ETTA JAMES – Come a Little Closer (1974-1996) RM | Legendary Masters Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Etta James was fighting serious substance abuse problems when this album was recorded, commuting to the sessions from a rehab center. It was a triumph simply to complete the record at all. Although James' life may have been in rough shape outside of the studio, she delivered a fairly strong set that fused forceful '70s soul arrangements with some rock (Randy Newman and John Kay both contribute compositions), jazz, and New Orleans R&B. Some of the material is routine, but there are some very strong cuts, like a rousing "Sookie Sookie" and "Out on the Street Again," with its slightly sinister funk groove. "Feeling Uneasy," in fact, counts as one of the unsung highlights of her career, with a wrenching, near-wordless scat-moan vocal over a suitably languorous, melancholy blues-jazz arrangement. Richie Unterberger
Tracklist :
1     Out on the Street Again 4:21
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler
2     Mama Told Me 2:31
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler / Catherine C. Williamson
3     You Give Me What I Want 3:40
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler
4     Come a Little Closer 3:32
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler / Catherine C. Williamson
5     Let's Burn Down the Cornfield 3:46
Randy Newman
6     Power Play 3:26
John Kay
7     Feeling Uneasy 2:51
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler
8     St. Louis Blues 4:32
W.C. Handy
9     Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight 4:03
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler
10     Sookie, Sookie 3:09
Don Covay / Steve Cropper
- BONUS TRACKS -
11     Lovin' Arms 3:50
Tom Jans
12     Out on the Street Again [Single Edit] 3:44
Trevor Lawrence / Gabriel Mekler
Credits :    
Arranged By – Trevor Lawrence (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Backing Vocals – Carlena Williams (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Gwen Edwards (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Venetta Fields (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Bass – Chuck Rainey (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Drums – Ken 'Spider' Rice (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Guitar – Danny Kortchmar (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Ken Marco (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Lowell George (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Wah Wah Watson* (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Horns – Bobby Keys (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Charles Dinwiddie (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), David Allan Duke* (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Gene Cipriano (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Jim Horn (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Lew McCreary (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Steve Madaio (tracks: 1 to 10, 12), Trevor Lawrence (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Keyboards – Larry Nash (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Percussion – Gary Coleman (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Producer, Keyboards – Gabriel Meckler (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)
Synthesizer – Larry Mizell (tracks: 1 to 10, 12)