Tell Mama – Etta James

The following story: Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records had a terrible falling-out with Rick Hall from FAME Studios down in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The reason was an aborted recording session from which Aretha Franklin had left in a hurry for New York. Wexler soon after continued his collaboration with the session musicians from Muscle Shoals in their own studio, Muscle Shoals Sound. Rick Hall was pissed off about this betrayal and went to Atlantic's arch enemy, Chess Records in Chicago. He convinced Leonard Chess to send his best soul artists to the FAME studio. Between August and December 1967 Etta James recorded 'Tell Mama', her best album for Chess, at FAME Studio

Etta's career had come to a standstill. But with the sessions in Muscle Shoals, she made a comeback. The title song of the LP, "Tell Mama" and "Security" by Otis Redding made it into the top 40 of the pop and the top 20 of the R&B charts. However, the B-side of "Tell Mama" left the most lasting impression. Etta's friend Fugi Foster had "I'd Rather Go Blind" and left the song to her when she visited him in prison. The song was not a hit. But the version on "Tell Mama" is the original of a song that has been covered several hundred times by such diverse musicians and bands as Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart, Paolo Nutini, Mick Hucknall and the Allman Brothers

Today "Tell Mama" is one of the best soul LPs of all times. The album was not available on vinyl for more than forty years. This changes now with this re-release in the original cover, lovingly transferred and remastered and pressed on 180 gram vinyl.

- With the two hits "Tell Mama" and "Security"!

- With the original version of the blues classic "I'd Rather Go Blind"!

- Recorded with the session musicians from Muscle Shoals in the FAME studios

- Available on vinyl for the first time in more than forty years!

"Glorious sounding 180g re-release of one of the best soul albums ever Times. In the original cover artwork this LP by Etta James is released, which she recorded at the end of 1967 together with the best musicians of the Muscle Shoals Studios in Alabama" (Good Times, December 2014 / January 2015)