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Candi Staton celebrates the life of Etta James, who died in 2012. First broadcast in 2006.

Candi Staton celebrates the life of Etta James, who died in 2012. First broadcast in 2006.

The final programme picks up Etta James' career in 1975, when she was experimenting with more unusual material like Randy Newman's Let's Burn Down The Cornfields and You Can Leave Your Hat On. Her road manager Phil Kaufman, her guitarist Brian Ray, and A&R man Tony Rounce describe her successful fight against drug addiction. Etta's song W.O.M.A.N. co-written with her mother Dorothy, was reworked with a funk groove and Brian Ray remembers his contribution to this.

Singer, Sugar Pie Desanto talks about Etta's wicked sense of humour and tour manager Phil Kaufman relates a few humorous anecdotes about the chaos involved in being on the road with Etta. In 1988, Etta signed to Island Records and Tony Rounce talks about this time, and how she collaborated with singer Steve Winwood on the track Give It Up.

One of Etta's biggest influences was Billie Holiday, who warned Etta to stay clear of drugs when they met. Her 1995 Billie Holiday tribute album, Mystery Lady, secured Etta her first Grammy and she picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 18 Jan 2018 02:00

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Music Played

  • Etta James

    ROLL WITH ME HENRY (THE WALLFLOWER)

    • R & B DYNAMITE.
    • ACE.
    • CDCH-210.
  • Etta James

    GOOD ROCKIN' DADDY

    • THE COMPLETE MODERN & KENT RECORDINGS.
    • ACE.
    • CDCM-2.
  • Etta James

    I Just Want To Make Love To You

    • Etta James- The Genuine Article.
    • Mca/Chess.
    • CHD-9361.
  • Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto

    Do I Make Myself Clear

    • Go Go Power.
    • Kent Soul.
    • CDKEND-317.
  • Etta James

    Tell Mama

    • THE GENUINE ARTICLE.
    • MCA RECORDS.
    • CHD-9361.
  • Etta James

    You Can Leave Your Hat On

    • THE BEST OF ETTA JAMES.
    • MCA/CHESS.
    • CHD-9361.
  • Etta James

    I'd Rather Go Blind

    • Chess Pieces 芒?? the Very Best of Chess (original artist recordings of songs in the film Cadillac).
    • Island Records.
    • 179-2447.
  • Etta James

    AT LAST

    • RAIN MAN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK.
    • CAPITOL.
    • CDP-791866 2.
  • Etta James

    LET'S BURN DOWN THE CORNFIELD

    • SONGS OF RANDY NEWMAN.
    • UNIVERSAL.
    • 31458-47872.
  • Etta James

    Woman

    • Hickory Dickory Duck.
    • ACE.
    • CDCHM-680.
  • Etta James

    PIECE OF MY HEART

    • DEEP IN THE NIGHT.
    • BULLSEYES BLUES.
    • CDBB-9579.
  • The Johnny Otis Show

    JOHNNY OTIS SIGNATURE

    • 1950s Broadcasts From Los Angeles.
    • Vintage.
    • Ace-CDCHD 981.
  • Etta James

    Something's Gotta Hold On Me

    • Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues.
    • Private Music.
    • n/a.
  • Etta James

    give it up

    • THE RIGHT TIME.
    • ELEKTRA.
    • 7559-61347-2.
  • Etta James

    Misty

    • Jazz.
    • GRP Records.
    • n/a.
  • Etta James

    DON'T EXPLAIN

    • MYSTERY LADY - SONGS OF BILLIE HOLIDAY.
    • PRIVATE MUSIC.
    • 01005-82114-2.
  • Ye

    Addiction

    • Late Registration.
    • Roc-A-Fella.
    • 988-5153.
  • Etta James

    Dust My Broom

    • Blues To The Bone.
    • RCA Victor.
    • n/a.
  • Etta James

    STOP ON BY

    • All The way.
    • Victor.
    • YRNR CD-66.
  • Etta James

    What'd I Say

    • SOMETHING'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME.
    • ROOTS.
    • RTS-33037.
  • The Ruts

    Staring At The Rude Boys

    • The Best Punk Album In The World ... Ever! Part 2 (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Thu 27 Jan 2011 00:00
  • Thu 22 Dec 2011 00:00
  • Thu 23 Feb 2012 00:00
  • Thu 15 Jan 2015 02:00
  • Thu 18 Jan 2018 02:00