Written by
Bob Stumpel

November 8
2014


Hot Rod (aka The Spirit-Feel) (With The Ray Charles Septet)


Album 1958 NewportAlbum 1960 AtlantaSaxWith Ray Charles Band

Album: Ray Charles At Newport, Atlantic 1289, October 1958.
Album: Ray Charles In Person, Atlantic 8039, May 1960 (1959).

The tune, written by Milt Jackson, is only known from the two earliest released live concerts in Newport (1958) and Atlanta (1959).

1958 line-up:
Ray Charles – voice, piano, alto saxophone; Marcus Belgrave, Lee Harper – trumpets; David Fathead Newman – tenor saxophone; Hank Crawford – baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis – bass; Richie Goldberg – drums.

1959 line-up:
Ray Charles – voice, piano, alto saxophone; Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt – trumpets; David Fathead Newman – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone; Hank Crawford – baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis – bass; Teagle Fleming – drums.

David Newman and Ray Charles, probably playing Hot Rod here (Newport ’58). Photo by Lee Friedlander.

Newport 1958:

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

Atlanta 1959 (In Person):

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


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