The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings

by Etta James

Overview

Ace does it again -- of course. These two discs, The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings, contain every side that the young powerhouse Etta James cut for Modern, Crown, and Kent between 1955 and 1961. There are 42 cuts on these two discs, remastered and sequenced painstakingly according to release date. There are no less than seven previously unissued cuts, and two more that have appeared only on Ace compilations. (There's a killer alternate take of "Hey Henry" here that rivals the released version). Fans will have a lot of this material in various places, but this collection puts everything together in one slamming package. The first disc is comprised exclusively of sides recorded for Modern between '55 and '57. Among the masterpieces of killer, bed-rocking R&B found here are "W-O-M-A-N," "Hey Henry," "Good Rockin' Day," "The Pick-Up," "Tough Lover," and "Be Mine." Disc two, where the treasures really are, lays out the Kent and Crown material, and contains all the rarities. There are a few duets here where James is joined by Betty & Dupree as on "If It Ain't One Thing," and "We're In Love." The rehearsal of "Be My Lovely Dovey," is raw and wonderful, as is the alternate version of "Crazy Feelin," without backing from a group. The liner essay by Tony Rounce is both authoritative and accessible, and gives a solid and revealing portrait of James' place in the pantheon and how her star rose. This is, in its way, an historic set because this is the first time all these sides have appeared in one place. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	12/27/2005
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667016124
Rank:	109534

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Wallflower
2. Hold Me, Squeeze Me
3. Hey Henry
4. Be Mine
5. Good Rockin' Daddy
6. Crazy Feeling
7. W-O-M-A-N
8. That's All
9. My One and Only
10. I'm a Fool
11. Shortnin' Bread Rock
12. Tears of Joy
13. Tough Lover
14. Fools We Mortals Be
15. Good Lookin'
16. Then I'll Care
17. The Pick-Up
18. Market Place
19. Come What May
20. By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Disc 2

21. Baby Baby Every Night
22. Sunshine of Love
23. How Big a Fool
24. If It Ain't One Thing
25. I Hope You're Satisfied
26. Dance with Me, Henry
27. Don't You Remember
28. Hickory Dickory Dock
29. Nobody Loves You Like Me
30. We're in Love
31. You Know What I Mean
32. Strange Things Happening
33. Be My Lovey Dovey
34. Tough Lover
35. Good Lookin'
36. Hey Henry
37. Crazy Feeling
38. Market Place
39. Hey Henry
40. Good Rockin' Daddy
41. How Big a Fool
42. That's All

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Etta James   Primary Artist
Harvey Fuqua   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Ed Townsend   Composer
John Marascalco   Composer
David Maxwell   Composer
Sam Ling   Composer
Saul Bihari   Composer
Jules Taub   Composer
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Maxwell Davis   Composer
Richard Berry   Composer
Ray Stanley   Composer
Mike Stoller   Composer
Gus Edwards   Composer
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Hank Ballard   Composer
Harvey Fuqua   Composer
Harold Battiste, Jr.   Composer
Etta James   Composer
Johnny Otis   Composer
Frank Gallo   Composer
Rick Darnell   Composer
Ravon Darnell   Composer
Julia   Package Design
Eddie Brandt   Composer
Bro. Raymond Johnson Jr.   Composer
Scott Johnson   Composer
Howard Batiste   Composer
Jean Mitchell   Composer
Freddy Morgan   Composer
Howard Mandolph   Composer
Edward Madden   Composer
George Motola   Composer
Gwen Gordy Fuqua   Composer
Diaz Johnson   Composer
Jamesetta Rogers   Composer
Sister Rosetta Tharpe   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Joe Josea   Composer
Joe Bihari   Composer
Tony Rounce   Liner Notes,Archive Research
Franklin Tableporter   Composer
Dorothy Hawkins   Composer