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.
The Essential Etta James comprises 44 tracks summarizing the long and brilliant Chess tenure of "Miss Peaches," Etta James, opening with her 1960 smash "All I Could Do Was Cry," and encompassing her torchy, fully orchestrated ballads "At Last," "My Dearest Darling," and "Trust in Me," and continuing on through her 1962 gospel-rocker "Something's Got a Hold on Me," the Chicago soul standouts "I Prefer You" and "842-3089," and her 1967 Muscle Shoals-cut smash "Tell Mama." A few of the '70s sides that conclude the two-disc set seem like filler when compared to what preceded them, but most of the essentials are aboard.
© Bill Dahl /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 $10.83/month
Berry Gordy Jr., ComposerLyricist - Gwen Gordy Fuqua, ComposerLyricist - Billy Davis, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, MainArtist - Edward Bocage, ComposerLyricist - Paul Gayten, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - HARVEY FUQUA, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton Orchestra, Orchestra - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Barbara Belle, ComposerLyricist - Anita Leonard, ComposerLyricist - Stan Rhodes, ComposerLyricist - Louis Prima, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
SONNY THOMPSON, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 Geffen Records
Harry Warren, ComposerLyricist - Mack Gordon, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., ComposerLyricist - Billy Davis, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Vocal Arranger, Artist, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Sonny Woods, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Milton Ager, Composer - Jean Schwartz, Composer - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ned Wever, Author - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Saul Bernie, ComposerLyricist - Stella Unger, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - James P. Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Floyd Hunt, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Johnny Mercer, ComposerLyricist - Harold Arlen, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Burt Bacharach, ComposerLyricist - Bob Hilliard, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leroy Kirkland, ComposerLyricist - Pearl Woods, ComposerLyricist - Al Duncan, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Young, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Reggie Boyd, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Mcauley Murphy, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leroy Kirkland, ComposerLyricist - Pearl Woods, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1962 Geffen Records
Jack Strachey, ComposerLyricist - Harry Link, ComposerLyricist - Holt Marvell, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, MainArtist - RALPH BASS, Producer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leroy Kirkland, ComposerLyricist - Pearl Woods, ComposerLyricist - Fred Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - RALPH BASS, Producer - Freddy Johnson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Russ Columbo, ComposerLyricist - Leo Robin, ComposerLyricist - Clarence Gaskill, ComposerLyricist - Riley Hampton, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, MainArtist - RALPH BASS, Producer
℗ 1962 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bert Keyes, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Davis, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Clarke, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Cliff Parman, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Bob Forshee, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Davis, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Davis, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - Tony Clarke, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmy Reed, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - RALPH BASS, Producer - The Kinfolks, Ensemble - Dana King, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Billy Davis, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Raynard Miner, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carl William Smith, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Sugar Pie DeSanto, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
James Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Davis, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist - Sugar Pie DeSanto, MainArtist - Peylia Parham, ComposerLyricist - Shena Dermell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - RALPH BASS, Producer - Monk Higgins, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice Dollison, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 Geffen Records
Billy Foster, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - RALPH BASS, Producer - Monk Higgins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice Dollison, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Benard, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Bernard, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Foster, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - RALPH BASS, Producer - Monk Higgins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Maurice Dollison, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Foster, ComposerLyricist - Ellington Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Rick Hall, Producer, Engineer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gene "Bowlegs" Miller, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Chalmers, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - FLOYD NEWMAN, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - David Hood, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Varnell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dewey Oldham, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Ray Johnson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carl Banks, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Lowe, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Dawkins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Wilbur Terrell, ComposerLyricist - Marcus Lewis Daniel, ComposerLyricist - Rick Hall, Producer, Engineer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gene "Bowlegs" Miller, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Clarence Carter, ComposerLyricist - Charles Chalmers, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - FLOYD NEWMAN, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - David Hood, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Aaron Varnell, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dewey Oldham, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Ray Johnson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carl Banks, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Albert Lowe, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Dawkins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick Hall, Producer - Chips Moman, ComposerLyricist - Dan Penn, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1993 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick Hall, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Otis Redding, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Margaret Wesson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Glenn Sutton, ComposerLyricist - Rick Hall, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - BILLY SHERRILL, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy N. Sherrill, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick Hall, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Don Covay, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Otis Redding, ComposerLyricist - Steve Cropper, ComposerLyricist - Etta James, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gene Barge, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - RALPH BASS, Producer - Leon David Bonds, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Etta James, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Dorothy Hawkins, ComposerLyricist - Jean Mitchell, ComposerLyricist - Abbye Mallory, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bobby Martin, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist - Esmond Edwards, Producer - Terry McFaddin, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Carson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1993 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Randy Newman, ComposerLyricist - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1974 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmie Haskell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - William D. Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - 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.
Jimmie Haskell, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - William D. Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Trevor Lawrence, Producer, Assistant Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Arrias, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Etta James, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Catherine C. Williamson, ComposerLyricist - King Errisson, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Rice, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Waldman, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Marco, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tom Jans, ComposerLyricist - Jerry Wexler, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1975 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lowell George, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chuck Rainey, Electric Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Coleman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Kortchmar, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Madaio, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Lew McCreary, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Venetta Fields, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Horn, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Nash, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Trevor Lawrence, Horn, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gene Cipriano, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Keys, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Etta James, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carlena Williams, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Allan Duke, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Dinwiddie, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Gwen Edwards, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Laurence Mizell, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Marco, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1974 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Randy Newman, ComposerLyricist - GABRIEL MEKLER, Producer - Etta James, MainArtist
℗ 1974 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The Essential Etta James comprises 44 tracks summarizing the long and brilliant Chess tenure of "Miss Peaches," Etta James, opening with her 1960 smash "All I Could Do Was Cry," and encompassing her torchy, fully orchestrated ballads "At Last," "My Dearest Darling," and "Trust in Me," and continuing on through her 1962 gospel-rocker "Something's Got a Hold on Me," the Chicago soul standouts "I Prefer You" and "842-3089," and her 1967 Muscle Shoals-cut smash "Tell Mama." A few of the '70s sides that conclude the two-disc set seem like filler when compared to what preceded them, but most of the essentials are aboard.
© Bill Dahl /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 44 track(s)
- Total length: 02:13:41
- Main artists: Etta James
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Blues
© 1993 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1993 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog 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.