Artist: Etta James Album: From the Heart

Year: 2009
Duration: 0:0-1

Etta James - From the Heart: A Critical Review

Etta James was a remarkable music artist who had a career that spanned over six decades. Her music style ranged from R&B, Jazz to Blues. She was known for her raw, soulful voice that touched the hearts of many listeners. One of her albums that stood out was From the Heart, released in 2006. In this blog post, I will write a critical review of the album, give a brief history of the artist, highlight the music genre of the album, talk about the best songs on the album, the most innovative parts, and finally give a critic of the album.

Etta James started her music career in the 1950s, where she was discovered by Johnny Otis. She released her first hit song, The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry), in 1954, which topped the R&B charts. Since then, she had many other hit songs like At Last, I'd Rather Go Blind, and Tell Mama. Throughout her career, she worked with many legendary artists like Chuck Berry, James Brown and B.B. King.

The album From the Heart was released in 2006, when Etta James was in her late 60s. The album included fourteen songs, most of which were covers of classic R&B, Blues, and Jazz songs. The album was produced by Donto James, Etta's son, and Sametto James, her son-in-law. The album received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Grammy award.

The album started with You Took It, a slow, Bluesy song that showcased Etta's soulful voice. One of the best songs on the album was A Sunday Kind of Love. The song was originally recorded by The Harptones in 1953 and was covered by many other artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Reba McEntire. Etta James's rendition was exceptional, and her voice was well-suited for the song.

Another highlight of the album was the cover of the Beatles' song, In My Life. The song was transformed into a Bluesy ballad, which was different from the original Beatles' version. Etta James's version had a more emotional depth to it, which made it unique.

The most innovative part of the album was the cover of Bobby Womack's song, Stop On By. The original version was an upbeat, funky song, but Etta James's version was stripped down to a slow, Bluesy rhythm. The arrangement was excellent, and it showcased the versatility of Etta James's voice.

In terms of criticism, the only negative aspect was some of the song choices. Some of the songs were slow and lacked energy, which made the album drag in some parts. However, overall, the album was a great addition to Etta James's discography.

In From the Heart, Ettta James showcased her raw, soulful voice, which touched the hearts of many listeners. The album was an excellent representation of her talent and versatility. The album had some of the best covers of classic R&B, Blues, and Jazz songs, and the production value was exceptional. The album had its drawbacks, but overall, it was a great album and a must-listen for any Etta James fan or any lover of soulful music.