Etta James, “Tell Mama” (1968)
Etta James (name at birth: Jamesetta Hawkins) and Muscle Shoals was a natural combination that maybe took a little longer than you might think to happen, but when it did, well, wowóeasily one of her best albums. She’s in complete control of this blistering number, playing off the horns and guitar that lead the charge just about perfectly. The story about a woman swooping in to nurture a good man cruelly treated is pretty good too, but mostly it’s the sonics that get this over. “I’d Rather Go Blind,” from much earlier in the decade, is a nice example of her way around a heartfelt ballad.
And another: I’d Rather Go Blind
More stuff at Can’t Explain.
Corner Stone
400 arrested after protest on NY’s Brooklyn Bridge
Corner Stone
With 27 front page posters there was not one football OT on a Saturday.
Maybe Cole should seek out a 30 something white guy from the midwest to be a new FP’er.
Stillwater
@Corner Stone: Maybe they can arrest em all! I mean, they’ve got to be guilty of something, right?
lamh34
so I’m watching the “Sabrina” remake with Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear and Julia Ormond. IMHO, it’s a great remake, but I’m easy. I’m a sucka for a classic love story, updated or original. It got me to thinking, what are some other remakes in music, movies, tv, etc, that rivals are surpassed the original. My choice for music is still “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. I’ve heard the original with Dolly Parton, but I gotta say that I love the Whitney Houston more.
Btw that kinda brings me back to Etta James. I know it’s cliched, but my all time favorite Etta James song is still “At Last”. My family are always asking me if/when I’m ever gonna get married (I’d have to find a man first…but whatever). I always say IDK, but what I do know, is that when I do, “At Last” is gonna be my wedding song and the song selection for me and my future husband (Idris Elba, if ya know me) will dance to “At Last” as our first dance as husband and wife.
“At Last”
Stillwater
Seconded on the football thread. This blog’s just steamrolling downhill.
MikeJ
Hey DougJ, did you contribute to cleek’s reader poll? Been voting?
Corner Stone
Man, I just went to a local Indian food takeout and they are rockin’ my freakin’ world right now.
clayton
@Corner Stone: I suggest you complain to your Puma friend AL.
It worked last time.
Corner Stone
@Stillwater: It’s just kind of crazy to me. Not only not having one but the difference in people still commenting here who actually would have wanted one.
I’m not sure what it means.
Corner Stone
@clayton: Don’t you mean PUMA ??
clayton
@Corner Stone: Yeah, what I said, puma.
Complain to AL bitch. You’ve got about the right amount of representation for what you contribute.
TooManyJens
No Doctor Who thread either. I think the era of readership capture is over.
Hrmph.
Baud
I clicked on the song, and the You Tube ad at the bottom was “Pass Obama’s Jobs Plan.” Coincidence? I think so.
Corner Stone
@clayton: Who are you again? Just another anon ankle biting punk bitch? Good to know.
clayton
@Corner Stone: AL knows who I am. Complain to her.
Corner Stone
@TooManyJens:
Maybe we can get Cole to let us vote on it again?
Corner Stone
@clayton: Nobody knows who you are, nor cares.
clayton
Corner Stone is furiously typing an email to AL. AL will soon post what it (Corner Stone) wants and then tell everyone not to bother JC.
lather, rinse, repeat for the love of white privilege.
clayton
@Corner Stone: Got your 30 something white guy thread yet?
Yutsano
@efgoldman: Don’t make me turn this comment section around!
Corner Stone
@clayton:
I think you mean “fiercely”. I am fiercely typing.
Corner Stone
@efgoldman: “Both sides do it!”
Baud
@efgoldman: Cut them some slack. “Song of the Week” is kind of a touchy subject. It’s not surprising that emotions run a little high.
clayton
@Corner Stone: No, I got it right.
Where’s your 30 something white guy thread?
Where is it?
Is AL sleeping?
clayton
@Corner Stone: Or in the ER again. Excuses excuses.
Where’s your thread, dude? I thought you ran this blog.
Yutsano
@efgoldman:
Normally in the Northwest it is too (although we do lurves some sociallist football here) until Apple Cup. Then you must choose a side. And choose carefully. :)
fleeting expletive
Well, the Doctor was indeed all timey-wimey, but one of my PBS stations immediately followed with “The Pandorica Opens”, and that settled my hash pretty well. (that’s one of those southern expressions).
Yutsano
@efgoldman: Pfft. It’s Saturday. I’ll clean it up tomorrow. :)
clayton
@Corner Stone: I nominate you.
handy
Was digging through the incomparable archives and found a little gem I’d like to share. Two guesses who did it
burnspbesq
Well, now. Duke comes back from 10 down in the fourth quarter, on the road. Three wins in a row. Not bad for a lax school.
Stillwater
Florida finally starting to run the ball – on broken QB scrambles.
burnspbesq
@Yutsano:
“choose carefully. :)”
Woof?
Corner Stone
@handy: Man could drive himself insane reading archives here.
[thousand yard stare]
burnspbesq
Listened to the new Wilco record twice now. Still not entirely sure what I think about it.
burnspbesq
@efgoldman:
Actually, it’s round, black, and analog. Vinyl rules.
Stillwater
@burnspbesq: Why? Is it different than their other stuff? I’ve not met a Wilco CD I didn’t like in … like … ever.
Calouste
So Perry’s saying he’ll invade Mexico when he’s elected to fight the drug gangs. Can’t see what could possibly go wrong there, they’ll welcome the American soldiers with candy and flowers.
burnspbesq
@Stillwater:
Individual tracks are interesting, but I don’t think it hangs together very well.
Calouste
@efgoldman:
Well, Al-Queda can’t go to Cuba, Hezbollah is already there according to Bachmann.
burnspbesq
@efgoldman:
Any digital file, no matter how high the sample rate or bit depth, is still only an approximation of what was played. If you know what voices and instruments are supposed to sound like, you can tell the difference, even at 96/24. Most CDs sound like cardboard. And don’t even get me started about mp3.
some guy
florida getting their asses kicked. brantley broekn, driskell bandaged. this reminds me of the 2004 election
some guy
virgin vinyl is awesome. the 2nd, 3rd, 200004 time, not so much
Yutsano
@burnspbesq: “He chose poorly.”
(and intentionally, knowing you. :)
burnspbesq
@some guy:
If you’re still using granddad’s cartridge, that’s probably true. There have been significant advances in cartridge technology over the years.
Steeplejack
@lamh34:
Then, speaking of remakes, you will like this.
burnspbesq
@Yutsano:
Ain’t I a stinkah?
some guy
walking across campus with my turntable has gotten pretty difficult, but the new AC outlets in my car have made listening to vinyl while driving the kids to school a totally cool experience
fleeting expletive
Burnspbesq, So right. Vinyl, properly treated and played is so much more awesomer than any digital music. It’s been a long, long time, but I used to have state of the art, awesome components and treated them well.
ah, those were the seventies, no? Life got complicated, I had kids, the excellent vinyl records are still revered and in their sleeves in a couple of cupboards, and I have a pale imitation of my former assembly of equipment.
But still I think I passed it all along in a pure form to my two kids, who liked to rock out with my music. So I think I contributed to their musical and cultural education.
burnspbesq
There should be a rule in college sports that if your team’s nickname is a color, you can’t wear black as an alternate uni. This means you, Sanford.
Lyrebird
Blues singer question: There was another woman (less famous than Etta James) who maybe passed away about year ago, anyone know who I’m thinking of?
I think it was a BJer who posted a youtube link in commemoration — a song about having quite a party, lyrics mention throwing up the windows and breaking down the doors (roughly), “we’re gonna have a [colloquialism for party] tonight”-ish…
my attempts w/Google and YouTube are going nowhere, which is too bad bc she seriously rocked!
Yutsano
@burnspbesq: A wabbit you ain’t. And FSM bless the remnants of the Pac-10, now the Pac-12, even if the Cougs won the opener. In Boulder.
burnspbesq
@fleeting expletive:
I was without a turntable for almost 20 years, but I finally got a new one in 2009. The advances in technology over that time have been spectacular. I would guess that my $3k vinyl rig sounds better than anything you could have gotten, at any price, in 1980.
I still buy CDs when things aren’t available on vinyl or as a high-res download. And I rip my vinyl to AIFF at 96/24 (and then downsample to 44.1/16 Apple Lossless) so I can have it in my office and on an iPod. But vinyl is my clear first choice.
Big Baby DougJ
@MikeJ:
I will check it out.
some guy
koko taylor
MikeJ
@Lyrebird: Koko Taylor who did Wang Dang Doodle died in ’09.
burnspbesq
It must not be very much fun to be a UCLA fan these days. They really aren’t very good.
some guy
willie dixon wrote that song, actually, but Koko’s version was de rigeur at the Village shithole she sang at the end.
Steeplejack
@Lyrebird:
Teena Marie? She died last December. Not a blues singer, but she had some party songs that might have been in the vicinity.
Yutsano
@burnspbesq: This is why I’m hoping that the ends of Neuweasel’s career starts with them losing to Wazzu next week. :) Although self-interest would have me wish for him to stay. At least the Beavers are worse.
burnspbesq
Welcome to the Big 10, Bugeaters.
fleeting expletive
Burnsy, what is your music ride, these days? Back then I was all about the Shure cartridge, and The B & O, and the big Advents. I was Invested in that stuff.
I haven’t really been invested in much music since then.
trollhattan
Lurve Etta, have seen her in concert three times. I’ve heard she’s in very poor health, so sending my best wishes her way.
Lyrebird
@MikeJ:
@some guy:
THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU!
“Wang dang doodle” hadn’t fully entered my lexicon, clearly.
What a performer!
@Steeplejack: Thanks also for this, even though it’s sad to hear. (Interesting, I still think of Teena Marie as current, guess I am not-so-current.)
handy
DougJ doesn’t even recognize his own handiwork.
handy
@Yutsano:
I’m actually actively rooting for them to lose just so that sop Guerrero will finally see the light and can Douchenozzle like he should have done eons ago. And by eons I mean two weeks ago at that abortion against Texas.
trollhattan
@some guy:
Managed to see Willie Dixon (at Bumbershoot) before he checked out to the big songwriters convention in the sky. So very many of his songs in the Canon of Cool Stuff.
Yutsano
I’m treating this as an open thread, because shut up that’s why.
Kitteh experiments with sleep in precarious positions.
Also too: bought a bottle of Laphroaig. A Marine made me do it. Think anyone will buy that excuse?
burnspbesq
@fleeting expletive:
The desktop system is where most of the investment has gone.
Turntable: Rega P3-24
Cartridge:Sumiko Blackbrd
Phonostage: Whest Two
Computer: MacBook Pro
DAC: Ayre QB-9
Headphones:Sennheiser HD-800
I have two Sonos units, one in my office and one in the family room. The office Sonos feeds a Peachtree Audio Music Box and a pair of B&W 686. The family room Sonos feeds a Cambridge Audio DACMagic, which feeds an Arcam Solo and a pair of Triangle Cometes.
The only piece that’s really state-of-the-art is the Ayre. The rest of is very good at the price point.
burnspbesq
@burnspbesq:
Oops, forgot to mention that the headphone amp is a Luxman P-200.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@some guy:
Not so good with peanut butter in the grooves, either. Sadly, a true story.
bk
@burnspbesq:
Yes, against the traditionally powerful Florida Atlantic juggernaut.
some guy
@Lyrebird:
NEVER saw Willie, saw Koko twice. I guess I’ll need a new turntable
trollhattan
@burnspbesq:
Kewhl! I have a Rega P25 with Exact cartridge. Liquid sound, digs music out of discs I didn’t know was there.
some guy
The family room Sonos feeds a Cambridge Audio DACMagic, which feeds an Arcam Solo and a pair of Triangle Cometes.
what’s the writeoff on that?
sfinny
Have to say that I love this thread for featuring Etta James, although listening to her through my computer is a sad shadow of the CD. My brother named his cat after Etta, which prompted by interest in her music. What a voice! And mostly I heard it on records. Sadly my turntable has gone kaput so I am thinking about ipods or itunes. Damn I hate being a luddite. So what is the best way to get music these days?
some guy
birds and bees
au naturel
FLAC on Super-8 tapes, my friend.
trust the unencoded bandwith, ready 2 Play
cartridge
trollhattan
Acquire music or listen to music? No good can come of running it through a PC if you’re a sit-and-listen-intently sort of person. IMHO there’s still a role for a good quality two-channel audio system with good quality gear from source to speakers. IMNSHO the best sources are LP and SACD, but one must also have a good CD source (can be the SACD player). Everything downstream depends on your preferences.
Raven (formerly stuckinred)
I leave town and there is no football thread? Sissies!
suzanne
@Corner Stone: I hate football. I can totally do without football threads.
But Tom Levenson and his paintings are never allowed to leave. This blog needs more art.
Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason
@sfinny:
Find a good local Open Mic. I heard a 14-year old kid sing and play just like Robert Johnson. Made me want to throw away my guitar. Up-and-comers who do well enough to make a living at music. Kids just starting out, (think recitals). Established acts trying out new stuff.
Basically, live music, anywhere you can find it.
suzanne
Speaking of awesome musical experiences, I went here today with my husband and the girls. So freaking cool. I want a harp.
So R.E.M. broke up, and they are my number-one favorite band in the history of bands. On the same day, Guided by Voices, my second-favorite band in the history of bands, announced that they have a new album coming out next year.
I kinda don’t know what to do with myself.
sfinny
Honestly I love my old combo CD and record player from the eighties. But I must admit that my niece had a pretty nice thing, an i-touch or something that had pretty good sound and video.
piratedan
back in the day, I can remember when an apartment was fully furnished with taped bean bag chairs, bowed coaches of smells indeterminate, crates and various pieces of wood serving as end and coffee tables and a 700 dollar Technics stereo component system to handle all of my music playing needs, granted this was 1981 but still……
Yutsano
@suzanne:
Party like it’s 1999?
Comrade Kevin
Today, I had a full day of learning how to use a studio TV camera, a production switcher, sound board, and teleprompter, and the local public access channel. Next friday, I’m going to get to work on the switcher for a real program that will be recorded and broadcast on one of the local channels.
Right now, I’m enjoying watching Stanford beat Rick Neuhweasel and the UCLA Bruins, while enjoying an adult beverage.
WereBear
@piratedan: Yep, sounds like my first apartment :)
elftx
Thanks for the Etta link…have not heard her in quite some time.
And for those interested in some metal..my two boys are in the band I am linking to.
http://www.myspace.com/prosthetictx