Etta James - Rocks The House (1964)

Though the studio albums Etta James made for Chess in the 1960s usually had the blues singer surrounded by lush production and string-heavy arrangements, this live date finds her performing with only a rhythm section, organist, guitarist, and tenor saxophonist. The singer seems to respond to both the stripped-down setting and the enthusiastic audience with noticeable abandon. In fact, James the classy balladeer, a role she sometimes plays on her studio albums, is nowhere to be found on this blazing set. 

The set is straight-edged blues and R&B, including covers of some hits of the day, like "Money (That's What I Want)" and Ray Charles' "What'd I Say." Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me to Do" (on which James does a growling, harmonica-imitating vocal solo) steps up the blues quotient. Etta James Rocks the House indeed.

Tracklist:

Something's Gotta Hold On Me 4:23
Baby, What You Want Me To Do 4:10
What I Say 3:07
Money 3:18
Seven Day Fool 4:25
Sweet Little Angel 4:10
Ooh Poo Pah Doo 4:15
Woke Up This Morning 4:10


Etta James - Rocks The House (1964)
(320 kbps, cover art included)