalmers   Saxophone
Marvell Thomas   Piano

Technical Credits

Rick Hall   Engineer,Arranger,Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Johnny Burke   Composer
Fats Washington   Composer
Jerry Griffith   Design
John Thornton   Composer
Sylvester Thompson   Composer
Linden Oldham   Composer
Billy Foster   Composer
George David   Composer
Donto Foster   Composer
Earl E. Washington   Composer
Margaret Wesson   Composer
Don Covay   Composer
Lloyd Cleveland Webber   Composer
Erroll Garner   Composer
Rosco Gordon   Composer
Jimmy Hughes   Composer
Otis Redding   Composer
Margaret Wessen   Composer
Buster Brown   Composer
Glenn Sutton   Composer
Dan Penn   Composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber   Composer
Sonny Bono   Composer
Andy McKaie   Reissue Producer
Bill Foster   Composer
Billy Sherrill   Composer
Clarence Carter   Composer
Spooner Oldham   Composer
Ed Townsend   Composer
Ellington Jordan   Composer
Lee Diamond   Composer
Erick Labson   Digital Remastering
Leonard Caston   Composer
Marcus Daniel   Composer
Chips Moman   Composer
Charles Chalmers   Composer
Ralph Bass   Composer
Wilbur Terrell   Composer