James would go on to even greater success with later hits like "Tell Mama," but on At Last one hears the singer at her peak in a swinging and varied program of blues, R&B, and jazz standards.
James didn't write "At Last"; it was written in 1941 by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, for a musical film called Orchestra Wives—but she animated it, made it feel real. And there isn't a single moment on At Last! that doesn't feel unmistakably her own, and forever.
The History of the Albums - n° 159
What could be better than starting 1961 with one of the greatest "Soul" classics in the history of albums: At Last!Even if we tend not to pay attention to it, when we think back a large part of the music of the time had a direct or indirect link with R&B, and therefore the Blues. Based on the musical aspect, R&B is a genre that can be considered "halfway" to (almost) all the others. Take for example Rock n Roll, which has ... read more
What Etta James does is take over all these and soar her vocals into making them her own. Not one moment comes close to the swooping romanticism of her rendition of the title track, but doesn't the listen is consistent throughout.
At Last! I'm reviewing this
Favorite Track: At Last
Least Favorite Track: Girl of My Dreams
A beautiful singer. At Last and A Sunday Kind of Love are absolute treasures. The rest are well sung but not as interesting.
Very classic soul record. It's amazing how this came out 62 years ago and has aged like fine wine.
1 | Anything To Say You're Mine 2:37 | |
2 | My Dearest Darling 3:03 | 100 |
3 | Trust In Me 2:59 | 85 |
4 | A Sunday Kind of Love 3:17 | 95 |
5 | Tough Mary 2:26 | |
6 | I Just Want To Make Love To You 3:06 | 95 |
7 | At Last 3:01 | 100 |
8 | All I Could Do Was Cry 2:56 | 80 |
9 | Stormy Weather 3:08 | 83 |
10 | Girl of My Dreams 2:21 |