ETTA JAMES - TELL MAMA b/w I'D RATHER GO BLIND - Vinyl 45 - 1967
A$
42
$
28
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Description
A terrific double-sider from Etta James: Tell Mama b/w I'd rather Go Blind.
Manufactured in the UK and distributed there by Pye Records on the Chess Label, is this hard to find Northern Soul floor-filler from 1967.
"Tell Mama" is a song written by Clarence Carter, Marcus Daniel and Wilbur Terrell (though some recordings give the sole songwriting credit to Carter). It is best known in its 1967 recording by Etta James. An earlier version of the song was first recorded in 1966 by Carter, as "Tell Daddy".
Carter co-wrote "Tell Daddy", and recorded it at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on 4 October 1966. His recording, released on the Fame label, became Carter's first chart hit, reaching no.35 on the Billboard R&B chart in early 1967.
Etta James was persuaded by Chess Records' executive Leonard Chess to record this version of the song with the title changed as part of her second album for his company at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama: impressed by the studio's pedigree - FAME having generated a recent string of hits by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge.
"I'd Rather Go Blind" is a blues song written by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and Etta James. It was first recorded by Etta James in 1967, released in 1967, and has subsequently become regarded as a blues and soul classic.
Etta James wrote in her autobiography Rage To Survive that she heard the song outlined by her friend Ellington "Fugi" Jordan when she visited him in prison. She then wrote the rest of the song with Jordan, but for tax reasons gave her songwriting credit to her partner at the time, Billy Foster, singer with doo-wop group The Medallions.
Etta James recorded the song at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It was included on the album Tell Mama and as the B-side of the single of the same name which made number 10 on the Billboard R&B charts, and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
From my own collection, the A-side I have conservatively graded as Excellent, and the B-side has a few pops so is probably VG. It's in the original UK paper sleeve which is in good condition (see photos), and a protective plastic cover.Some critics have regarded "I'd Rather Go Blind" as of such emotional and poetic quality as to make this release one of the great double-sided singles of the period.
Happy to combine postage for multiple purchases. Please don't hesitate to ask.
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