Etta is a living legend who’s been performing for close to sixty years.  She is iconically synonymous with American blues. From her then-controversial single “Wallflower” released in 1955 when James was still a teenager to the classic  smash that keeps on smashing “At Last,” James’ abundant vocal gifts and tremendous presence have been a part of national culture for close to half a century.

Inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 1999 and now sadly seriously ill, The Dreamer (Verve/Forecast) is her final album before retiring from the music industry. On “Groove Me,” James’ plushy velvet cushion of a voice is at times frayed in a way that makes it difficult to tell if it’s a a deliberate coloration or the effects of life stress.  Either way, it makes a stunning impact.

The material James covers on “The Dreamer” is expansive. 80′s hard rock becomes something else entirely different when she bluesifies Guns ‘N Roses “Welcome To The Jungle.”

Raggedly crooning at times in her lower register, sometimes throwing in her tradmark howls, Southern rock  and blues splash onto the page with “Down In the Boondocks,” Lynyrd Skynyrd comes to mind.  In her coverage of “Too Tired,” there is a true-to-life sadness inn the lyrics that seems to mirror her response to ravages to her health “Sitting on a pin/ I’m too tired to get up” that is hard to ignore.  The punchy pumped-up delivery of the song (helped along James’ sons) belies the weariness of the words.  Yet James’ vitality for all the onslaughts is unassailable. You can’t keep this woman’s soul down and you’ll hear that for days on “Dreamer” where James comes home, really to where she never left; the smoky woman blues.

A born master at creating sultry, elegantly primal music, more than a few contemporary performers could stand to keep in mind that smoldering mystery and finely honed technique coupled with real passion are more powerful and memorable than gratuitious exposure ever is. Etta James doesn’t only make music- she’s what music should always be.

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Etta James – Steal Away by Kaku

Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind by stellabillie