The first time I can remember hearing Etta James is during a commercial break while watching the movie Fried Green tomatoes. I remember it was an ad for a car commercial and the song was At Last. From that point on I have been an Etta James fan.
After that movie (great move great book by the way) I began my search to get that song. The problem is I didnt know the name of the song or the Artist so I had to wait until I heard the song again either on the radio, or in one of the bookstores I haunted. A time after that I heard the song again and although I found out the artist was Etta James I didnt the name of the song. Anyway the next time I went to Tower records I copped a tape called Etta James greatest and hoped the song I was looking for was on that tape.
I started on side a and went throught sides such as such as Sunday Kind Of Love and I Just Make Love To You" eventually I camed to the track I had heard on the car commercial ad which happen to be At Last.
Shortly after that Etta James would put out an album in tribute to billie holiday which was absolutely terric. My favorite tune from that album is " The Very Thought Of You". As much as I love Etta James I had know idea how enormously gifted baby doll was until I happened upon a 2006 recording of At Last with the Count Basie Orchestra was absolutely magnifecent.
Etta James was 68 when this version of at last was recorded and after hearing it I am convinced that I have never heard singing by a 68 year old women or man anywhere near as good. The closest anyone of her age has come at such excellence in singing that I can think of is the great Ella Fitzgerald, if you can think of any others please share them with us in the comment section. Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
