Customer Reviews

Deep in the Night

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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The ingredients that make this such a great CD are the powerful vocals of Etta James, a tight group of musicians, talented backing vocals, some great songs, and all under the masterful hand of Jerry Wexler. Etta has a controlled thunderous voice, powerful but never screeching or overreaching. She does a definitive version of Piece of My Heart. Sorry Janis, but this lady sings without the histrionics. The songs set the narrative for a woman dealing with despair, defiance, vunerability, and love. Only Women Bleed is a raw, uncomfortable and too personal experience. She takes us to church to testify with an electrifying choir on Strange man. Deep in the night takes us to that lonely experience at 3:00 in the morning thinking back on past loves. Blind Girl tells of that desperate attempt to ignore the truth and hang on to a cheating lover. Etta can wring such emotion from that roller coaster song of truth and illusion. I admit, Sugar on the Floor I do not really get. If I could choose just one Etta James CD, this would be it. She teamed up once more with Jerry Wexler for Right Time, but somehow the magic was not there.

A wide range of material performed by Etta at her vocal best. From gospel, to torch, to blues, Etta soars through each genre. Her performace makes each selection come alive--the listener knows that Etta isn't just performing them.

I've been looking for this on CD for many years and glad I finally found it.

I have looked for this for years... It's Etta James at her best, first on an LP I used to play on the air in my radio days. Can't wait to hear it again - espcially her rendition of Strange Man.

From the opening funky note, any lover of soulful music knows this is going to be a great ride and then comes that classic raw & soulful voice of Etta James sounding awesome..."Laying Beside You" is funky bliss then a definitive "Piece Of My Heart" making one wonder where were Radio Programmers Of America when this masterpiece came out and how could the Grammy Foundation miss something so great! Next Alice Cooper's "Only Women Bleed" made into a total anthem by Ms. James as is the earthy & tremendous version of "Take It To The Limit" and does Etta ever...performance goes deep inside of this great song turning it inside out like never before. Etta James draws from everywhere selecting songs for this amazing collection even Broadway is represented here by a truly earthy and engrossing 4 A.M. version of "Deep In The Night" from "Inner City" showing that Etta can take songs from any area of music and make them all her own. A hot and wildly funky "Lovesick Blues" showcase a gritty vocal that has Etta flying into great falsetto rifts and this is a masterful performance...gospel take on "Strange Man" features another awesome vocal while "Sugar On The Floor" becomes another riveting anthem sung with so much passion and soul...sensual romp "Sweet Touch Of Love" has the legend groaning and growling in a way that only she can and the towering finale "Blind Girl" is a stellar performance that has got to be one of the greatest performances ever from this great singer and one of the greatest ever recorded by anyone...a riveting and tremendous performance to experience and "Blind Girl" is intense and stunning! A must have vocal collection...Bravo Etta!!!

For those who think Etta's best years were the 50s and 60s, they need to hear this one. It's as powerful and soulful as anything she ever did previously, and, in some ways, even more so. How anyone can turn an Alice Cooper song (Only Women Bleed) into a soul anthem is amazing. Impossible to describe the depth of this. Just get it and listen to it. And Hollywood actually had the cojones to let beyonce (small b intentional) play and sing Etta in Cadillac Records? Sad.

Where James steamrolls over dozen covers like a force of nature - no matter who was associated with these songs previously,you are bound to forget them as this lady attacks them with immensely powerful voice & volcanic passion,often bringing finale to gospel-ish climax.
Funkified "Lovesick Blues" is great fun and you can almost see James shaking the booty in the recording studio.
Kiki Dee must have been floored when she heard what James did to her "Sugar On The Floor".
Warning: "Takin' It To The Limit" might stop you dead in track.
Producer Jerry Wexler should be proud.

Etta lets loose on this one. 'Only Women Bleed' and 'Blind Girl' really do something to me. But, this is a disc I can put on and just let it flow. Try it.

I had this LP in the 70's and it was stolen from me during college in 1984. It turned me on to Etta, whose work is marvelous. I've had these tunes in my head for 14 years and am ecstatic that this great collection has been reissued on CD. "I would rather be a blind girl/than to see you walk away" --can't wait to get this CD!!!

Albums Like this Showcase The Richness&QUality that is Etta James.Her Voice can Tackle any Style&Add Another New Flavor to it.This Record is Very Soulful&Spirited.Very Essential.