Etta James - It Takes Love to Keep a Woman- The Allen Toussaint Sessions (LP T-Electric 1980 - CD Fuel 2000 2014 + Mini Booklet) - Rare Soul (FLAC 255MB)

I stumbled over this gem of an album by legendary Etta James On a rare visit to New Orleans. At first glance, it seems an unlikely pairing, gritty, bold, occasionally salacious blues and soul queen Etta James, and elegant New Orleans piano master/producer Allen Toussaint. Nevertheless, the two teamed up for Etta's 1980 album Changes, done for Toussaint's Sansu Enterprises. The results were fascinatingly funky and unlike anything else she ever put on tape, even if the set fell through the commercial cracks as it was too soulful if thats possible!.. In her no-holds-barred 1995 autobiography "Rage to Survive" (get this as it,s a must read!), James unloaded a fusillade in Toussaint's direction over his making her sit two weeks in a French Quarter hotel awaiting word of her session schedule. Until she tracked his limo down in a wild taxi chase, only to be won over when Toussaint calmly sat down at his piano and transformed her ribald tirade into one of his originals on Changes, "Don't Stop.Yet when asked James about the prolific composer shortly after the album's release, she was more positive about its mastermind. "He was fine. He was a very lovely person, very talented," said the late chanteuse. "I liked working with him. When we first went in, we didn't know each other too well. We had been knowing each other for years, but I mean knowing each other coming from a real personal working together as a producer and an artist, we didn't. Now, I think we do." Toussaint booked Sea-Saint Recording Studio, the famous facility on Clematis Avenue that he operated with partner Marshall Sehorn, and recruited some of the Crescent City's top sessioneers and the result is here...Etta at her best!...The last of the true soul women,with the exception of Bettye Lavette!...Superb!

                                                                                                        The Tasters!