Which singer recorded the signature 1960 version of "At Last"?

Which singer recorded the signature 1960 version of “At Last”? The answer is Etta James.

James recorded “At Last” for her debut album, At Last!, released on Argo Records in November 1960. The song was written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the 1941 film Orchestra Wives, but James transformed it into a dramatic R&B and soul standard with an orchestral arrangement and an intensely expressive vocal.

The recording was not an enormous pop-chart hit at first. It reached No. 2 on the R&B chart and No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. Its long-term cultural impact, however, far exceeded those initial rankings: James's version became her signature song and a frequently performed standard.

Listeners sometimes confuse the song's original film-era history with the best-known recording. “At Last” existed before James recorded it, and other singers have covered it, but the version most commonly associated with the title is James's 1960 recording. Its romantic mood has also made it a lasting favorite at weddings and receptions.