As the title suggests, this is the definitive edition of
Etta James
'
Tell Mama
long-player. For this single-disc release the original album is augmented with five previously unissued tracks -- documented during
James
' four
Muscle Shoals
sessions circa '67-'68. The question of why a rural Alabama town became a conduit for some of the most memorable and instantly identifiable grooves may still be up for debate. The evidence exists in droves and
could certainly be considered exhibit A. These sessions feature the same impact that would redirect several first ladies of soul. Notable among them are
Dusty Springfield
's
Dusty in Memphis
,
Aretha Franklin
I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
and to somewhat lesser acclaim,
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie
.
showcases some of the unique and admittedly darker qualities of what might best be described as
R&B
noir.
"I'd Rather Go Blind,"
"Steal Away,"
"I'm Gonna Take What He's Got"
all exemplify the essence of the
blues
-- making the best of a bad situation. The flipside of the sombre subject matter is the satisfying conviction in the music -- which is where the remastering becomes particularly noticeable. No longer does the brass section sound alternately muffled or harsh as it has on previous releases. Likewise, the churning Hammond B-3 organ swells with rich textures. Perhaps the most sonically evident improvements are the subtle ones, such as the supple fretwork on
"Sweet Dreams,"
and the jazzy percussive shuffle of
"The Same Rope."
~ Lindsay Planer