The Albany, Georgia-born songwriter and performer Ray Charles was music incarnate. You could put the volume down on any of his performances and see the music in him as he swayed and played. He was animated, lively, and, with the sound up, astonishing.
And over the course of his career, Charles wrote and recorded some of the most indelible songs in pop culture history. Here below, we wanted explore three of those tracks. A trio of tunes that continue to stand the test of time. Indeed, these are three eternal Ray Charles songs.
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[RELATED: Remember When: Ray Charles Moved to Seattle to Begin His Music Career]
“I Got a Woman” (B-Side, 1954)
A song about an elicit interracial relationship, this track flouted prejudiced conventions and talked about in subtle, subversive ways how Ray Charles had amorous interactions with someone many in society told him not to. Not only that but Charles used gospel musical styles to get his point across, making him that much more savage as an artist. In the same way some preachers might offer closed-mindedness from the pulpit, Charles did the opposite. On the tune, he sang,
Well
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
Say, I got a woman, way over town
Good to me, oh yeah
She give me money when I’m in need
Yeah, she’s a kind of friend indeed
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
“Hit the Road Jack” (Single, 1961)
While the song above is about a romantic relationship going well, this song is about the opposite. Presented with a funny tagline, this offering won a Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording upon its release. Written originally by Percy Mayfield in 1960, Charles recorded it and made it his own in 1961. And his version made it all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. On the track, a lively Charles sings,
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
What you say?
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back
No more, no more, no more, no more
Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more
Old woman, old woman, don’t treat me so mean
You’re the meanest old woman that I’ve ever seen
I guess if you said so
I’ll have to pack my things and go
“Georgia on My Mind” from The Genius Hits the Road (1960)
A 1930 song Charles revitalized some 30 years later, this song became the official state song of Georgia in 1979. Charles sings his version with a country slang as lush violins play accentuating the vibe and mood. On it, he paid homage to the Peach State, where he was born, and at the same time solidified himself in country music after already doing so in R&B. On the tune, he sings sweetly,
Georgia, Georgia
The whole day through (the whole day through)
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
I said Georgia
Georgia
A song of you (a song of you)
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
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Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
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