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Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s and 70s
R&B / Soul · 2011

Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s and 70s

Etta James

March 7, 2011 · Kent Soul

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Who's Blue? is a haunting excavation of the Chess Records vaults, capturing Etta James not as the polished hitmaker of 'At Last,' but as a raw, searching force of nature. These are the tracks that fell through the cracks: the B-sides, the alternate takes, and the unreleased experiments that reveal the true grit of her artistry.

The sound is defined by a heavy, analog warmth, where the hiss of the tape and the occasional studio chatter only add to the intimacy. It feels like being in the room during a late-night session where the pressure to produce a hit has been replaced by the need to purge a feeling.

Moments Worth Listening For
the sudden, unscripted growl at the end of a bridge in the title track
the way the organ swells to meet her highest belt on the unreleased soul ballads
the sparse, demo-like quality of the early 70s tracks where her voice sounds most vulnerable
the rhythmic lock between the bass and the brass on the funkier B-sides
Reviews

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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Who's Blue? Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s and 70s sound next to the rest of Etta James's catalogue?

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This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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