The 1941 original of "At Last" was written for a film called "Orchestra Wives". Etta James cut it in 1960 as the title track of her first album on Chess Records label. Though only a moderate hit at the time it has become an evergreen staple on radio ever since, currently it is being used to accompany an advert for Marks & Spencer.
Others like Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Nicks, Eva Cassidy and Joni Mitchell have done covers though none match Etta's reading of the piece. She was miffed however that Beyonce got to sing it in the film "Cadillac Records" and at President Obama's inauguration early in 2009.
Our STAR BLUES feature on 15th May 2011 used the version on her "At Her Best" cd anthology compiled by MCA/Chess.
No comments:
Post a Comment