The Second Time Around
Encyclopedia
The Second Time Around is the second studio album by American Blues
artist, Etta James
. The album was released in 1961 on Argo Records
and was produced by Phil
and Leonard Chess
, who also produced her previous album.
, containing five tracks on each side of the LP (with ten tracks overall). Like her previous album, At Last!, producers, Phil and Leonard Chess added orchestral strings to the background music of James's voice, which garnered her with Pop crossover appeal. The album spawned three singles: "Don't Cry Baby" (#6), "The Fool That I Am" (#14) and "Seven Day Fool" (#95), which all became major hits on the Hot Rhythm Blues Records
and Billboard Pop Chart
in 1961. The album includes covers of Pop and Jazz standards such as, "Dream." The album was re-issued as a compact disc
on MCA
/Chess
in 1999, however unlike her previous album which was also re-issued, The Second Time Around did not include any additional bonus tracks.
Allmusic reviewer, Richie Unterberger gave the album a positive review, giving it four out of five stars.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
artist, Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
. The album was released in 1961 on Argo Records
Argo Records
Argo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
and was produced by Phil
Phil Chess
Philip Chess is an American record producer and company executive, the co-founder of Chess Records.He was born Fiszel Czyż in a Jewish community in Częstochowa, Poland. He and his brother Lejzor, sister Malka and mother followed their father to Chicago in 1928...
and Leonard Chess
Leonard Chess
Leonard Chess was a record company executive and the founder of Chess Records. He was influential in the development of electric blues.- Early life :...
, who also produced her previous album.
Background
The Second Time Around was originally released by Argo Records as a 12-inch LPLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, containing five tracks on each side of the LP (with ten tracks overall). Like her previous album, At Last!, producers, Phil and Leonard Chess added orchestral strings to the background music of James's voice, which garnered her with Pop crossover appeal. The album spawned three singles: "Don't Cry Baby" (#6), "The Fool That I Am" (#14) and "Seven Day Fool" (#95), which all became major hits on the Hot Rhythm Blues Records
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and Billboard Pop Chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1961. The album includes covers of Pop and Jazz standards such as, "Dream." The album was re-issued as a compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
on MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
/Chess
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
in 1999, however unlike her previous album which was also re-issued, The Second Time Around did not include any additional bonus tracks.
Allmusic reviewer, Richie Unterberger gave the album a positive review, giving it four out of five stars.
Side one
- "Don't Cry Baby" – (Saul Bernie, James Johnson, Stella Unger) 2:22
- "Fool That I Am" – (Floyd Hunt) 2:54
- "One for My Baby" – (Harold ArlenHarold ArlenHarold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
, Johnny MercerJohnny MercerJohn Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
) 3:26 - "In My Diary" – (Michael Graham, Mark Silverman) 2:32
- "Seven Day FoolSeven Day Fool"Seven Day Fool" is an R&B song written by Billy Davis, and first recorded by Etta James for Argo Records in 1961. The track was released both on a 45 RPM single , paired with "It's Too Soon to Know", and on her album The Second Time Around...
" – (Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, Jr., Sonny Woods) 2:58
Side two
- "It's Too Soon to KnowIt's Too Soon To Know"It’s Too Soon To Know" is an American doo-wop ballad by Deborah Chessler, performed first by The Orioles. It was number one on the American Rhythm and blues charts in November of 1948...
" – (Deborah Chessler, E.H. Morris) 2:44 - "DreamDream (song)"Dream", sometimes referred to as "Dream ", is a jazz and pop standard with words and music written by Johnny Mercer in 1944...
" – (Mercer) 2:22 - "I'll Dry My Tears" – (Etta James, C. Walker) 2:34
- "Plum Nuts" – (R. Plummer) 2:58
- "Don't Get Around Much AnymoreDon't Get Around Much Anymore"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is a jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Bob Russell. The tune was originally titled "Never No Lament" and was first recorded by Ellington in 1940 as a big band instrumental...
" – (Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, Bob RussellBob Russell (songwriter)Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell, was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category...
) 2:24
Chart positions
Singles - Billboard (United States)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | "Dream" | Pop Singles | 55 |
| "The Fool That I Am" | R&B Singles | 14 | |
| Pop Singles | 50 | ||
| "Don't Cry Baby" | R&B Singles | 6 | |
| Pop Singles | 39 | ||
| "Seven Day Fool" | Pop Singles | 95 | |
| "It's Too Soon to Know" | Pop Singles | 54 | |