Ray Charles - Ray Charles

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

Iconic musician and singer Ray Charles' classic 1957 album!

Includes the hits "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "Ain't That Love" and "I Got a Woman"

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Mastered directly from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Ray Charles' self-titled 1957 album was one of the first handful of LPs issued by Atlantic (and was later retitled Hallelujah I Love Her So). As AllMusic reviewer Bruce Elder notes, the album is weighted about three to one in favor of Charles' own compositions, with the hits "Hallelujah I Love Her So" and the pounding, soaring "Ain't That Love," which opens the LP, its raison d'etre.

Charles does just as well with his interpretations of others' work, most notably the ominous, gospel-focused rendition of "Sinner's Prayer" (which offers a virtuoso piano performance, and comes courtesy of the pen of Charles' former mentor Lowell Fulson) and Henry Glover's wrenching ballad "Drown in My Own Tears," which is topped out on each verse by a gorgeous chorus. "Funny (But I Still Love You)" offers a guitar break played in such an understated fashion that it almost doesn't seem so much a part of R&B as it was usually being offered in 1957 as it does a part of Charles' early career output.

The second side of the LP is even better, opening with the title track, a number that is almost too ubiquitous in its various cover versions — the original has a mix of urgency and playfulness that's absolutely bracing, and the album carries this mood forward with "Mess Around," an Ahmet Ertegun-authored piano- and sax-driven romp with Charles at his most ebullient as a singer. "This Little Girl of Mine" offers him in a surprisingly light, almost acrobatic vocal mode, while "Greenbacks" is a knowing, clever cautionary narrative that is almost a throwback to 1940s-style R&B. "Don't You Know" is as salacious a piece of R&B as one was likely to hear in 1957, and "I Got a Woman" closes the record out on a pounding, driving note.

All the hallmarks of a top-notch Analogue Productions reissue are here for you to savor: Mastered directly from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram at Quality Record Pressings and RTI, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

 

 

1. Ain't That Love

2. Drown In My Own Tears

3. Come Back Baby

4. Sinner's Prayer

5. Funny (But I Still Love You)

6. Losing Hand

7. A Fool For You

8. Hallelujah I Love Her So

9. Mess Around

10. This Little Girl Of Mine

11. Mary Ann

12. Greenbacks

13. Don't You Know

14. I Got A Woman

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 4 person(s) rated this product.

Ray Charles debut posted on 03/22/2024 5 Stars I've been waiting for this for years and I am very excited to say that it surpasses my expectations Its a must have for every fan of The Genius Ray Charles Excellent Sound I love it Robert

Ray Of Sunshine posted on 01/28/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: Blue The Analog Productions version of this lp positively smokes. Exceptional depth and clarity combine with analog warmth and put this collection way over the top. Back in the cd heyday, I sprung for an Atlantic/Rhino compilation of Ray's early years. I loved the music but never cottoned to the harsh sound. This is the perfect antidote-I feel the music has really come to life. I look forward to the rest of the upcoming Atlantic 45 Ray Charles releases.

As perfect as this will ever sound. posted on 01/16/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: Derek Duncan How do you make a legend sound great, let AP tackle it . The mastering, pressing and packaging is second to none like every release so far in the Atlantic 75 series. I’m stunned at how clear and detailed it sounds. Obviously recordings from 1957 and below are not going to sound modern, but honestly they sound very close. I feel like I am there in the studio witnessing this recording as it turns.

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