Etta James


Band members                             Related acts

- Etta James (aka Jamesetta Hawkins) (RIP 2012) -- vocals

 

  supporting musicians (1974)

- Gene Cipriano -- horns

- Gary Coleman -- percussion

- Charles Dinwiddle -- horns

- David Allan Duke -- horns

- Gwen Edwards -- backing vocals

- Venetta Fields -- backing vocals

- Lowell George -- guitar

- Jim Horn -- horns

- Bibby Keyes -- horns

- Danny Kortchmar -- guitar

- Trevor Lawrence -- horns

- Steve Madaio -- horns

- Ken Marco -- guitar

- Lew McCreary -- horns

- Larry Mekler -- keyboards

- Larry Mizell -- synthesizer

- Larry Nash -- keyboards

- Chuck Rainey -- bass

- Ken Rice -- drums, percussion

- Wah Wah Watson -- guitar

- Carlena Williams -- backing vocals

 

 

 

- none known

 

 

 


 

Genre: soul

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Come a Little Closer

Company: Chess

Catalog: CH 60029
Year:
 1974

Country/State: Los Angeles, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: cut lower right corner

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1553

Price: $

 

I've always wondered how Etta James ended up working with producer Gabriel Mekler. After all, Mekler was better know for his work with  rock and pop outfits like Janis Joplin, Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night.  Speculation on my part, but I'm guessing the link had something to do with Joplin.  I'm sure someone out there will have the answer.  

 

1974's "Come a Little Closer" was reportedly recorded while James was participating in a drug and alcohol recovery program (you had to wonder about a program that would allow her to commute from a detox program to the recording studio every day).  If true, you had to wonder how the album was ever completed.  As far as I'm aware, recording studios aren't known as hotbeds of good behavior.  I'm no James scholar, but if she was really struggling with alcohol and heroin issues, you also had to wonder what a 100% healthy James would have sounded like.   Regardless of the circumstances, on these ten tunes she came off in fine shape - just check out her amazing cover of randy Newman's 'Let's Burn Down the Cornfield'.  Musically the album was quite diverse (maybe eclectic was a better description) with producer Mekler and  James taking stabs at old school soul (she literally destroyed Don Covay's 'Sookie, Sookie' - forget the pathetic Steppenwolf cover), hardcore funk ('Out On the Street Again'), and traditional blues (W.C. Handy's 'St. Louis Blues).   At least to my ears there were only a couple of mild disappointments.  The aptly titled 'Uneasy Feeling' was just that - James moaning and gasping across a pretty piano ballad.  Technically I'm not sure 'Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight' even qualified as a James effort since the song seemed to showcase her backing singers.  Still, the fact the results were as impressive as they were, made the album an even bigger triumph.   The collection certainly sold well, reaching # 47 on the US album charts.

 

"Come A Little Closer" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Out On the Street Again   (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler) - 4:20

Geez, where in the world did this one come from ?   I remember the first time I played it momentarily wondered if I slapped an Isaac Hayes album on by mistake ....  This one literally sounded like a mix between a Norman Whitfield arrangement for The Temptations and some blaxploitation tune.  Simply killer tune that got even better when James' biting voice finally kicked in.  Chess tapped the tune as a single, editing out most of the opening instrumental segment:

- 1974's 'Out On the Streets Again' b/w 'Feeling Uneasy' Chess catalog number CH 2153)  rating: **** stars

2.) Mama Told Me   (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler - Williamson) - 2:31

Rollicking country girl in the city tale of woe - the horns drive this one into overdrive.   rating: *** stars

3.) You Give Me What I Want   (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler) - 3:40

Backed by Larry Mizell's cheesy synthesizer, 'You Give Me What I Want' was a hardcore slice of funk.  James sang the covers off this one.   rating: **** stars

4.) Come a Little Closer   (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler - Williamson) - 3:31

The title track was a mesmerizing ballad made even more interesting given James sang it in a deeper register than normal.  Nice soul feel

5.) Let's Burn Down the Cornfield   (Randy Newman) - 3:46

All hyperbole aside,  'Let's Burn Down the Cornfield' was one of the best Randy Newman covers ever recorded.  Add in Lowell George on slide guitar and this one is liable to give you  goose bumps.  rating:**** stars

 

(side 2)
1.) Power
Play  (John Kay) - 3:26

James funked-up, horn-powered cover of John Kay's 'Power Play' was surprisingly good.   You could just hear the spite dripping from her voice.   The track was also tapped it as a single in Germany:

- 1975's 'Power Play' b/w 'Lovin Armes' (Bellaphon catalog number BF 18337)  rating:**** stars

2.) Feeling  Uneasy   (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler - Williamson) -

Supposedly recorded while she was suffering withdrawal symptoms, you can almost believe it given the tune is literally little more than James scatting and moaning along with the pretty keyboard melody.  Kind of scary and a nice reminder to stay off of drugs.  rating: *** stars

3.) St. Louis Blues   (W.C. Handy) - 4:32

Her cover of W.C. Handy's 'St. Louis Blues' was probably the album's biggest surprise for me. I've never been a big fan of traditional blues, but the combination of an a cappella introduction followed by a breezy arrangement with majestic support from the William Smith Singers was nothing short of mesmerizing.  Besides, how can you ignore a tune that has one of music's best lines - "Ma man's got a heart like a rock cast in de sea ..." Easily one of the best things she ever recorded.    rating:**** stars

4.) Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight     (Trevor Lawrence - Gabriel Mekler) - 4:03

Calling 'Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight' an Etta Jones song was actually kind of a stretch.  Powered by a rollicking barrelhouse piano and party noises, the song actually gave backing singers Gwen Edwards, Venetta Fields, and Carlena Williams a little spotlight time.   rating: ** star

5.) Sookie, Sookie   (Don Covay - Steve Cropper) - 3:09

As good as Don Covay's version was, I think you could make an argument James stole the song in the same way Aretha appropriated 'Respect' from Otis Redding.  James cover simply blazed.   rating: **** stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

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