Etta James - The Essential Etta James (1993)

The Essential Etta James comprises 44 tracks summarizing the long and brilliant Chess tenure of "Miss Peaches," Etta James, opening with her 1960 smash "All I Could Do Was Cry," and encompassing her torchy, fully orchestrated ballads "At Last," "My Dearest Darling," and "Trust in Me," and continuing on through her 1962 gospel-rocker "Something's Got a Hold on Me," the Chicago soul standouts "I Prefer You" and "842-3089," and her 1967 Muscle Shoals-cut smash "Tell Mama." A few of the '70s sides that conclude the two-disc set seem like filler when compared to what preceded them, but most of the essentials are aboard.

Tracklist:
01. Etta James - All I Could Do Was Cry (02:55)
02. Etta James - My Dearest Darling (03:02)
03. Etta James - If I Can't Have You (02:52)
04. Etta James - A Sunday Kind Of Love (03:18)
05. Etta James - Anything To Say You're Mine (02:36)
06. Etta James - At Last (03:01)
07. Etta James - Seven Day Fool (03:00)
08. Etta James - Trust In Me (02:59)
09. Etta James - Don't Cry Baby (02:26)
10. Etta James - Fool That I Am (02:57)
11. Etta James - One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) (03:27)
12. Etta James - Waiting For Charlie (To Come Home) (02:07)
13. Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me (02:49)
14. Etta James - Next Door To The Blues (02:49)
15. Etta James - These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) (03:58)
16. Etta James - Stop The Wedding (02:51)
17. Etta James - Prisoner Of Love (02:13)
18. Etta James - Pushover (02:54)
19. Etta James - Would It Make Any Difference To You (02:38)
20. Etta James - Pay Back (02:39)
21. Etta James - Two Sides (To Every Story) (03:03)
22. Etta James - Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Live At The New Era Club,1963) (04:19)
23. Etta James - In The Basement (Pt. 1) (02:22)
24. Etta James - Lovin' You More Every Day (03:21)
25. Sugar Pie DeSanto - Do I Make Myself Clear (03:00)
26. Etta James - I Prefer You (03:05)
27. Etta James - It Must Be Your Love (02:56)
28. Etta James - 842-3089 (Call My Name) (03:00)
29. Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind (02:34)
30. Etta James - Tell Mama (02:22)
31. Etta James - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (02:59)
32. Etta James - Security (02:28)
33. Etta James - Almost Persuaded (03:21)
34. Etta James - You Got It (02:25)
35. Etta James - Miss Pitiful (02:22)
36. Etta James - Losers Weepers (Pt. 1) (02:59)
37. Etta James - W.O.M.A.N. (03:15)
38. Etta James - I Never Meant To Love Him (1993 Essential Etta Version) (03:50)
39. Etta James - You Can Leave Your Hat On (03:23)
40. Etta James - God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind) (03:37)
41. Etta James - All The Way Down (05:36)
42. Etta James - Lovin' Arms (03:48)
43. Etta James - Feelin' Uneasy (02:50)
44. Etta James - Let's Burn Down The Cornfield (03:45)