Etta James recorded her classic “At Last” in 1961, and the performance shows no signs of wear. The R&B ballad sounds as pure and moody today as it must have some 45 years ago. Music like this doesn’t really “age,” it just gets further from its orginal release date.

When first issued, the tune hit No. 2 on the blues chart and also entered the top 30 on the pop chart. The folks at Chess Records must have been delighted.

Take a listen to the audio clip, and notice how she slides into that second, languorous note. She scoops up into it and takes flight, her voice smoky and clear at the same time. As she sings it sounds like she’s revealing something true, something highly personal about love finally attained after a long struggle. I also like the subtle triplet figure on the piano; it’s characteristic of the time period but somehow adds to the timelessness of the recording.


Download Etta James’s “At Last” from iTunes