20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Etta James

The reviewers who pointed out that this disc is short on blues (mostly pop-influenced string arrangements)and short on music (less than 32 minutes playing time) wre absolutely right. If you want a single disc , go for "Her Best" (Chess, 1997), containing 20 of her best blues sides. The double disc "The Essential Etta James" (Chess, 1993) expands that to 44 cuts. Other excellent choices are "Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions" (MCA/Chess,2001) and her live masterpiece "Etta James Rocks the House" (MCA/Chess, 1964).

Etta James has gone over a long, long and kaleidoscopic road around the most different rhythms and categories; soul, blues, country and ballads appear beautifully phrased and remarkably sung, thanks to her prestigious and refined voice and enviable charisma.

More than a successful singer, she has become a real icon of the pop throughout these years.

for those who prefer etta's early material, this is essential. though there are better selctions out there, this one will surely satisfy. i wish that they put IN THE BASEMENT on here, but hey, a lot of the etta i dig is included here.

I enjoy listening to Etta James' early recordings a lot more than what she has been doing for the past few years. Her voice was a lot sharper and crisper then, now it is more gravelly. Plus the productions and arrangments of the recordings were a bit better. Having said that, I am giving this CD 4 stars, not five, because there are only 11 songs on it, and I can think of many more songs by Etta James that would have to be included on a "Best Of" release, but for a budget CD, it's a greatlisten.

Etta James was and continues to be one of the greatest female vocalists of her time. Her voice is rich, vibrant and capable of conveying every emotion there is on the planet. This CD is a great choice if you are looking for a budget priced introduction to Etta's work.

Etta could--and can--sing just about any type of song. Whether it's about the joy and fulfillment of a new found true love ("At Last,") the angst of being left behind for a new lover ("Stop The Wedding," "I'd Rather Go Blind,)" or the frustration of getting caught up and used by other people who are just playing games ("Pushover,"), Etta delivers an incendiary and unforgettable performance. Her heart is completely committed to each song on this CD; and my only complaint (which costs it one star) is that it doesn't have as much material as it should have. I agree with other reviewers who write that the CD entitled Her Best : The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection is a better choice if you don't mind spending the three extra bucks.

Right from the start, Etta possessed the capacity to smoothly handle many different types of music and this built for her a sizable repertoire. She could do a passionate, traditional style ballad ("At Last,") a song influenced by gospel ("Something's Got A Hold On Me," "All I Could Do Was Cry,") or really rock when she recorded the song "Tell Mama." Awesome!

The quality of the sound is great; Erick Labson at MCA Music Studios did a superb job of digitally remastering this song set. The liner notes boast a lengthy essay about Etta written by Joseph F. Laredo. You get the song credits and recording dates for each song--a nice plus! There are a few really nice photos of Etta taken in the 1960's as well.

All in all, this is not a bad CD--IF you want just a starter and you prefer to stick within a budget. If you really want a more comprehensive view of Etta's talent then try the CD entitled Her Best : The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection. Either way you go, however, one thing is clear: Etta's talent is abundantly clear on either CD and we are better off because of her fine contributions to the arts!