Mess Around

Album 1957 RayCharles

Single (A): Atlantic 999, July 1953 b/w Funny But I Still Love You.
Compilation album: Ray Charles, Atlantic 8006, June 1957.

Taped in New York on 17 May 1953 with “his orchestra”: Jesse Drakes – tp; Sam Taylor- ts; Dave McRae – bs; Connie Kay – d; Mickey Baker – g; Lloyd Trotman – b.

The song peaked at #3 in the R&B chart.

There are some strong similarities with Pinetop Smith’s Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie (1928). The tune was also quite similar to Paul Gayten’s Cow-Cow Blues, which had been released by Okeh records 6982 in 1952. Ray may have heard it played live at the Brass Rail in New Orleans, where Gayten led the house band. Read this.