Ray Charles (album)

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
Ray Charles
Released1957, 1962
RecordedMay 17, 1953 – November 27, 1956
GenreSoul, R&B
Length41:30
LabelAtlantic 8006[1]
ProducerAhmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler
Ray Charles chronology
Ray Charles
(1957)		 The Great Ray Charles
(1957)
Singles from Ray Charles
  1. "Mess Around"
    Released: June 19, 1953
  2. "Don't You Know"
    Released: July 1954
  3. "I've Got a Woman / Come Back"
    Released: December 1954
  4. "A Fool for You / This Little Girl of Mine"
    Released: June 1955
  5. "Greenbacks"
    Released: September 1955
  6. "Drown in My Own Tears / Mary Ann"
    Released: February 1956
  7. "Hallelujah I Love Her So"
    Released: May 1956
  8. "Ain't That Love"
    Released: January 31, 1957
Alternative cover
re-release cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
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

The 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

All music is composed by Ray Charles, except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ain't That Love" 2:51
2."Drown in My Own Tears"Henry Glover3:21
3."Come Back Baby" 3:06
4."Sinner's Prayer"Lloyd Glenn, Lowell Fulson3:24
5."Funny (But I Still Love You)" 3:15
6."Losing Hand"Charles E. Calhoun3:14
7."A Fool for You" 3:03
Total length:22:14
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hallelujah I Love Her So" 2:35
2."Mess Around"A. Nugetre2:40
3."This Little Girl of Mine" 2:33
4."Mary Ann" 2:48
5."Greenbacks"Renald Richard2:52
6."Don't You Know" 2:57
7."I Got a Woman"Ray Charles, Renald Richard2:51
Total length:19:16

Personnel

See also

References
  1. Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Penguin. 2018. p. 127.
  2. "AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 302.
  4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 123–124.
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