The Second Time Around (Etta James album)

The Second Time Around was originally released by Argo Records as a 12-inch LP, containing five tracks on each side of the LP (with ten tracks overall). Like her previous album, At Last!, the producers, Phil and Leonard Chess, added orchestral strings to the background music of James's voice, which garnered 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."[2][3] 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.

The Allmusic reviewer, Richie Unterberger, gave the album a positive review, giving it four out of five stars.[2]

Side One

1. "Don't Cry Baby" – (Saul Bernie, James Johnson, Stella Unger) 2:22
2. "Fool That I Am" – (Floyd Hunt) 2:54
3. "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)" – (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) 3:26
4. "In My Diary" – (Michael Graham, Mark Silverman) 2:32
5. "Seven Day Fool" – (Billy Davis, Berry Gordy, Sonny Woods) 2:58

Side Two

1. "It's Too Soon to Know" – (Deborah Chessler, E.H. Morris) 2:44
2. "Dream" – (Johnny Mercer) 2:22
3. "I'll Dry My Tears" – (Etta James, Clyde Walker) 2:34
4. "Plum Nuts" – (Robert Plummer) 2:58
5. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" – (Duke Ellington, Bob Russell) 2:24

Singles - Billboard (United States)