This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2021) |
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 | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Ray Charles | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
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.
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.