Ray Charles

Ray Charles: (Self Titled)

Album #11 - June 1957

Episode date - July 19, 2023

The Alternative Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    Ray Charles did so many things well -and all at the same time - that he sometimes doesn’t get sufficient credit for all the things that he did.

    I suppose that he is primarily thought of as an R&B artist, but he also contributed significantly to the development of rock and roll. He was also one of the first R&B artists to incorporate Country-Western music into his repertoire. He worked with three-piece bands and full orchestras and created instrumental albums that featured his abilities as a keyboardist. He was instrumental (sorry, no pun here, keep moving, keep moving) in establishing rhythm and blues by emphasizing each side of that style, as can be explored quite literally on this, his debut album.

    Side one of “Ray Charles” consists exclusively of blues tracks, with six of the seven tracks featuring blues progressions in 6/8 time. Side two highlights the upbeat ‘rhythm’ side of his influence, which is certainly the fan’s favorite side because every track on side two was an R&B hit. It should be noted, however, that none of these now familiar tunes ever charted on Billboard’s top 40, being relegated strictly to the segregated R&B charts.

    By 1956, that segregation started to diminish. Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins found themselves on the R&B charts, for example (and the country-western charts as well), which only proves that the decision-makers had no idea where rock and roll would eventually land. Charles was above the fray, simply doing what he did best, with significant assistance from the staff at Atlantic Records, who were insistent at promoting him as a genius (which was not hyperbole).

    Atlantic was one of many small, independent record labels like Imperial, Specialty and King that formed to cash in on the boom of small R&B bands that flourished after the War. Atlantic grew the fastest of the lot, not only because they were very good at what they did, but also because they cast a wider net, including jazz as part of their early profile. By 1952, they had amassed quite a lineup of artists and a good number of hits, when they signed Ray Charles to their roster. Charles was a perfect fit at Atlantic because he covered the full spectrum of their range.

    By the time this album was released, Charles was their premier artist and the future for both the artist and the label appeared to be bright indeed. It’s only a shame that they didn’t manage to retain their relationship when greater things started to happen for both of them.

    Featured tracks:

    Ain't That Love

    Drown in My Own Tears

    Come back Baby

    Sinner's Prayers

    Funny (But I Still Love You)

    Losing Hand

    A Fool for You

    Hallelujah I Love Her So

    Mess Around

    This Little Girl of Mine

    Mary Ann

    Greenbacks

    Don't You Know

    I Got a Woman

    June 1957 - Billboard Did Not Chart

    Related Shows

    Nick Drake - Pink Moon

    Nick Drake: Pink Moon

    Album #147 - February 1972

      0:00
      0:00
      Ry Cooder: Into the Purple Valley

      Ry Cooder: Into the Purple Valley

      Album #146 - February 1972

        0:00
        0:00
        Townes Van Zandt: High, Low and In Between

        Townes Van Zandt: High, Low and In Between

        Album #145 - January 1972

          0:00
          0:00
          Jackson Browne: Jackson Browne (AKA - 'Saturate Before Using')

          Jackson Browne: Jackson Browne (AKA - 'Saturate Before Using')

          Album #144 - January 1972

            0:00
            0:00
            J.J. Cale - Naturally

            J.J. Cale: Naturally

            Album #143 - January 1972

              0:00
              0:00
              David Bowie: Hunky Dory

              David Bowie: Hunky Dory

              Album #142 - December 1971

                0:00
                0:00
                The Kinks: Muswell Hillbillies

                The Kinks: Muswell Hillbillies

                Album #141 - November 1971

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Pink Floyd - Meddle

                  Pink Floyd: Meddle

                  Album #140 - November 1971

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    O.V. Wright

                    O.V. Wright: A Nickel and a Nail and Ace of Spades

                    Album #139 - July 1971

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Gil Scott Heron: Piecees of a Man

                      Gil Scott Heron: Pieces of a Man

                      Album #138 - June 1971

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        John Prine: John Prine (Self Titled)

                        John Prine: John Prine (Self Titled)

                        Album #137 - June 1971

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Leonard Cohen: Songs of Love and Hate

                          Leonard Cohen: Songs of Love and Hate

                          Album #136 - March 1971

                            0:00
                            0:00