Remember When Etta James Covered a Sonny & Cher Classic?

In 1965, Sonny & Cher had the only No. 1 hit together, with “I Got You Babe”. On Look At Us, their debut album as a duo, “I Got You Babe” was written by Bono.

“I Got You Babe” has been covered multiple times since it was released, including by Etta James. Her version came out in 1968. Although James’s cover of “I Got You Babe” was not included on an album, she had a Top 35 single with “I Got You Babe”. Her take on “I Got You Babe” came after “Security”, a Top 15 single. She returned to the Top 35 in 1969 with “Almost Persuaded”. James’ version was also used by Walmart for a holiday commercial in 2015.

“I Got You Babe” says, “They say our love won’t pay the rent / Before it’s earned / Our money’s all been spent / I guess that’s so, we don’t have a pot / But at least I’m sure / Of all the things we got / Babe / I got you babe / I got you babe.”

Bono wrote “I Got You Babe” late at night, waking Cher up so she could hear the song in progress.

Sonny woke me up in the middle of the night to come in where the piano was, in the living room, and sing it,” she remembers. “I didn’t like it and just said, ‘Okay. I’ll sing it, and then I’m going back to bed.’ So, I was never a very good barometer.” 

A Look at Etta James’ Incredible Career

James enjoyed a career that spanned more than 20 years. Beginning with “The Wallflower (Dance With Me, Henry)”, her debut single, James had numerous hits on the radio. Her other significant singles include “All I Could Do Was Cry”, “At Last”, “Trust In Me”, “Something’s Got A Hold On Me”, and more.

James got her start when she was just 16 years old, thanks to Johnny Otis, even if she wasn’t completely honest in the beginning. After encountering the famed musician Johnny Otis, he wanted to work with James as part of her group, the Creolettes. Otis invited them to go with him to Los Angeles to make a record, something James knew her mother wouldn’t let her do.

“But I knew my mother wasn’t going to let me go,” James recalls on North Carolina Public Radio. “And he said, ‘Can I speak with your mother?’ I said, ‘No, I can’t find her right now. She’s working.’ And he said, ‘Well, can you go home and get permission from your mother. Get something in writing stating that you can travel, and have her sign it and date it.’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, I can do that.’ So, sure enough, that’s what I did. I went home, I wrote the note.”

Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage