At Last

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For other uses, see At Last (disambiguation).
"At Last"

Vinyl record
Single by Etta James
from the album At Last!
B-side "I Just Want to Make Love to You"
Released November 15, 1960
Format 45 rpm
Recorded 1960
Genre Soul blues, traditional pop
Length 2:57
Label Argo
Writer(s) Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
Producer Phil Chess, Leonard Chess
Etta James singles chronology
"Spoonful"
(1960)		 "At Last"
(1960)		 "Don't Cry Baby"
(1961)

"At Last" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives, starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. It was performed in the film and on record by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday. Unreleased recordings of the song, however, had been made in 1941 by Glenn Miller for possible inclusion in the film Sun Valley Serenade. An orchestral version of the song without lyrics first appeared in that movie in 1941. A new version was recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in Chicago on May 20, 1942, and released by RCA Victor Records as a 78 single, catalogue number 27934-B, backed with the A side "(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo". The song reached number 9 on the Billboard pop charts in 1942, staying on the charts for 9 weeks, and later became a standard. In 1960, it was covered by blues singer Etta James in an arrangement by Riley Hampton that improvised on Warren's melody. James' version was the title track in the same-named album At Last! and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

Contents

Original and cover versions [edit]

1942 sheet music cover,"At Last", as recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra from the movie Orchestra Wives, Leo Feist, New York.

The song was a favorite of Harry Warren's and he would occasionally draw the melody of the first two bars of the song when signing an autograph.

Former Glenn Miller Orchestra trumpeter Ray Anthony had the highest charting recording of the song in the U.S. on the pop charts in 1952, peaking at no. 2 on the Billboard pop singles chart and no. 20 on the Cashbox chart.[2]

The song became Etta James' signature song and was the third in a string of successful songs from her Chess Records debut album At Last!. In April 1961, it became her second number 2 R&B hit and crossed over to pop radio, reaching number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite its modest pop chart standing, the song is well-known and is still played regularly on oldies radio stations. The James version reached the top 40 in Cashbox and Music Vendor.

In the decades since its release it has been covered by many artists. The Etta James version, with its passionate vocal and sweeping orchestration, is often chosen for weddings and wedding receptions.[3]

An unusual "cover" was released under the title: "Theme From 'The Last Time I Saw Archie'" (from the movie starring Robert Mitchum). Percy Faith charted the medley of "At Last" and "Angel Face", which reached #91 in 1961 in the US Music Vendor Top 100.

During her audition in Dallas for the first season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson sang "At Last."[4] On August 13, 2009, Connecticut contestant Katie Stevens covered this song in her American Idol audition.

Singer Christina Aguilera, who has been influenced by James since she started singing, performed the song at James's funeral in January 2012. Her performance received a standing ovation.

Ledisi covered the song at the 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame during the "In Memoriam" montage in response to Etta James' death in January of that year.

Additional cover versions include:

Cultural references [edit]

RCA Victor 78, 27934-B, by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle, 1942.

In the final scene of the May 10, 2004 series finale of the UPN sitcom The Parkers, Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn) sings the song following the wedding of her mother Nikki Parker (Mo'Nique) and the longtime object of Nikki's affection, Professor Stanley Oglevee (Dorien Wilson). Appropriately, the episode is entitled "At Last."

The Etta James version is used in several movies and television series. Her version of "At Last" is in the 1998 film Pleasantville, appearing in the score behind the decisive scene when the pink 1950s-era Buick convertible carries the newly enlightened kids down to the park by the lake in a gentle shower of pink blossoms. It was also used in American Pie in one of the early scenes of the film where lovestruck Jim approaches foreign exchange student Nadia at a party. In addition, the song was used in the 1988 film Rain Man in the scene where Charlie is teaching his brother Raymond how to slow dance. The Etta James version was featured in an almost silent episode of Two Guys and a Girl. A brief clip of the song (Etta James) is heard on Strong Arms of the Ma of the TV series, The Simpsons, when Marge rips the jukebox out of the wall at Moe's Tavern. Additionally, it was played in The Simpsons episode The Wife Aquatic, when Homer clubs the haul of Yum Yum Fish that has just been caught. The Etta James version is also used in the Chuck episode Chuck Versus the Wedding Planner. The movie Little Manhattan also features this song in the wedding scene.

The song was used in FOX's post-game coverage of Game 4 of the 2004 World Series when the Boston Red Sox ended an 86-year championship drought.

Ventriloquist Terry Fator won the summer 2007 season of America's Got Talent largely on the strength of his performance of the song with his puppet "Emma Taylor".

The song is covered by R&B/jazz artist Felicia Loud in the 2007 feature documentary "Inlaws & Outlaws", directed by Drew Emery.

In the 2008 film, My Mother's New Boyfriend, a romantic comedy directed by George Gallo, Eva Cassidy's version is played at the very end of the film.

It was used in the trailer for the 2008 film Wall-E (Etta James Version).

Kevin Michael performed a cover of the song during the wedding scene in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer.

In the 2009 series of The X Factor, Stacey Solomon performed this song on Diva Week. The performance received mixed reviews from judges, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole both enjoyed it but Simon Cowell said she was out of her comfort zone. In the 2011 series it was performed by Johnny Robinson.

At the first of many inaugural balls for President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, Beyoncé Knowles performed At Last live for the President's and First Lady's first dance, reprising her Grammy-winning performance of the song in the 2008 film Cadillac Records.

In the 2011 series of The X Factor USA, Josh Krajcik performed this song on the first audition. The performance received great reviews from judges.

In 2012 on Series 9 of The X Factor Jahmene Douglas performed this song at his audition and at the semi-final.

The Etta James version was played in its entirety during the opening scenes of the CSI: NY episode, "Blood Actually" (Season 9, Episode 16, 15 February 2013).

Charts [edit]

Chart (1961) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 47
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Sides[6] 1
Chart (2011) Peak
position
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[7] 69
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 72
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 33
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 39

Céline Dion version [edit]

"At Last"
Single by Céline Dion
from the album A New Day Has Come
Released December 9, 2002 (2002-12-09)
Format Promotional recording
Recorded Studio Piccolo, Bananaboat Studios
Genre Pop, soul
Length 4:16
Label Columbia, Epic
Writer(s) Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
Producer Humberto Gatica, Guy Roche
Céline Dion singles chronology
"Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)"
(2002)		 "At Last"
(2002)		 "I Drove All Night"
(2003)

"At Last" was covered by Céline Dion and included on her sixth English-language album A New Day Has Come (2002). Her version was produced by Humberto Gatica and Guy Roche, and released as a promotional single in the United States on December 9, 2002. However, there was no music video made for the song. It was also the last single released from the album. "At Last" peaked at number 16 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. A live version of this song was included on the A New Day... Live in Las Vegas album in 2004, as Dion performed it for four years during her A New Day... show in Las Vegas.

Background and composition [edit]

While commenting about the song, Celine revealed, "I can see beginning my show and looking into everyone's eyes and singing this song. This is my hello."[11]

The version of the song, written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, was produced by Humberto Gatica and Guy Roche and it is featured on Dion's sixth English-language album A New Day Has Come (2002). The song is a soul soliloquy where Dion, accompanied by the delicate chords of a violin, sings about the joy of love found "at last".[12]

Critical reception [edit]

The song was critically acclaimed. Frédéric Garat of RFI wrote that the song is "a lovely exercise which reveals the layer of blues hiding underneath the slightly prim and proper petticoats of the 'international star'."[12] Barnes & Noble's Editorial review commented, "Her solid rendition of Etta James's 'At Last' should satisfy her lovelorn fans."[13] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it "a soulful rendition."[14] Chuck Taylor of Billboard said that this "standard" serves her grown-up fans. However, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone commented that "she doesn't have the pipes for material defined by Etta James."[15] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly agreed, calling it a "pallid cover."[16]

Charts [edit]

Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[17] 16

Beyoncé Knowles version [edit]

"At Last"
Single by Beyoncé
from the album Cadillac Records
Released December 9, 2008 (2008-12-09)
Format Music download
Genre Soul blues
Length 2:58
Label Columbia
Beyoncé singles chronology
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
(2008)		 "At Last"
(2008)		 "Diva"
(2008)

"At Last" was also covered by Beyoncé Knowles and included on the soundtrack album of the film, Cadillac Records.[18] It was released on the soundtrack album on December 2, 2008 through Columbia Records.[18] In the film, Knowles portrays Etta James. Beyoncé won critical acclaim for portraying James in "Cadillac Records," and has performed "At Last" several times since the movie was released, including in front of James.[19] She told MTV News: "[Etta James is] one of my heroes, and I always loved her voice, but now knowing what she's been through, she's one of my heroes. I'm not sure if she thought [I would be good] as her. I'm very, very nervous. [...] I actually spoke with her and she told me, 'I loved you from the first time you sung.'"[20] Knowles later told Billboard: "I realized that Etta James was so unapologetic, bold and strong that playing her was a big risk for me. It gave me the confidence and the push to challenge myself a little more with my music."[18]

Critical reception [edit]

John Kehe of The Christian Science Monitor wrote: "No one can channel Etta – she's a singular talent – but Beyoncé does it her own way and conjurs enough emotion and grit to make it work in the context of the movie."[21] A. O. Scott of The New York Times added that Knowles' interpretation of "At Last" was "downright revelatory" and described Knowles as "a real soul diva of the old school."[22] By contrast, Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote that on "At Last", "Knowles possesses little of the legendary singer's power or edgy finesse. She's entirely too polished and restrained. Her phrasing doesn't come close in terms of inventiveness or inspiration, and her emotional conviction is lacking, to say the least."[23]

This was somehow echoed by Robert Fontenot of About.com who thought that Knowles "sings Etta like a diva -- technically proficient, but overemoted and lacking every bit of Etta's sly subtext and hard-won earthiness. Beyoncé knows how to sing the blues, in other words; she just doesn't know how to have them."[24] Knowles' version of "At Last" won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards.[25] On The Village Voice' 2008 year-end Pazz & Jop singles list, Knowles' version of "At Last" was ranked at number 443.[26]

Live performances [edit]

Knowles performed the song live at Barack Obama's first dance with his wife Michelle during the Neighborhood Ball on the night of his inauguration as President of the United States. She told Entertainment Tonight: "To sing 'At Last' while they have their first dance is a dream come true. I could not be more honored and excited that they have asked me to be part of this moment in history."[27] Etta James, who was not happy at all, remarked to the audience at a concert a week later: "You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?" James asked from the stage of Seattle's Paramount Theatre. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president. He might be yours; he ain't my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song — she's going to get her ass whupped."[28][29]

A week later, she continued savaging Knowles' performance by adding: "The great Beyoncé. Like I said, she ain't mine. [...] I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever."[29] However, she later told the New York Daily News she meant no harm when poked fun at the President and she ripped Knowles for her performance of "At Last" during the inauguration. She said: "I didn't really mean anything. Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. [...] That's probably what went into it." Still, James acknowledged being miffed she was not invited to perform her signature song for Obama's first dance with his wife on inauguration night.[30] The event was telecast live on multiple broadcast and cable television networks. At each of the balls, the Obamas' dance song remained "At Last". Knowles also performed "At Last" live at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival on June 26, 2011.[31]

Format and track listing [edit]

  • Digital download[32]
  1. "At Last (Live from Fashion Rocks)" – 2:53

Charts [edit]

Weekly charts [edit]

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Canadian Hot 100[33] 79
UK R&B Chart[34] 37
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 67
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[6] 79
U.S. Billboard Jazz Songs[35] 9

Year-end charts [edit]

Chart (2009) Position
U.S. Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs[36] 33

Release history [edit]

Country Date Format Label
United States[37][32][38] November 3, 2008 Smooth jazz radio Music World, Columbia
2008 Digital download
October 27, 2009 Urban contemporary radio

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame Database". Replay.waybackmachine.org. 2009-04-20. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  2. ^ Song artist 738 - Ray Anthony.tsort.org.
  3. ^ Chaney, Jen (January 20, 2012). "Etta James, Beyonce and the ‘At Last' legacy". The Washington Post. 
  4. ^ Us Magazine, 22 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  6. ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  7. ^ http://www.polyhex.com
  8. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Etta James – At Last". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  9. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
  10. ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Celine Dion Music: A New Day Has Come". Celine Dion Web. Retrieved August 17, 2012. 
  12. ^ a b Garat, Frédéric (April 3, 2002). "RFI Musique - - Celine Dion has come back". RFI (France). Retrieved August 22, 2012. 
  13. ^ "Barnes & Noble | A New Day Has Come by Sony, Celine Dion". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved Auugst 16, 2012. 
  14. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (March 16, 2002). "Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come | Music Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2012. 
  15. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 10, 2002). "Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2012. 
  16. ^ Tucker, Ken (March 25, 2002). "A New Day Has Come (2002)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2012. 
  17. ^ "Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard.com. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  18. ^ a b c "Beyonce Belts It Out On 'Cadillac' Soundtrack". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 1, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  19. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2009-02-05). "Beyonce Slammed By Etta James For Singing 'At Last' At Inaugural Ball - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  20. ^ Adler, Shawn (2008-11-25). "Beyonce, Etta James And 'Cadillac Records' Stars Come Out For Movie's Premiere - MTV Movie News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  21. ^ John Kehe (December 26, 2008). "CD review: Cadillac Records (Music from the motion picture)". The Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  22. ^ A. O. Scott (December 5, 2008). "Cadillac Records (2008)". The New York Times (Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr.). Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  23. ^ Thom Jurek (December 2, 2008). "Cadillac Records". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  24. ^ Robert Fontenot. "Various Artists: Cadillac Records Original Movie Soundtrack". About.com The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  25. ^ "Beyonce is queen of Grammy Awards". British Broadcasting Corporation. February 1, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2011. 
  26. ^ "New York Pazz and Jop Singles - 2008". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved March 19, 2012. 
  27. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-01-16). "Beyonce's Inaugural Song Choice: An Expert Weighs In - THINK MTV". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  28. ^ Melago, Carrie (2009-02-04). "Etta James takes shots at Beyoncé and President Obama". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  29. ^ a b Sean Michaels (February 6, 2009). "Etta James: I'm gonna whup Beyoncé's ass". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  30. ^ Melago, Carrie (2009-02-05). "Etta James truly miffed about Obama snub, but was kidding about disliking Beyonce". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  31. ^ "Beyonce covers Kings Of Leon and Prince at Glastonbury". NME (IPC Media (Time Inc.)). June 27, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011. 
  32. ^ a b "Beyoncé - At Last". Amazon. Retrieved October 28, 2011. 
  33. ^ "At Last - Beyoncé". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2012. 
  34. ^ "R&B Singles Top 40". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2011. 
  35. ^ "Beyoncé Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-12-02. 
  36. ^ "Top Smooth Jazz Songs - 2009 Year End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 5, 2012. 
  37. ^ "R&R Going For Adds: Smooth Jazz (Week Of: November 3, 2008)". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 10, 2012. 
  38. ^ "Urban/UAC Future Releases (October 27, 2009)". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2012. 

External links [edit]

Glenn Miller
Compositions
Billboard hit records
Band alumni
Filmography
Related articles
Etta James
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Related articles
Celine Dion English singles
Unison
Celine Dion
The Colour of My Love
À l'Olympia
Falling into You
Let's Talk About Love
These Are Special Times
All the Way… A Decade of Song
A New Day Has Come
One Heart
A New Day... Live in Las Vegas
Miracle
Taking Chances
My Love: Essential Collection
Other singles
Beyoncé Knowles songs
Dangerously in Love
B'Day
I Am... Sasha Fierce
4
Collaborations
Other songs
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