Tunes
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October 9, 2014
Volare (aka Nel Blù Dipinto Di Blù)
Read moreUnreleased. On 14 November 1999 Ray assisted guitarist Alex Britti in a performance of Volare (correct full title: Nel Blù Dipinto Di Blù), the ‘anthem’ of the San Remo songfestival.
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October 9, 2014
Walkin’ And Talkin’ (aka Talkin’ ‘Bout You)
Read moreRe-release. Ray dated the recording in 1947. The Miami-based music business veteran Henry Stone has claimed several times that he recorded and released the tune in 1950 or 1951, together with St. Pete’s Blues, Why Did You Go, and I’m Wonderin’ And Wonderin’. The verdict, for now, is that the tune was recorded in Miami (?), in 1951. Ray […]
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October 9, 2014
Watch It Baby
Read moreAlbum: Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues (aka Together Again), ABC/Paramount 520, August 1965. Ray recorded this typical Percy Mayfield song at RPM International in Los Angeles. The musicians were not credited. Arranged by Gerald Wilson. Listen here.
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October 9, 2014
Wave (The Ray Charles Orchestra)
Read moreUnreleased. This famous melody composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim was arranged for the band by James Polk. Three live recordings have survived. Live: ‘83 LC Antibes ‘85 LC Antibes – 2x ’86 LC Lugano
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October 9, 2014
Way Down Home On The Farm (By Percy Mayfield, Ray Charles On Piano)
Read moreCompilation album3: Percy Mayfield, His Tangerine And Atlantic Sides, Rhino Handmade RHM2 7828, 2003. Recorded in Los Angeles on January 20, 1964. Percy Mayfield – vocals; Ray Charles – piano; Edgar Willis – bass; other personnel unidentified. Listen here.
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October 9, 2014
We Are The World (With USA For Africa)
Read moreWe Are The World was a charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA For Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. 45 artists participated. Single (A): USA For Africa, We Are The World, Columbia US&-04839, 1985, b/w Grace One of the legends around the production […]
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October 9, 2014
We Can Make it
Read moreAlbum: Ray Charles Doing His Thing, ABC/Tangerine 695, May 1969. Single (A): ABC 11239, August 1969, b/w I Can’t Stop Loving You, Baby. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles. With The Raelettes, The Ray Charles Orchestra (all musicians remained uncredited. Doug “Doctor Music” Riley contributed as arranger and “second keyboardist” (for the single version; the album version didn’t […]
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October 9, 2014
We Didn’t See A Thing (With Chet Atkins And George Jones)
Read moreSingle (A): Columbia 4297, November 1983, b/w I Wish You Were Here Tonight. Album: Friendship, Columbia 39415, February 1985. Also released on George Jones’ album By Request, Epic FE39546, 1984. The Friendship album was recorded at the Eleven Eleven Studios and the Soundshop Studio in Nashville, and the Pedernales Studio in Spicewood, with c&w veteran Billy Sherrill. Ray […]
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October 9, 2014
We Don’t See Eye To Eye
Read moreAlbum: Crying Time, ABC/Paramount/Tangerine 544, 1966-01. Recorded in Q3 of 1965 at RPM International in Los Angeles. With the Ray Charles Orchestra. The album doesn’t credit any of the musicians. Listen here. Live: According to a concert souvenir booklets from c. 1966 and 1968, this number was part of the live repertoire then, but no recordings have […]
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October 9, 2014
We Had It All
Read moreAlbum: Love And Peace, Crossover/Atlantic 19199, September 1978. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles. Live: ’78 TV Exclusif
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October 9, 2014
Wee Baby Blues
Read moreUnreleased. Ray gave this tune a sloooooow performance during a concert in Stockholm on 2 October 1973. John Henderson on piano, Ray on electric piano. I assume the guitar solo was played by Harvey Sarch (who doesn’t remember that, though). In 1957 Ray had contributed to a recording of the song by Big Joe Turner.
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October 9, 2014
Wee Baby Blues (By Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles On Piano)
Read moreSingle3 (B): Atlantic 1167, b/w Teenage Letter. Compilation album3: Big Joe Turner, Rhythm & Blues Years, Atlantic 81663, 1986. Big Joe Turner recorded Wee Baby Blues several times. This one was taped by Atlantic in New York on October 2, 1957. Joe Turner (vocals) with the “Jesse Stone Orchestra”: Ray Charles (piano), unidentified (trombone), Jerome Richardson (alto saxophone), Sam […]