From '' The Rationals ''
Label: Crewe Records -- CR-1334
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Tracklist
A1a Barefootin'
A1b Segue
A2a Temptation 'Bout To Get Me
A2b Segue
A3a Guitar Army
A3b Segue
A4a Something's Got A Hold On Me
A4b Segue
A5 Deep Red
B1a Sunset
B1b Segue
B2a Glowin'
B2b Segue
B3 Handbags & Gladrags
B4 Ha-Ha
Vocals, Piano, Percussion, Organ, Guitar, Flute -- Scott Morgan
Vocals, Guitar, Percussion -- Steve Correll
Vocals, Bass, Piano -- Terry Trabandt
Drums, Vibraphone, Percussion -- Bill Figg
------------------------
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Etta James.
The song was written by James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while production was handled by Leonard and Phil Chess.
It was released in 1962 as the third single from her 1962 self-titled album as a 7" vinyl disc. Musically, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track with elements of soul, blues and gospel.
Upon its release, the single was an R&B hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart.
Background and composition
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" was written by Etta James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while was produced by two founders of the Chess Records, Leonard and Phil Chess.
The song was released as the third single from James' 1962 self-title studio album.
It was served as a 7" vinyl disc with the other song, "Waiting for Charlie to Come Home", as the B-side in the United States.
Later, the track was included on the singer's 1963 compilation album Etta James Top Ten.
The live version of "Something's Got a Hold on Me" also appeared on Etta James' first live album, Etta James Rocks the House (1964).
In 1992, the song was a part of her greatest hits album, My Greatest Songs.
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track with elements of soul, blues, and gospel.
The song lasts for a duration of 2:48 (two minutes and 48 seconds).
According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was composed in the key of G major and set as the moderate tempo of 72 beats per minute with a "strong beat".
James' vocals in the song span on nearly one and a half octaves, from the low-note of D4 to the high-note of G5.
Live performances
On September 27, 1963, Etta James first performed "Something's Got a Hold on Me" at the New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee; later the performance was recorded and was included on her first live album Etta James Rocks the House.
During a "King-led all-star concert" which was held at the Ebony Theater, Los Angeles, California in 1987, James performed the song again with American blues musician B.B. King.
There, the singer sang the track with backing guitar played by King.
That performance was released as a CD and home video entitled "A Night of Blistering Blues".
Reception
Jay Lustig of New Jersey On-Line called "Something's Got a Hold on Me" a "scintillating" track.
Upon its release, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was an R&B hit, peaking at number four on the Hot R&B Sides chart, a music chart which was published by American music magazine Billboard and now is the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
The single also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 37.
Cover versions and samples
In 2010, American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera recorded a cover version of the song on the soundtrack Burlesque.
Australian recording artist Jessica Mauboy also covered "Something's Got a Hold on Me" in 2013 and released it as a single.
Pretty Lights sampled the song for his 2006 album Taking Up Your Precious Time. In 2011, the track was sampled on two hits: "Levels" by Swedish DJ Avicii and "Good Feeling" by American rapper Flo Rida.
The Kingsmen released a cover version on The Kingsmen Volume II in 1965 and on Greatest Hits in 1966.
The Belgian band Vaya Con Dios covered the track on their album Night Owls (1990).
On March 30, 2004, Natalie Cole performed "Something's Got a Hold on Me" at the Apollo Theater in New York City.
In 2010, American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera also covered it for the soundtrack album Burlesque.
The version by Aguilera was met with favorable reviews from critics; a writer from Blogcritics wrote that "[the song] really digs in and makes them show stoppers" and "[it] suits her voice perfectly", while Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic picked "Something's Got a Hold on Me" as one of the three best songs from the soundtrack.
Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy recorded a cover version of the track and released it as a single exclusively in Australia in 2013.
Doi-Oing was the first artist to sample "Something's Got a Hold on Me" in his 1991 song "Good Feeling".
In 2006, electronic music artist Pretty Lights sampled the song again in his track "Finally Moving" from the album Taking Up Your Precious Time.
In 2011, two smash hits sampled "Something's Got a Hold on Me": "Levels" by Swedish DJ Avicii and Flo Rida's "Good Feeling".