JAMES, ETTA - At Last (Sealed) (LP)

Etta James consistently demonstrated a preternatural depth, one that really came into its own with this revered 1960 set. Her first full length album, it's an audacious mix of pop and jazz standards served up with a twist of blues, and all are artfully rendered to perfection. A brilliant, unpredictable vocalist, James' fluid, graceful phrasing showcases a rare, instinctive prowess, one that effortlessly ranges from a steam heated murmur to the glorious, sweeping highs that made At Last a stone classic.