Beth Hart is a performer who just sings straight from her soul. The Californian singer-songwriter had fans all shook up with her soulful vocal tour de force on Etta James’ classic “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She dropped into Aussie television show Rockwiz for the live cut on the 1967 hit, and her voice melded with the crack blues band in a sublime performance that drew 52 million views on YouTube.
Hart fronted the Rockwiz house band while her six-stringer Jon Nichols provided a tasteful lead guitar accompaniment. Hart’s opening line sent up a cheer from the audience, and it was instantly clear the performance was going to be a corker. She delivered a husky, aching vocal that drew all the feeling out of the melancholy ballad and showcased that she was undeniably a master blueswoman. The Music Man always has time for the classics, and Hart certainly did justice to James’ old-time hit here.
Something about Hart’s take on “I’d Rather Go Blind” hit a chord with viewers, as it became the most popular video in the history of Rockwiz by a gargantuan margin. Fans were loving it, and added comments such as “One of the few singers that gives me goosebumps. Her voice, her range, the feelings she puts into it. Her voice is an instrument. Love her” and “I don’t understand why she isn’t already a superstar. She blows everyone off the map! You go Beth Hart!”
There’s something about Hart’s style on “I’d Rather Go Blind” that keeps viewers coming back. Another of her most popular performances also featured the song, but this time for her concert with Joe Bonamassa. This version cuts quite a different groove, as it features a large band, complete with a brass section. It probably won’t surprise The Music Man readers to hear that blues guitar virtuoso Bonamassa also puts his stamp on the cover in a big way, with an extended solo in the second half of the song.
“I’d Rather Go Blind” was written by Etta James, Ellington Jordan, and Billy Foster for a 1967 release. The song was first recorded by James, and it has since become a blues and soul staple. James scored Gold certifications in Spain and the UK with “I’d Rather Go Blind.” It has since been recorded by a host of big artists, including Rod Stewart, B. B. King, Beyoncé, and Chicken Shack. The latter group scored a hit with it in 1969, featuring Christine McVie in the lineup, who later rose to fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac.