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Ray Charles is the debut studio album by American pianist, vocalist, and band leader Ray Charles.[3] Originally released in June 1957 on Atlantic Records, it was re-released under the title Hallelujah I Love Her So in 1962.
| Ray Charles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1957, 1962 | |||
| Recorded | May 17, 1953 – November 27, 1956 | |||
| Genre | Soul, R&B | |||
| Length | 41:30 | |||
| Label | Atlantic 8006[1] | |||
| Producer | Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler | |||
| Ray Charles chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ray Charles | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 re-release cover | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
Although routinely identified as a debut album, Ray Charles could more accurately be identified as a greatest hits compilation, as all tracks had been previously issued and no fewer than 11 of its 14 tracks had been top 10 hits on the R&B chart between 1953 and 1957. In order, they were: "Mess Around" (#3, 1953), "Don't You Know" (#10, 1954), "I Got a Woman" (#1, 1955), "Come Back" (#4, 1955), "This Little Girl of Mine" (#9, 1955), "A Fool for You" (#1, 1955), "Greenbacks" (#5, 1955), "Drown in My Own Tears" (#1, 1956), "Mary Ann" (#1, 1956), "Hallelujah I Love Her So" (#5, 1956) and "Ain't That Love" (#9, early 1957).
The three remaining tracks ("Funny (But I Still Love You)", "Sinner's Prayer" and "Losing Hand") were non-charting B-sides originally issued in 1953–54. No tracks were recorded specifically for an album release.
Critical reception
editThe Rolling Stone Album Guide thought that "lesser tunes like 'Funny but I Still Love You' and 'Losing Hand' are just as interesting" as the hits.[4]
Track listing
editAll music is composed by Ray Charles, except where indicated
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ain't That Love" | 2:51 | |
| 2. | "Drown in My Own Tears" | Henry Glover | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Come Back Baby" | 3:06 | |
| 4. | "Sinner's Prayer" | Lloyd Glenn, Lowell Fulson | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Funny (But I Still Love You)" | 3:15 | |
| 6. | "Losing Hand" | Charles E. Calhoun | 3:14 |
| 7. | "A Fool for You" | 3:03 | |
| Total length: | 22:14 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hallelujah I Love Her So" | 2:35 | |
| 2. | "Mess Around" | A. Nugetre | 2:40 |
| 3. | "This Little Girl of Mine" | 2:33 | |
| 4. | "Mary Ann" | 2:48 | |
| 5. | "Greenbacks" | Renald Richard | 2:52 |
| 6. | "Don't You Know" | 2:57 | |
| 7. | "I Got a Woman" | Ray Charles, Renald Richard | 2:51 |
| Total length: | 19:16 | ||
Personnel
edit- Ray Charles – vocals, piano
- The Ray Charles Orchestra – instrumentation
- Jerry Wexler – producer
- Marvin Israel – cover
See also
edit- List of 1957 albums
- Atlantic Records' 8000 Series: