Etta James discography
Cataloging of records by singer Etta James
Etta James discographyJames in 1990
Studio albums 30 Live albums 3 Compilation albums 6 Tribute albums 1 Singles 58 No. 1 Singles (Overall) 1 Other appearances 28
The discography for the American singer Etta James consists of 29 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 12 compilations. She has also issued 58 singles, one of which, "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry) ," reached number 1 on the Rhythm and Blues Records chart in 1955.
As a teenager in San Francisco, California in the early 1950s, James formed a singing trio, which attracted the attention of Johnny Otis , who helped her sign a recording contract with Modern Records in 1954. She recorded "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)," an answer song to the Midnighters ' "Work with Me, Annie ," with her vocal group, the Peaches, singing background vocals, which topped the R&B charts for four weeks in 1955. The Peaches eventually left the label, and James recorded as a solo act. She had a second Top 10 hit, "Good Rockin' Daddy," in 1955. She recorded for Modern until the end of the decade, without much further success.[ 1]
After beginning to date Harvey Fuqua , a singer for the Moonglows , James signed with Argo Records , a subsidiary of Chess Records . Producer Leonard Chess believed James had crossover potential in the pop market and backed her material with orchestral arrangements. With this new style, many of James's songs became hits on both the R&B and the pop charts, such as "All I Could Do Was Cry , "At Last ," and "Trust in Me ."[ 1] She released her debut album, At Last! , in 1960. It was followed by The Second Time Around in 1961. In 1967, James recorded with a more soul -inflected style and had her first Top 10 hit in three years, "Tell Mama ," which was followed by an album of the same name .[ 1] In the 1970s, her popularity declined on radio, but she remained at Chess records, recording five albums for the label, departing from them with 1975's Etta Is Betta Than Evvah .
After battling drug and alcohol addictions, James returned with her first studio album in nine years in 1989 titled, Seven Year Itch on Island Records . Her two albums in the early 90s for Island and later Elektra, varied in style from contemporary to Soul, but James eventually settled in on the Private Music label.[ 1] Recording a total of ten albums for the label between 1997 and 2002, her albums included variations of contemporary blues to traditional Jazz, such as her 1997 tribute album to Billie Holiday titled, Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday. In 2004, she signed with RCA Victor and released Blues to the Bone that same year, followed by a Pop standards release, All the Way , in 2006.[ 1]
Albums
Studio albums
Year
Album details
Peak chart positions
US [ 2]
US R&B [ 2]
US Blues [ 2]
US Jazz [ 2]
1960
At Last!
Released: November 15, 1960
Label: Argo LP-4003
68
—
—
—
1961
The Second Time Around
Released: 1961
Label: Argo LP-4011
—
—
—
—
1962
Etta James
Released: 1962
Label: Argo LP-4013
—
—
—
—
Etta James Sings for Lovers
Released: 1962
Label: Argo LP-4018
—
—
—
—
1964
Queen of Soul
Released: December 5, 1964
Label: Argo LP-4040
—
—
—
—
1966
Call My Name
Released: 1966
Label: Cadet
—
—
—
—
1968
Tell Mama
Released: February, 1968
Label: Cadet
82
21
—
—
1970
Etta James Sings Funk
Released: 1970
Label: Cadet
—
—
—
—
1971
Losers Weepers
Released: 1971
Label: Cadet
—
—
—
—
1973
Etta James
Released: 1973
Label: Chess
154
41
—
—
1974
Come a Little Closer
Released: 1974
Label: Chess
—
47
—
—
1976
Etta Is Betta Than Evvah!
Released: 1976
Label: Chess
—
—
—
—
1978
Deep in the Night
Released: 1978
Label: Warner
—
—
—
—
1980
Changes
Released: 1980
Label: MCA
—
—
—
—
1989
Seven Year Itch
—
—
—
—
1990
Stickin' to My Guns
Released: 1990
Label: Island
—
—
—
—
1992
The Right Time
—
—
—
—
1994
Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday
—
—
—
2
1995
Time After Time
Released: May 9, 1995
Label: Private Music
—
—
—
5
1997
Love's Been Rough on Me
Released: April 29, 1997
Label: Private Music
—
—
6
—
1998
Life, Love & the Blues
Released: June 30, 1998
Label: Private Music
—
—
3
—
1998
12 Songs of Christmas
Released: October 13, 1998
Label: Private Music
—
—
5
—
1999
Heart of a Woman
Released: June 29, 1999
Label: Private Music
—
—
4
—
2000
Matriarch of the Blues
Released: December 12, 2000
Label: Private Music
—
—
2
—
2001
Blue Gardenia
Released: August 21, 2001
Label: Private Music
—
—
—
1
2003
Let's Roll
Released: May 6, 2003
Label: Private Music
—
—
1
—
2004
Blues to the Bone
—
—
4
—
2006
All the Way
Released: May 14, 2006
Label: RCA Victor
—
—
—
—
2011
The Dreamer
—
41
2
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums
Year
Album details
Chart positions
US[ 2]
US Blues[ 2]
US Jazz[ 2]
1964
Etta James Rocks the House
Released: 1964
Label: Argo LP-4032
96
—
—
1980
Etta, Red-Hot & Live
Released: 1982
Label: Quicksilver/Intermedia
—
—
—
1980
Blues From The Big Apple
Released: 2007
Label: Blues Boulevard 250177
—
—
—
1981
Live from San Francisco
Released: 1994
Label: On The Spot/Private Music
—
—
—
1986
Blues in the Night Volume One: The Early Show
—
—
10
1986
The Late Show: Blues in the Night Volume Two
Released: 1987
Label: Fantasy
—
—
—
1986
Jazzvisions: Jump The Blues Away
Released: 1989
Label: Verve
—
—
—
2001
Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues
Released: May 7, 2002
Label: Private Music
—
1
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Compilation albums
Year
Album details
Chart positions
Certifications (sales threshold )
US [ 2]
US Blues[ 2]
US Jazz[ 2]
UK [ 3]
1963
Etta James Top Ten
Released: 1963
Label: Argo LP-4025
117
—
—
—
1986
R&B Dynamite
Released: 1986
Label: Flair/Virgin
—
—
—
—
1992
My Greatest Songs
Released: 1992
Label: MCA
—
—
—
—
1997
Her Best
Released: 1997
Label: Chess
—
13
—
—
1999
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection
Released: April 6, 1999
Label: MCA
32
3
—
—
2000
The Chess Box
Released: June 27, 2000
Label: Chess
—
—
—
—
The Best of Etta James
Released: September 25, 2000
Label: Spectrum
—
—
—
—
2001
Love Songs
Released: January 23, 2001
Label: MCA
—
2
—
—
2005
Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings
Released: December 6, 2005
Label: Ace
—
—
—
—
2006
The Definitive Collection
Released: January 10, 2006
Label: Geffen
—
1
—
—
2007
Gold
—
—
—
—
2010
At Last: The Best of Etta James
—
—
—
22
2011
Who's Blue?: Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s and 70s
Released: February 28, 2011
Label: Kent
—
—
—
—
Heart & Soul: A Retrospective
Released: October 18, 2011
Label: Hip-O Select
—
—
—
—
2019
Collected
—
—
—
—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles
Year
Song
Chart positions
Certifications
Album
US [ 2]
US R&B [ 2]
CAN[ 7]
UK [ 3]
1955
"The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry) "
—
1
—
—
Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings
"Hey Henry"
—
—
—
—
"Good Rockin' Daddy"
—
6
—
—
"W-O-M-A-N"
—
—
—
—
1956
"My One and Only"
—
—
—
—
"Shortnin' Bread Rock"
—
—
—
—
"Tough Lover"
—
—
—
—
"Good Lookin'"
—
—
—
—
1957
"The Pick-Up"
—
—
—
—
"Come What May"
—
—
—
—
1958
"Sunshine of Love"
—
—
—
—
1959
"I Hope You're Satisfied" (with Harvey Fuqua )
—
—
—
—
1960
"If I Can't Have You" (with Harvey Fuqua)
52
6
—
—
Etta James
"Spoonful " (with Harvey Fuqua)
78
12
—
—
"All I Could Do Was Cry "
33
2
—
—
At Last!
"My Dearest Darling"
34
5
—
—
1961
"At Last "
47
2
—
39
"Trust in Me "
30
4
—
—
"Fool That I Am"
50
14
—
—
The Second Time Around
"Don't Cry Baby"
39
6
—
—
"Seven Day Fool "
95
—
—
—
1962
"Something's Got a Hold on Me "
37
4
—
—
Etta James / Etta James Top Ten
"Stop the Wedding"
34
6
—
—
Etta James Top Ten
"Fools Rush In"
"Next Door to the Blues"
(Non-album B side)
87
—
—
9
—
—
Etta James Sings for Lovers
"Would It Make Any Difference to You"
64
—
—
—
Etta James Top Ten
1963
"Pushover"
25
7
—
—
"Pay Back"
78
—
—
—
Non-album singles
"Two Sides (To Every Story)"[A]
63
—
—
—
1964
"Baby What You Want Me to Do "
82
35
—
—
Queen of Soul
"Loving You More Every Day"
65
7
—
—
"Breaking Point"
—
—
—
—
"Mellow Fellow"
—
34
—
—
1966
"Only Time Will Tell"
—
—
—
—
Non-album single
1967
"I Prefer You"
—
42
—
—
Call My Name
"Don't Pick Me for Your Fool"
—
—
—
—
"Call My Name"
—
—
—
—
"Tell Mama"
23
10
22
—
Tell Mama
1968
"Security"
35
11
46
—
"I Got You Babe "
69
32
46
—
Non-album singles
"You Got It"
113
—
—
—
1969
"Almost Persuaded "
79
32
71
—
"Miss Pitiful"
—
—
—
—
"Tighten Up Your Own Thing"
—
—
—
—
Etta James Sings Funk
1970
"Sound of Love "
—
—
—
—
"Losers, Weepers (Part 1)"
94
26
—
—
Losers, Weepers
"The Love of My Man"
—
—
—
—
1971
"I Think It's You"
—
—
—
—
1972
"I Found a Love"
108
31
—
—
Non-album single
1973
"All the Way Down"
101
29
—
—
Etta James (1973)
1974
"You Can Leave Your Hat On"
—
76
—
—
"Out on the Street, Again"
—
84
—
—
Come a Little Closer
1976
"Jump Into Love"
—
92
—
—
Etta Is Betta Than Evah
1978
"Piece of My Heart "
—
93
—
—
Deep In the Night
"Sugar on the Floor"
—
—
—
—
1980
"Mean Mother"
—
—
—
—
Changes
1961–1996
"I Just Want to Make Love to You "[B]
—
—
—
5
The Genuine Article: The Best of Etta James
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Collaborations with Sugar Pie DeSanto
Year
Song
Chart positions
Album
US[ 2]
US R&B[ 2]
1965
"Do I Make Myself Clear"
96
—
Non-album singles
1966
"In the Basement (Part 1)"
97
37
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
B-sides
Year
Song
Chart positions
Certifications
A-Side Single
US[ 2]
US R&B[ 2]
1961
"Dream "
55
—
"The Second Time Around"
"A Sunday Kind of Love "
—
—
"Don't Cry Baby"
"It's Too Soon to Know "
54
—
"Seven Day Fool"
1962
"Next Door to the Blues"
71
13
"Fools Rush In"
1963
"How Do You Speak to an Angel"
109
—
"Would It Make Any Difference to You"
"I Worry 'Bout You"
118
—
"Two Sides (To Every Story)"
1967
"I'd Rather Go Blind "
—
—
"Tell Mama"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Other appearances
Year
Song
Album
1962
"The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)"
Alan Freed's Top 15 [ 11]
1985
"The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)"
Back to the Future (soundtrack)[ 12]
1989
"At Last"
Rain Man (soundtrack)[ 13]
1992
"The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)"
Sister Act (soundtrack)[ 14]
1993
"There's Something on Your Mind " (with B.B. King )
Blues Summit [ 15]
"Mockingbird" (with Taj Mahal )
Dancing the Blues [ 16]
1995
"At Last"
Father of the Bride Part II (soundtrack)[ 17]
How to Make an American Quilt (soundtrack)[ 18]
"Take Me to the River " (with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love )
The Memphis Horns with Special Guests [ 19]
1996
"It's a Small World"/"When You Wish Upon a Star Medley"
Disney's Music from the Park [ 20]
1997
"At Last"
Mad About You (soundtrack)[ 21]
1998
"At Last"
Kissing a Fool (soundtrack)[ 22]
Living Out Loud (soundtrack)[ 23]
"The Man I Love"
Melrose Place Jazz: Upstairs at MP [ 24]
"At Last"
Pleasantville (soundtrack)[ 25]
"Next Door to the Blues"
Space Bunnies Must Die! (soundtrack)[ 26]
1999
"Etta's Blues" (with Etta Jones )
Ain't She Sweet: Save Your Love for Me + I'll Be Seeing You [ 27]
2000
"In the Basement (Part 1)"
The Hurricane (soundtrack)[ 28]
"The Nearness of You "
Music from the TV Series Frasier [ 29]
2001
"I Just Wanna Make Love to You " (with Jimmy Smith )
Dot Com Blues [ 30]
"Only Time Will Tell"
Angel Eyes (soundtrack)[ 31]
"Gotta Serve Somebody "
The Songs of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2: May Your Song Always Be Sung [ 32]
2002
"Ball 'n' Chain "
Janis Joplin: This Ain't No Tribute Series—All Blues'd Up! [ 33]
"Miss You " (Illicit Remix Edit)
Queer as Folk: The Second Season (soundtrack)[ 34]
2005
"I'd Rather Go Blind" (with Dr. John )
A Night of Blistering Blues [ 35]
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" (with B.B. King)
"In the Midnight Hour " (with Paul Butterfield , B.B. King, Chaka Khan , Gladys Knight , Billy Ocean , and Stevie Ray Vaughan )
"Ain't Nobody's Business " (with Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight)
"Take My Hand, Precious Lord " (with Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight)
2007
"Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me "
We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song
References
^ a b c d e Dahl, Bill. "Etta James – Biography" . AllMusic . Retrieved July 23, 2009 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Billboard Chart Positions" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2009 .
^ a b "ETTA JAMES - full Official Chart History" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum - Etta James albums" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 2, 2008 .
^ "Etta James - The Best Of" . bpi.co.uk . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "Etta James: At Last - The Best" . bpi.co.uk . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "Search results for "Etta James" " . RPM . Retrieved July 23, 2009 .
^ "Etta James - At Last" . bpi.co.uk . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "Etta James - I Just Want to Make Love to You" . bpi.co.uk . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind" . bpi.co.uk . Retrieved July 30, 2022 .
^ "Aln Freed's Top 15 > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Back to the Future > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Rain Man > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Sister Act > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "B.B. King - Blues Summit CD" . cd Universe. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Dancing the Blues > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Father of the Bride, Part II > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "How to Make an American Quilt > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "The Memphis Horns " . Chapters.indigo.ca. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Music from the Park > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Mad About You > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Kissing a Fool > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Living Out Loud > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Melrose Place Jazz: Upstairs at MP > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Pleasantville> Overview " . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Space Bunnies Must Die! > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Ain't She Sweet... > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "The Hurricane > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Music from the TV Series Frasier > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Dot Com Blues" . Allmusic . Retrieved March 23, 2015 .
^ "Angel Eyes > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "The Songs of Bob Dylan > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Janis Joplin: This Ain't No Tribute Series... > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Queer as Folk: The Second Season > Overview" . AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
^ "Night of Blistering Blues : B.B. King & Friends" . amazon.com . Retrieved July 24, 2009 .
External links
Studio albums Live albums Compilation albums Singles