At Last

At Last is the sound of a woman who has survived the fire and emerged with a voice that can stop time.

It is a record of profound contrasts: the lush, cinematic string arrangements of Riley Hampton provide a velvet cushion for Etta James's raw, unvarnished delivery. While her peers in the early 1960s were often pushed toward a cleaner, more polite pop sound, Etta brought the grit of the blues and the heat of the church to every note. The result is an album that feels both regal and deeply human.