At Last--Etta James and Chess Records

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When the great singer Etta James (1938-2012) recorded “At Last” for Chess records in 1961, the song became an instant classic. Most record buyers did not know it was a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, veteran tunesmiths.

Although James was a gutsy R and B singer, Chess Records' head producer, Leonard Chess, imagined her as a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross over onto the pop charts. Chess began backing James on her recording sessions with violins and other string instruments, which was first heard on her hit, "At Last." James’ version is the most remembered, but it has been recorded by many great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Ben E. King, Beyonce, Joni Mitchell, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Raul Malo, Phoebe Snow, Joni Mitchell, to name just a few. Instrumental versions were recorded by Miles Davis and Glen Miller.

In 1962, James had three major hits, beginning with the gospel-inspired, "Something's Got a Hold on Me," "Stop the Wedding" and "Pushover," which also made the Pop Top 25.

James was born and brought up in Los Angeles by a series of caregivers. At the age of five she received vocal training at her local Baptist Church choir where she became a popular singer. By the age of 14 she had formed a doo-wop group, and under the name the Peaches they recorded "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" which reached #1 on the rhythm and blues charts in 1955. A follow-up, "Good Rockin' Daddy," was also a hit.

In 1960, James signed a recording contract with Chess Records, and released her two most acclaimed albums, At Last! and The Second Time Around. She  continued to record and perform, releasing 30 albums and 58 singles, though due to her heroin addiction during the1960s and 70s, her output was erratic. She kicked the habit in 1974, and slowly rebuilt her career, playing at small clubs and music festivals, then opening for the Rolling Stones in the mid 1980s, before releasing her first album on a major label for seven years in 1989. "The Seven Year Itch" caught the attention of the music industry and she began receiving major industry awards from the Grammys and the Blues Foundation.]

In recent years, she has been seen as bridging the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll. "Rolling Stone"  ranked James number twenty-two on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number sixty-two on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists.  James is the winner of six Grammys and seventeen Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008.

Despite the death of Leonard Chess, James recorded for the label up until 1978, and began using more rock-based songs in her albums. She released her final two albums for Chess in 1978," Etta Is Betta Than Evah" and  "Deep in the Night".

James is known for the Muddy Waters song "I Just Wanna Make Love to You", used in television commercials for Coca-Cola and for John Smith's bitter.

James was portrayed by  Beyoncé Knowles in the 2008 film Cadillac Records.

On April 7, 2009, Etta James appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" as a guest performer, singing her classic hit from 1961 "At Last" at age 71. In Memphis, Tennessee on May 7, 2009, the Blues Foundation awarded Etta James the 2009 Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year—making Etta a nine–time winner of this prestigious award.

In "The History of Chess Records" Robert Benson writes, “Brothers Leonard and Philip Chess were Jewish immigrants from Poland who came to Chicago in 1928. They were business partners in liquor sales and by the 1940’s they owned and operated several bars on the south side. One of their largest was a nightclub named  “Macomba,” that featured live entertainment; mainly blues artists who had migrated to Chicago’s south side from the Mississippi Delta in the 30’s and 40’s.

“Quickly realizing that these musicians were not being properly promoted and recorded, they decided to start recording these musicians themselves. In 1947, already aware of what kind of music would appeal to the black community, the brothers partnered with Charles and Evelyn Aron at Aristocrat Records; who had formed the label specifically to record blues, jazz and rhythm and blues music…

“But they soon realized that the blues could be marketed to a much broader audience. With Philip Chess overseeing the nightclub and offices at Aristocrat/Chess, this allowed Leonard to produce sessions as well as scout around for new and upcoming talent. Through their connections with Chicago radio stations and nightclubs, the pair was able to build an up and coming blues musician, Muddy Waters, into the area leading blues attraction.”

Other blues players joined Chess Records, including Willie Dixon, Gene Ammons, Jimmy Rogers and Little Walter, the great harmonica player. Other non-Chicago talents recorded for Chess. They included Memphis pianist Roscoe Gordon Rufus Thomas, Dr. Isaiah Ross, Joe Hill Louis and Bobby Bland... But one of his greatest finds and one of the top contributors to the label was the music of Chester Arthur Burnett, a.k.a. Howlin’ Wolf. Many more blues legends recorded for Chess records in the 1950’s including Memphis Slim, Eddie Boyd, Little Walter, Willie Mabon, John Lee Hooker, Joe Williams, Big Bill Broonzy, and Washboard Sam. Jazzmen Leo Parker, Tab Smith, Otis Spann, Lynn Hope and Eddie Johnson added diversity to the record label.

“In 1955, Chess was able to sign a new talent named Chuck Berry, whose first hit; “Maybellene” added even more credibility to the label. Another new talent was also signed in 1955, Mississippi Blues legend named Sonny Boy Williamson. His first recording for the label, “Don’t Start Me Talkin’” was recorded with the help of the Muddy Waters Band. Additionally, Bo Diddley signed in 1955 and produced a two-sided smash hit for Checker, the self-titled ditty called “Bo Diddley and the flipside, “I’m A Man.”

“Furthermore, Chess Records branched out and signed and recorded two black vocal groups, the Flamingos and the Moonglows, whose sentimental singing styles would appeal to both black and white audiences alike. But before their records (“Sincerely” by the Moonglows and “I’ll Be Home” by the Flamingos) could become hits, they were covered by white artists (a common practice back then). The McGuire Sisters recorded “Sincerely” and Pat Boone released his version of the Flamingos’ song “I’ll Be Home.” Although these white artists garnered much of the sales, Chess Records became nationally recognized as a record company that could produce hit music.

“In 1956, Chess established a jazz subsidiary label called Argo. They were able to land some of the biggest and influential jazz musicians of the time, signing such jazz greats as Sonny Stitt, Yusef Lateef, James Moody, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Ahmad Jamal and Ramsey Lewis, among many others. Although Argo was primarily a jazz label, they also recorded some of the finest female R&B by a singer named Etta James. Additionally in 1956, Chess had a keen interest in music form New Orleans and signed veteran musician Paul Gayten. Gayten was able to convince others from the area to sign on with Chess including Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Bobby Charles and Eddie Bo.

“By the early 60’s, Chess records was a major player in the music industry, selling records by the thousands. They were able to sign some new, young talented musicians including Buddy Guy and Otis Rush. Etta James made her Chess debut in 1960 and many other female artists signed and recorded with the label including Jan Bradley, Sugar Pie De Santo, Fontella Bass, Jackie Ross, Jo Ann Garrett, Laura Lee as well as a female vocal group called the Gems (that counted Minnie Riperton as a member). Irma Thomas also joined Chess in 1967, recording her music in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

In 1969, Leonard and Philip Chess sold Chess Records to a company called General Recorded Tape (GRT) for over six and a half million dollars (plus twenty-thousand shares of GRT stock). The company also suffered a devastating loss when Leonard Chess died that same year. The quality of the music declined and by the summer of 1972, the Chess Chicago offices were scarcely staffed, the distribution company and pressing plants had been closed as well. In fact, the only Chess studio that was in operation was the Chess Ter Mar studios, which were also operating with a skeleton staff.”

Visit your local library for these resources:

Etta James (CD)
Etta James, (1999).

The Best of Chess Records (CD)
Chuck Berry; Etta James; Little Walter; Muddy Waters; Bo Diddley, (2008).

Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records
Cohodas, Nadine (2000).

Rage to Survive: the Etta James story
Etta James, David Ritz, (1995).

Icons of R&B and Soul
Bob Gulla, (2007).

Image credit:

Muddy Waters performing by ZooFari.