Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Released in 1976, when Etta James wasn't ruling the charts by any means but wasn't adverse to the idea of climbing back into the Top 40, Etta Is Bettah Than Evvah! bears a boastful title and its ten funky cuts do not lack for bravado. Nevertheless, it's very difficult to agree that Etta is better than ever here. Part of the problem is that the songs are just kind of generic: good-enough uptempo dance cuts and midtempo groovers, songs that give enough space for Etta but never really escape the confines of average '70s disco-oriented R&B. James certainly sings her heart out, or at least throws her all into the pulsating wah-wah and clavinet grooves, and all the participants are immaculate professionals, always avoiding embarrassment (with the notable exception of "Jump into Love"), but the whole thing winds up as nothing more than vaguely pleasing, a '70s funk-soul record fronted by a singer who never quite seems invested in the fashion she's wearing. The ten bonus tracks added to Kent/Ace's 2013 reissue -- cobbled together from Chess LPs from 1973-1975, plus a few cuts that didn't see release until years later -- are enjoyable (including two Randy Newman covers) but don't really change the character of this fun enough but ultimately forgettable period soul.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Dorothy Hawkins, ComposerLyricist - Jean Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - Abbye Mallory, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ann Peebles, ComposerLyricist - BERNARD MILLER, ComposerLyricist - Don Bryant, ComposerLyricist - Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
E. James, ComposerLyricist - G. MEKLER, ComposerLyricist - Jimmie Haskell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - William D. Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Terry, Producer - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer - Trevor Lawrence, Producer, Assistant Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - T. Lawrence, ComposerLyricist - John Arrias, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Etta James, MainArtist - King Errisson, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Rice, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Waldman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Marco, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist - Freddie Beckmeier, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - King Floyd, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dennis Belfield, ComposerLyricist - Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist - Ron Stockert, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmie Haskell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - William D. Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Terry, Producer - Randy Newman, ComposerLyricist - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer - Trevor Lawrence, Producer, Assistant Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - John Arrias, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Etta James, MainArtist - King Errisson, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Rice, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Waldman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Marco, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Terry, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist - Freddie Beckmeier, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Terry, Producer - Allen Toussaint, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Terry, Producer - Phil Medley, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - Buddy Scott, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Released in 1976, when Etta James wasn't ruling the charts by any means but wasn't adverse to the idea of climbing back into the Top 40, Etta Is Bettah Than Evvah! bears a boastful title and its ten funky cuts do not lack for bravado. Nevertheless, it's very difficult to agree that Etta is better than ever here. Part of the problem is that the songs are just kind of generic: good-enough uptempo dance cuts and midtempo groovers, songs that give enough space for Etta but never really escape the confines of average '70s disco-oriented R&B. James certainly sings her heart out, or at least throws her all into the pulsating wah-wah and clavinet grooves, and all the participants are immaculate professionals, always avoiding embarrassment (with the notable exception of "Jump into Love"), but the whole thing winds up as nothing more than vaguely pleasing, a '70s funk-soul record fronted by a singer who never quite seems invested in the fashion she's wearing. The ten bonus tracks added to Kent/Ace's 2013 reissue -- cobbled together from Chess LPs from 1973-1975, plus a few cuts that didn't see release until years later -- are enjoyable (including two Randy Newman covers) but don't really change the character of this fun enough but ultimately forgettable period soul.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:35:18
- Main artists: Etta James
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1976 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.