Blues For You

Tera Hepler - Reporter

For years, we have seen the same quick-paced music, but what if you want to just slow down and truly feel the soul and meaning behind the song? 

Most albums nowadays are a loud and quick listen, but the older blues and soul music truly allow you to just sit back and let you understand the emotions that went into the music and its creation. An example of this is “Tell Mama” by Etta James, her seventh studio album. 

During the creation of this album, she was in a dark period of her life. Throughout her struggle with her own emotions, she turned towards one of her only outlets of emotion: music. During an interview about the album, James said she was experiencing “tons of confusion and anger stored inside” and that she just needed to “blow the doors off of the studio.” She did just that with her beautiful and emotional delivery of her feelings.

This album is surrounded with its own unique feel and message as it shows her deeply sorrowful feelings within the writing, which she expressed through the depressing vocals.

Ever since its release in 1968, the album has gained recognition as James’ greatest comeback and a defining album in the blues industry. In my opinion, “Tell Mama” has rightfully gained all of its spotlight within the blues genre.

If you ever want an album to cry about and let all of your feelings out, go for “Tell Mama” by Etta James.