Seven Year Itch

Seven Year Itch

Editorial Reviews
<"b000001fuk7580"> Amazon.com essential recording
The three albums Etta James made for Island Records in the late 1980s are quirky productions, but this compilation culled from those recordings is a winning alternative. The beauty and righteous anger she evokes in "Damn Your Eyes" is alone worth the price. Her romantic side gets tapped for "A Lover Is Forever" and "Out of the Rain." But the best numbers flex her raw vocal muscle. "Beware," "Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home," and her redo of "Come to Mama" are all fire-breathing performances, worthy of the still-reigning queen of rhythm & blues. --Ted Drozdowski --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

<"b000001fuk5228"> From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
Twenty years on, James records an unplanned companion album to Tell Mama with the organist at that storied session, Barry Beckett, now acting as producer. With her texturally rich voice she commandingly seizes hold of fine ballads and up-tempo numbers, making discretionary use of firiness and giving sure thought to interpretations of lyrics. Gone is the screaming and shouting of the 1970s and 1980s. She sings sassily and guardedly, full of shrewd insight and pent-up anger-hear, in particular,... read more --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.