# Etta James discography

The discography for the American singer Etta James consists of 29 studio albums, 3 live albums, and 12 compilations. She has also issued 58 singles, one of which, "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)," reached number 1 on the Rhythm and Blues Records chart in 1955.
As a teenager in San Francisco, California in the early 1950s, James formed a singing trio, which attracted the attention of Johnny Otis, who helped her sign a recording contract with Modern Records in 1954. She recorded "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)," an answer song to the Midnighters' "Work with Me, Annie," with her vocal group, the Peaches, singing background vocals, which topped the R&B charts for four weeks in 1955. The Peaches eventually left the label, and James recorded as a solo act. She had a second Top 10 hit, "Good Rockin' Daddy," in 1955. She recorded for Modern until the end of the decade, without much further success.
After beginning to date Harvey Fuqua, a singer for the Moonglows, James signed with Argo Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records. Producer Leonard Chess believed James had crossover potential in the pop market and backed her material with orchestral arrangements. With this new style, many of James's songs became hits on both the R&B and the pop charts, such as "All I Could Do Was Cry, "At Last," and "Trust in Me." She released her debut album, At Last!, in 1960. It was followed by The Second Time Around in 1961. In 1967, James recorded with a more soul-inflected style and had her first Top 10 hit in three years, "Tell Mama," which was followed by an album of the same name. In the 1970s, her popularity declined on radio, but she remained at Chess records, recording five albums for the label, departing from them with 1975's Etta Is Betta Than Evvah.
After battling drug and alcohol addictions, James returned with her first studio album in nine years in 1989 titled, Seven Year Itch on Island Records. Her two albums in the early 90s for Island and later Elektra, varied in style from contemporary to Soul, but James eventually settled in on the Private Music label. Recording a total of ten albums for the label between 1997 and 2002, her albums included variations of contemporary blues to traditional Jazz, such as her 1997 tribute album to Billie Holiday titled, Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday. In 2004, she signed with RCA Victor and released Blues to the Bone that same year, followed by a Pop standards release, All the Way, in 2006.

## Albums
### Studio albums

| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Year | Album details | US | US R&B | US Blues | US Jazz |
| 1960 | At Last! Released: November 15, 1960 Label: Argo LP-4003 | 68 | — | — | — |
| 1961 | The Second Time Around Released: 1961 Label: Argo LP-4011 | — | — | — | — |
| 1962 | Etta James Released: 1962 Label: Argo LP-4013 | — | — | — | — |
| 1962 | Etta James Sings for Lovers Released: 1962 Label: Argo LP-4018 | — | — | — | — |
| 1964 | Queen of Soul Released: December 5, 1964 Label: Argo LP-4040 | — | — | — | — |
| 1966 | Call My Name Released: 1966 Label: Cadet | — | — | — | — |
| 1968 | Tell Mama Released: February, 1968 Label: Cadet | 82 | 21 | — | — |
| 1970 | Etta James Sings Funk Released: 1970 Label: Cadet | — | — | — | — |
| 1971 | Losers Weepers Released: 1971 Label: Cadet | — | — | — | — |
| 1973 | Etta James Released: 1973 Label: Chess | 154 | 41 | — | — |
| 1974 | Come a Little Closer Released: 1974 Label: Chess | — | 47 | — | — |
| 1976 | Etta Is Betta Than Evvah! Released: 1976 Label: Chess | — | — | — | — |
| 1978 | Deep in the Night Released: 1978 Label: Warner | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | Changes Released: 1980 Label: MCA | — | — | — | — |
| 1989 | Seven Year Itch Released: 1989 Label: Island | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | Stickin' to My Guns Released: 1990 Label: Island | — | — | — | — |
| 1992 | The Right Time Released: 1992 Label: Elektra | — | — | — | — |
| 1994 | Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday Released: March 15, 1994 Label: Private Music | — | — | — | 2 |
| 1995 | Time After Time Released: May 9, 1995 Label: Private Music | — | — | — | 5 |
| 1997 | Love's Been Rough on Me Released: April 29, 1997 Label: Private Music | — | — | 6 | — |
| 1998 | Life, Love & the Blues Released: June 30, 1998 Label: Private Music | — | — | 3 | — |
| 1998 | 12 Songs of Christmas Released: October 13, 1998 Label: Private Music | — | — | 5 | — |
| 1999 | Heart of a Woman Released: June 29, 1999 Label: Private Music | — | — | 4 | — |
| 2000 | Matriarch of the Blues Released: December 12, 2000 Label: Private Music | — | — | 2 | — |
| 2001 | Blue Gardenia Released: August 21, 2001 Label: Private Music | — | — | — | 1 |
| 2003 | Let's Roll Released: May 6, 2003 Label: Private Music | — | — | 1 | — |
| 2004 | Blues to the Bone Released: June 8, 2004 Label: RCA Victor | — | — | 4 | — |
| 2006 | All the Way Released: May 14, 2006 Label: RCA Victor | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | The Dreamer Released: November 8, 2011 Label: Verve Forecast | — | 41 | 2 | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||||

### Live albums

| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions |
| Year | Album details | US | US Blues | US Jazz |
| 1964 | Etta James Rocks the House Released: 1964 Label: Argo LP-4032 | 96 | — | — |
| 1980 | Etta, Red-Hot & Live Released: 1982 Label: Quicksilver/Intermedia | — | — | — |
| 1980 | Blues From The Big Apple Released: 2007 Label: Blues Boulevard 250177 | — | — | — |
| 1981 | Live from San Francisco Released: 1994 Label: On The Spot/Private Music | — | — | — |
| 1986 | Blues in the Night Volume One: The Early Show Released: 1986 Label: Fantasy | — | — | 10 |
| 1986 | The Late Show: Blues in the Night Volume Two Released: 1987 Label: Fantasy | — | — | — |
| 1986 | Jazzvisions: Jump The Blues Away Released: 1989 Label: Verve | — | — | — |
| 2001 | Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues Released: May 7, 2002 Label: Private Music | — | 1 | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |||||

### Compilation albums

| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
| Year | Album details | US | US Blues | US Jazz | UK | Certifications (sales threshold) |
| 1963 | Etta James Top Ten Released: 1963 Label: Argo LP-4025 | 117 | — | — | — | |
| 1986 | R&B Dynamite Released: 1986 Label: Flair/Virgin | — | — | — | — | |
| 1992 | My Greatest Songs Released: 1992 Label: MCA | — | — | — | — | |
| 1997 | Her Best Released: 1997 Label: Chess | — | 13 | — | — | |
| 1999 | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection Released: April 6, 1999 Label: MCA | 32 | 3 | — | — | US: Gold |
| 2000 | The Chess Box Released: June 27, 2000 Label: Chess | — | — | — | — | |
| 2000 | The Best of Etta James Released: September 25, 2000 Label: Spectrum | — | — | — | — | BPI: Gold |
| 2001 | Love Songs Released: January 23, 2001 Label: MCA | — | 2 | — | — | |
| 2005 | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings Released: December 6, 2005 Label: Ace | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | The Definitive Collection Released: January 10, 2006 Label: Geffen | — | 1 | — | — | |
| 2007 | Gold Released: January 30, 2007 Label: Hip-O Records | — | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | At Last: The Best of Etta James Released: September 17, 2010 Label: Decca Records | — | — | — | 22 | BPI: Gold |
| 2011 | Who's Blue?: Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s and 70s Released: February 28, 2011 Label: Kent | — | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | Heart & Soul: A Retrospective Released: October 18, 2011 Label: Hip-O Select | — | — | — | — | |
| 2019 | Collected Released: June 14, 2019 Label: Universal Music | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |||||||

## Singles

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Year | Song | US | US R&B | CAN | UK | Certifications | Album |
| 1955 | "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" | — | 1 | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1955 | "Hey Henry" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1955 | "Good Rockin' Daddy" | — | 6 | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1955 | "W-O-M-A-N" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1956 | "My One and Only" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1956 | "Shortnin' Bread Rock" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1956 | "Tough Lover" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1956 | "Good Lookin'" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1957 | "The Pick-Up" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1957 | "Come What May" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1958 | "Sunshine of Love" | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1959 | "I Hope You're Satisfied" (with Harvey Fuqua) | — | — | — | — | | Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern And Kent Recordings |
| 1960 | "If I Can't Have You" (with Harvey Fuqua) | 52 | 6 | — | — | | Etta James |
| 1960 | "Spoonful" (with Harvey Fuqua) | 78 | 12 | — | — | | Etta James |
| 1960 | "All I Could Do Was Cry" | 33 | 2 | — | — | | At Last! |
| 1960 | "My Dearest Darling" | 34 | 5 | — | — | | At Last! |
| 1960 | "At Last" | 47 | 2 | — | 39 | BPI: Platinum | At Last! |
| 1960 | "Trust in Me" | 30 | 4 | — | — | | At Last! |
| 1960 | "Fool That I Am" | 50 | 14 | — | — | | The Second Time Around |
| 1960 | "Don't Cry Baby" | 39 | 6 | — | — | | The Second Time Around |
| 1960 | "Seven Day Fool" | 95 | — | — | — | | The Second Time Around |
| 1962 | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" | 37 | 4 | — | — | | Etta James / Etta James Top Ten |
| 1962 | "Stop the Wedding" | 34 | 6 | — | — | | Etta James Top Ten |
| 1962 | "Fools Rush In" "Next Door to the Blues" (Non-album B side) | 87 — | — 9 | — | — | | Etta James Sings for Lovers |
| 1962 | "Would It Make Any Difference to You" | 64 | — | — | — | | Etta James Top Ten |
| 1963 | "Pushover" | 25 | 7 | — | — | | Etta James Top Ten |
| 1963 | "Pay Back" | 78 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1963 | "Two Sides (To Every Story)" | 63 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1964 | "Baby What You Want Me to Do" | 82 | 35 | — | — | | Queen of Soul |
| 1964 | "Loving You More Every Day" | 65 | 7 | — | — | | Queen of Soul |
| 1964 | "Breaking Point" | — | — | — | — | | Queen of Soul |
| 1964 | "Mellow Fellow" | — | 34 | — | — | | Queen of Soul |
| 1966 | "Only Time Will Tell" | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| 1967 | "I Prefer You" | — | 42 | — | — | | Call My Name |
| 1967 | "Don't Pick Me for Your Fool" | — | — | — | — | | Call My Name |
| 1967 | "Call My Name" | — | — | — | — | | Call My Name |
| 1967 | "Tell Mama" | 23 | 10 | 22 | — | | Tell Mama |
| 1968 | "Security" | 35 | 11 | 46 | — | | Tell Mama |
| 1968 | "I Got You Babe" | 69 | 32 | 46 | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1968 | "You Got It" | 113 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1969 | "Almost Persuaded" | 79 | 32 | 71 | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1969 | "Miss Pitiful" | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| 1969 | "Tighten Up Your Own Thing" | — | — | — | — | | Etta James Sings Funk |
| 1970 | "Sound of Love" | — | — | — | — | | Etta James Sings Funk |
| 1970 | "Losers, Weepers (Part 1)" | 94 | 26 | — | — | | Losers, Weepers |
| 1970 | "The Love of My Man" | — | — | — | — | | Losers, Weepers |
| 1971 | "I Think It's You" | — | — | — | — | | Losers, Weepers |
| 1972 | "I Found a Love" | 108 | 31 | — | — | | Non-album single |
| 1973 | "All the Way Down" | 101 | 29 | — | — | | Etta James (1973) |
| 1974 | "You Can Leave Your Hat On" | — | 76 | — | — | | Etta James (1973) |
| 1974 | "Out on the Street, Again" | — | 84 | — | — | | Come a Little Closer |
| 1976 | "Jump Into Love" | — | 92 | — | — | | Etta Is Betta Than Evah |
| 1978 | "Piece of My Heart" | — | 93 | — | — | | Deep In the Night |
| 1978 | "Sugar on the Floor" | — | — | — | — | | Deep In the Night |
| 1980 | "Mean Mother" | — | — | — | — | | Changes |
| 1961–1996 | "I Just Want to Make Love to You" | — | — | — | 5 | BPI: Silver | The Genuine Article: The Best of Etta James |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||||||

### Collaborations with Sugar Pie DeSanto

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Song | US | US R&B | Album |
| 1965 | "Do I Make Myself Clear" | 96 | — | Non-album singles |
| 1966 | "In the Basement (Part 1)" | 97 | 37 | Non-album singles |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |||||

### B-sides

| Year | Song | Chart positions | Chart positions | Certifications | A-Side Single |
| Year | Song | US | US R&B | Certifications | A-Side Single |
| 1961 | "Dream" | 55 | — | | "The Second Time Around" |
| 1961 | "A Sunday Kind of Love" | — | — | | "Don't Cry Baby" |
| 1961 | "It's Too Soon to Know" | 54 | — | | "Seven Day Fool" |
| 1962 | "Next Door to the Blues" | 71 | 13 | | "Fools Rush In" |
| 1963 | "How Do You Speak to an Angel" | 109 | — | | "Would It Make Any Difference to You" |
| 1963 | "I Worry 'Bout You" | 118 | — | | "Two Sides (To Every Story)" |
| 1967 | "I'd Rather Go Blind" | — | — | BPI: Gold | "Tell Mama" |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||||
* A^ Also peaked at No. 16 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
* B^ Released outside of the United States.

## Other appearances

| Year | Song | Album |
| 1962 | "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" | Alan Freed's Top 15 |
| 1985 | "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" | Back to the Future (soundtrack) |
| 1989 | "At Last" | Rain Man (soundtrack) |
| 1992 | "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" | Sister Act (soundtrack) |
| 1993 | "There's Something on Your Mind" (with B.B. King) | Blues Summit |
| 1993 | "Mockingbird" (with Taj Mahal) | Dancing the Blues |
| 1995 | "At Last" | Father of the Bride Part II (soundtrack) |
| 1995 | "At Last" | How to Make an American Quilt (soundtrack) |
| 1995 | "Take Me to the River" (with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love) | The Memphis Horns with Special Guests |
| 1996 | "It's a Small World"/"When You Wish Upon a Star Medley" | Disney's Music from the Park |
| 1997 | "At Last" | Mad About You (soundtrack) |
| 1998 | "At Last" | Kissing a Fool (soundtrack) |
| 1998 | "At Last" | Living Out Loud (soundtrack) |
| 1998 | "The Man I Love" | Melrose Place Jazz: Upstairs at MP |
| 1998 | "At Last" | Pleasantville (soundtrack) |
| 1998 | "Next Door to the Blues" | Space Bunnies Must Die! (soundtrack) |
| 1999 | "Etta's Blues" (with Etta Jones) | Ain't She Sweet: Save Your Love for Me + I'll Be Seeing You |
| 2000 | "In the Basement (Part 1)" | The Hurricane (soundtrack) |
| 2000 | "The Nearness of You" | Music from the TV Series Frasier |
| 2001 | "I Just Wanna Make Love to You" (with Jimmy Smith) | Dot Com Blues |
| 2001 | "Only Time Will Tell" | Angel Eyes (soundtrack) |
| 2001 | "Gotta Serve Somebody" | The Songs of Bob Dylan, Vol. 2: May Your Song Always Be Sung |
| 2002 | "Ball 'n' Chain" | Janis Joplin: This Ain't No Tribute Series—All Blues'd Up! |
| 2002 | "Miss You" (Illicit Remix Edit) | Queer as Folk: The Second Season (soundtrack) |
| 2005 | "I'd Rather Go Blind" (with Dr. John) | A Night of Blistering Blues |
| 2005 | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" (with B.B. King) | A Night of Blistering Blues |
| 2005 | "In the Midnight Hour" (with Paul Butterfield, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Billy Ocean, and Stevie Ray Vaughan) | A Night of Blistering Blues |
| 2005 | "Ain't Nobody's Business" (with Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight) | A Night of Blistering Blues |
| 2005 | "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (with Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight) | A Night of Blistering Blues |
| 2007 | "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" | We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song |