Dorothy Moore vs. Monica vs. Etta James | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 35^th edition of Head 2 Head, Dorothy Moore, Monica, and Etta James contend for the best rendition of “Misty Blue”. 

W

elcome to Head 2 Head 🗣️! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  On the 35^th edition of head-to-head, iconic musicians 🎙 Dorothy Moore, 🎙 Monica, and 🎙 Etta James contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Misty Blue”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

---

1. Dorothy Moore, “Misty Blue”

💿 Misty Blue • 🏷 Malaco • 📅 1976

Mississippi often ranks among the bottom states in the United States – facts. Yes, there are a host of issues with the Magnolia State but a lack of musical talent ain’t one of them! Jackson, Mississippi has unleashed some incredible musicians, including R&B/gospel 🎙 Dorothy Moore.  Moore is best known for her 1976 hit, 🎵 “Misty Blue,” the top-charting single of her career, peaking at no. 2 in April ’76.  Fittingly, “Misty Blue” served as the title track of her album released the same year.  Personally, this is the version I’m most familiar with, even though it arrived before my time.  That said, this 🎼✍ Bob Montgomery-penned record was originally recorded by country singer 🎙 Wilma Burgess.  The original sounds far different from the more famous take by Moore.

Perhaps the name isn’t as familiar as the biggest names in soul, but the song is one of the surefire classics of the genre.  Take one listen and it’s easy to see why this became a pop hit, not to mention earning one of two 🏆 Grammy nominations Moore would earn in the 70s.  The robust, nuanced, soulful pipes of Moore do the heavy lifting on “Misty Blue” – her tone is utterly sublime. That said, the production on this is incredible, idiomatic of the soul landscape of the times: lush strings, fat bass line, rhythmic guitar, warm piano, and the groove, which anchors things down.  Of course, finally, shout out to Montgomery for writing those sensational lyrics that Moore infuses new life into, owning the definitive version of the record:

“Oh, Oh, I can't, Oh, I can't
Oh, I can't forget you
My whole world turns misty blue
Oh, Oh, my love
My whole world turns misty blue.”

---

2. Monica, “Misty Blue”

💿 The Boy is Mine • 🏷 Arista • 📅 1998

The first version of 🎵 “Misty Blue” I ever heard was the cover by 🎙 Dorothy Moore, which, peaked at no. 2 on the Hot 100 and was nominated for a 🏆 Grammy. That said, the 🎙 Monica version from her 1998 album, 💿 The Boy is Mine,  is more millennial – my time.  The 🏆 Grammy-winning singer does a fabulous job covering this country turned soul classic on contemporary R&B album.  Sure, 🎵 “The Boy is Mine”, 🎵 “The First Night”, 🎵 “Angel of Mine”, and 🎵 “For You I Will” are the main attractions, but this cover of a vintage hit is awesome.

🎛 Dallas Austin handles the production on this Moore remake, maintaining the soulfulness of the ‘original’ without making it sound anachronistic in 1998.  Like the singer she emulates, Monica drops stellar vocals, characterized by a rich tone.   She sings with relative ease, yet packs a punch, nonetheless.  A cover on an album of originals, Mo manages to make “Misty Blue” sound original too.

---

3. Etta James, “Misty Blue”

💿 The Dreamer • 🏷 The Verve Music Group • 📅 2011

🎙 Dorothy Moore, who owns arguably the ‘definitive’ version of 🎵 “Misty Blue,” was born in 1946.  🎙 Monica, who masterfully covered the cover of “Misty Blue,” was born more than 30 years later, in 1980.  Interestingly, the newest version of the song, arrives courtesy of the great 🎙 Etta James, born in 1938 and died in 2012.  The 🎵 “At Last” singer covered “Misty Blue” on her final studio album, 💿 The Dreamer, released in 2011.  As you’d expect from a 🏆 Grammy-winning legend, her performance is marvelous!

Compared to versions by Moore and Monica, James’ varies the most.  The lush strings are scrapped, replaced by earthy organ – ooh-la-la!  This addition of organ plays to James’ strengths as an iconic blues singer, giving the record a grittier quality.  That quality matches James’ robust, nuanced, smoky, and powerful vocals.  From the jump, James delivers ample personality and makes you believe the words of this cover, period.  Again, had “Misty Blue” not been covered many times, this version featuring only lead vocals by Etta could claim definitive status.  Some other notes. Sound-wise, the guitar plays a larger role compared to previous versions.  As far as the finesse of the recording, it’s masterfully engineered.  Sure, this sounds vintage, but it’s vintage with the recording technology of the 2010s.

---

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Dorothy Moore, Monica, or Etta James?  Wow, that’s stacked competition! In third place, it’s Monica, who does wonders covering the Dorothy Moore version of the track.  In my eyes, she doesn’t surpass Moore, hence, here bronze finish.  All love Mo!  That means, the true Head 2 Head comes down to Moore and James.

James is an icon among icons, and her bluesy version of this country song is an amazing closing statement in her illustrious career.  However, only one version of “Misty Blue” topped the pop charts and was nominated for a Grammy.  Ultimately, this Head 2 Head belongs to the definitive version, as performed by Dorothy Moore. Jackson, MS in the house!

---

Dorothy Moore vs. Monica vs. Etta James: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 35 [📷: Arista, Brent Faulkner, GenderArts from Pixabay, Malaco, The Musical Hype, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay, The Verve Music Group]

---