It Ain’t Easy Being Green (aka It Isn’t Easy Being Green, Bein’ Green)

Album: Renaissance, Crossover 9005, June 1975.

Recorded in late 1974 and early 1975 at RPM International in Los Angeles.

With The Ray Charles Orchestra, The Raelettes, on a few tracks also with some alumni of the band and other session musicians. An audiotape of a working session where Sid Feller and Ray Charles discussed and worked on the arrangement of the song has survived.

The band members were: Jeff Conrad, Bob Coassin, Phil Guilbeau, Jack Evans – trumpets; Wally Huff, Ken Tussing, Glen Childress, Steve Davis – trombones; Andy Ennis, Clifford Solomon, Ed Pratt, James Clay – saxophones; Leroy Cooper – baritone saxophone, band leader; Joe Harris – bass; Tony Matthews – guitar; Ernest Vantrease – keyboards. James Gadson – drums. The precise line-up of The Raelettes is uncertain.

This is where Ray may have picked up the tune.

Complete album (this is track #7):

Update 13.02.2021: the video of this performance is no longer available on YouTube, please let me know in the comments below if you have any footage, thanks — Cyd

Cher 1975:

McCallum 1991:

Live:
’75 TV Cher
’79 TV Kenny
’86 LC London
’88 LC Leeuwin
’89 TV Sesame – Released
’91 LC McCallum – Released
’92 LC Japan
’96 LC Atlantic City
’02 LC NewJersey