RAY CHARLES "rock & roll" LP NM/NM 1957 Atlantic Black Label MONO Deep Groove
$
96
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Description
AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder [-] One of the first handful of LPs issued by Atlantic, Ray Charles (later retitled Hallelujah I Love Her So) is a bona fide classic of its genre. Weighted about three to one in favor of Charles' own compositions, its raison d'etre was the hits "Hallelujah I Love Her So" and the pounding, soaring "Ain't That Love," which opens the LP. As with other Atlantic albums of the period, its content was determined more by Charles' recent singles than by a real plan for the LP, but even within those limitations it's an amazingly subtle record. 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. The original album suffered from deficient sound and most reissues left a lot to be desired, but in 2003 WEA International reissued it (as Hallelujah I Love Her So) in a 24-bit remastered version in a gatefold format that is a treat to the ear and runs circles around prior reissues.
Ray Charles ?– Ray Charles Label: Atlantic ?– 8006 Series: Rock & Roll (3) – Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono Country: US Released: 1957 Genre: Funk / Soul, Blues Style: Rhythm & Blues TracklistHide Credits A1 Ain't That Love Written-By – Ray Charles 2:50 A2 Drown In My Own Tears Written-By – Henry Glover 3:15 A3 Come Back Baby Written-By – Ray Charles 3:00 A4 Sinner's Prayer Written-By – Lowell Fulson 3:15 A5 Funny (But I Still Love You) Written-By – Ray Charles 3:05 A6 Losing Hand Written-By – Charles Calhoun 3:07 A7 A Fool For You Written-By – Ray Charles 2:59 B1 Hallelujah I Love Her So Written-By – Ray Charles 2:35 B2 Mess Around Written-By – A. Nugetre* 2:39 B3 This Little Girl Of Mine Written-By – Ray Charles 2:30 B4 Mary Ann Written-By – Ray Charles 2:41 B5 Greenbacks Written-By – Renald Richard 2:49 B6 Don't You Know Written-By – Ray Charles 2:36 B7 I Got A Woman Written-By – Ray Charles 2:48 Companies, etc. Published By – Progressive (3) Published By – Jay & Cee Music Credits Cover – Marvin Israel Liner Notes – Guy Remark Notes Label variation: 2 songs on each side printed above the spindle hole.
1st issue on deep groove black label with silver printing.
GOLDMINE GRADING
MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.
NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.
VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.
VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.
GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.
POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.
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