Search - Etta James :: All the Way

Etta James is All The Way WONDERFUL !

Charles Keener | Washington, DC United States | 03/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved Etta James for decades - indeed she is my favorite singer of all. I am always excited by any new release from the great Ms James and I have rarely been disappointed. This time I was a little nervous when I saw the song list. Etta James doing "Purple Rain"? I feared this might be a mis-step. But I should know to have faith in my girl 'cause she acquits herself magnificently on this album. "Purple Rain" is in fact one of the highlights for me - along with her wondrous version of "All the Way" and terrific, sensitive readings of "Holding Back the Years", "Believe I Can Fly", "Calling You" and more. Etta's interpretation of "It's a Man's World" is nothing short of brilliant. And Etta's blues and soul drenched rendition of "Strung Out" shows that the most soulful singer ever has still got it. YOU GO GIRL !!!"

Taking Diversity "All the Way"

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 03/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: I Believe I Can Fly, Holding Back the Years, All the Way



Though she has shed more than 200 pounds, James has not lost an iota of her consummate and passionate delivery. "All the Way" is not only pregnant with her signature vocals, but it is also arguably this three-time Grammy winner's most diverse CD. Though she had been able to remain a vital voice in music catapulted by her R&B hit "At Last," "All the Way" is quite a departure from her soul and blues roots. Being an ambitious attempt of covering contemporary tunes from the likes of R. Kelly to Prince to Simply Red to show tunes from "West Side Story" and "Baghdad Café," this is a lushly arrangement collection with a slick and jazzy underpinnings. Produced by James' sons Donto and Sametto and longtime musical associate Josh Sklair, such a gamut of tunes ought to satisfy both long-time James' fans as well as new fans.



Perhaps one of the most interesting tracks that brims with originality is James' take of Simply Red's "Holding Back the Years." Eschewing the syrupy feel of the original, James' funk-lite take of this Adult Contemporary hit gives this song of enduring hope some grit and ardency. Also, of note is James' take of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." With James' weathered-worn voice and her nuanced reading, this positive anthem of faith is given a new lease of life drenched with a Gospel flavor. The lavish flamenco intro and its jazzy piano undercurrent cover Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" with a new musical veneer calling to mind the works of smooth jazz maestro Dianne Reeves.



Considering James' background in blues, Prince's 1984 number one "Purple Rain" might sound like an odd cover. Though James does give it a fair read, .Sklair's electric guitar fills coupled with James' vocal patterning after the Purple Highness' phrasing leaves more to be desired. "Somewhere," the theme from the musical "West Side Story," is decent. But somehow it fails to escape from the shadow of Barbra Streisand's near-perfection rendition of this tune. All of which is redeemed by a very innovative reading of "All the Way." Unlike Celine Dion's bombastic rendition, James' take of this Sinatra classic has the romantic feel of a late night jazz café at closing time.



Amongst the avalanche of cover albums, "All the Way" shows personality. Never one to be restrained by genre, time frame or arrangements, this album's strength rests in is its diversity of tunes and also the ways James interprets them. But what binds these paeans together is still the smoky voice of James. With the scores of years of experience, James' voice has a timbre of believability and tenacity as if every note comes from her heart derived from a dolorous yet fulfilling pilgrimage."

Mellow Etta Is Still Satisfying

D. Layer | New Mexico | 05/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Etta James has rocked harder and longer than any other blues diva. That she has decided to take a rest with "All the Way" is understandable and the results are still somewhat satisfying. "I Believe I Can Fly" is pure inspiration - Etta Style. We can forgive the dull "Calling You" (with the annoying cell phone), but she fails to make "Somewhere" her own - and that's a disappointment. The song simply goes nowhere. But, James does deliver an understated and souful version of "Imagine". "What's Going On" is as smooth as silk. The highlight of the album, however, is "Purple Rain". Who else but Etta James could cover a Prince classic? She thunders her way through it with a hot intensity reminding the listener of the wonders of this ageless treasure of a voice. So, it's not a perfect album, it's still Etta James!"