There are scores of Etta James CDs out there, but this one is unique. These are her original recordings. Some great, some very good, and a few run of the mill. Discovered by bandleader Johnny Otis, initially, James was a novelty artist — albeit a good one — answering R&B hits. Her first release, “The Wallflower,” was a female response to Hank Ballard’s risqué “Work With Me Annie.” It went to Number 2 on the R&B charts in 1955 (higher than “Work With Me Annie”), so why not try again? She returned to the answer well for “Hey Henry,” “Good Rockin’ Daddy,” (Number 12, R&B), “My One and Only” and “W-O-M-A-N,” her response to Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man.” By late 1955, the formula was growing old, so Modern would record James in a variety of styles and situations. They rocked up spirituals (“Strange Things Happen”), cut standards (“By the Light of the Silvery Moon”), tried rock ’n’ roll (“Tough Lover”) and ballads “Don’t You Remember.” They tried swamp pop (“Then I’ll Care”) and even sent James to New Orleans in 1957 to cut R&B (“Market Place”). James would wax some outstanding tracks at Modern — including the previously mentioned — but after her initial success, Modern couldn’t get James back into the charts. Her career wouldn’t blossom until she moved to Chess in 1960. However, this isn’t merely a substandard collection of “before she became famous” material. Her Modern sides stand up very well against any subsequent material with the exception of the stunning “Tell Mama” Muscle Shoals session. Her stint at Modern served as a springboard to a five-decade-long and counting career.