Final Etta James Album Has Macon Connections

Legendary Blues, R&B and Jazz vocalist Etta James will be featured during African-American History Month on PBS., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2011

Final Etta James album has Macon connections

By Jessica Walden

It’s never been a secret that my dad, Alan Walden, didn’t like Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” when he first heard it.
He even told Redding, his friend and business partner, that the song was a mistake -- it was too much of a departure from his trademark, gut-firing “Gotta, Gotta” love songs. He was whistling! It was morbid, even. How can the greatest soul singer alive croon about “resting his bones?”

It would ultimately be the best “mistake” Redding ever made as “Dock of the Bay” became a bona fide, multi-platinum, award-winning, smash hit. Sadly, just as he hinted in those haunting lyrics, Redding left the world before knowing just how beloved that strange song would become.

But before “Dock of the Bay” began wrapping itself around the world with airplay in every country with a radio, before there was a plane crash that changed everything, before Redding became immortal, there was “Champagne and Wine.”

When Dad didn’t like “Dock of the Bay,” he suggested writing different lyrics to the music. So, he, Redding and Roy Johnson gave it a whirl. The intro started like this:

“Sitting here thinking about the times I roamed. Different girls that I have known. Of all the girls that I have met, you are the one girl that I can’t forget, listen ....”

The song was based on a romance my dad had with a detective’s daughter. Not quite the poetic effect of sitting in the morning sun and watching the ships roll in that “Dock of the Bay” captured.

Redding recorded it anyway. As well as “Dock of the Bay.” And the rest was modern American music history.

One of Redding’s most obscure originals, “Champagne and Wine” is the only song Dad, as a retired music publisher and manager, receives royalties for as a songwriter.

As a young girl, I would marvel at the song’s royalty statements. I never heard “Champagne and Wine” played anywhere, but there were small countries in Africa that seemed to have an affinity for it.

It was nothing short of wonderful news a few months back when Dad got word that Etta James would be releasing her final album “The Dreamer” in time for the holidays, and on it, she would cover “Champagne and Wine.”

The first time my dad ever ventured to a black nightclub was to hear James perform live at Adams Lounge.

It changed his world forever. She later joined the artist roster at Macon’s own Walden Artists and Promotions with the Walden brothers as her booking agents. She was a star then and a star to this day.

The news was bittersweet for dad that this was her final album.

Fate would finally have it that 44 years later, what could have been an alternative version of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” has finally surfaced. Like a fine wine (and champagne), James croons it like it was always meant for her to sing. Just like “Dock of the Bay” was destined for Redding.

Jessica Walden is the director of communications for Community Health Works and serves on the Bragg Jam Board of Directors. She operates a music history tour company, Rock Candy Tours, with her husband. She can be reached at rockcandytours@gmail.com or 955-5997.