Stickin' to My Guns
Etta James · 1990
40 min · 10 tracks · blues
A vibrant blend of soul, blues, and funk that showcases Etta James's powerful vocals and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Whatever Get’s You Through the Night — This opening track combines soulful melodies with a funky groove, setting the tone for the album while showcasing James's dynamic vocal range.
-
→
Your Good Thing (Is About to End) — James delivers a heartfelt performance filled with emotional intensity, turning this classic into a personal anthem that resonates deeply with listeners.
-
→
A Fool in Love — This track exemplifies James's roots in rhythm and blues, featuring passionate lyrics that convey vulnerability and longing, making it a standout moment in her discography.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Etta James blends blues and funk effectively, showcasing her vocal strength while maintaining a cohesive sound throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a cover of 'Whatever Get’s You Through the Night', which sets a mid-tempo groove that carries through the first half.
- Several tracks, like 'Get Funky' and 'Love to Burn', incorporate brass sections that enhance the funk elements within the blues framework.
- The final track, 'I’ve Got Dreams to Remember', features a slow build-up with layered vocals and instrumentation, creating an emotional climax.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo groove
- soulful vocal expressions
- for evening relaxation
- emotional depth in every track
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced music
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Marked Etta James's resurgence and solidified her contemporary presence.
- Career context
- Released in 1990, Stickin' to My Guns was Etta James's first studio album in nearly a decade, following the critically acclaimed Seven Year Itch. This album marked a resurgence in her career, showcasing her ability to adapt and thrive within the evolving musical landscape of the late '80s and early '90s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Aretha Franklin· Billie Holiday· Nina Simone
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Whatever Get’s You Through the Night 3:51
- 2 Love to Burn 3:33
- 3 The Blues Don’t Care 3:44
- 4 Your Good Thing (Is About to End) 3:56
- 5 Get Funky 4:48
- 6 Beware 3:43
- 7 Out of the Rain 4:35
- 8 Stolen Affection 3:55
- 9 A Fool in Love 3:27
- 10 I’ve Got Dreams to Remember 4:28
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.