''Ray Charles'' is the first

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by American pianist, vocalist, and band leader

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

. Originally released in June 1957 on

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

, 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 The "Mess Around" is a song written by Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder and then-vice-president of Atlantic Records, under the pseudonym of A. Nugetre, or "Nuggy". It was performed by Ray Charles, and was one of Charles's first hits. Origins and comp ...

" (#3, 1953), "Don't You Know" (#10, 1954), " I Got a Woman" (#1, 1955), "Come Back" (#4, 1955), "

This Little Girl of Mine "This Little Girl of Mine" is a rhythm and blues single written and released as a single by Ray Charles in 1955 on the Atlantic label. "This Little Girl of Mine" played off "This Little Light of Mine", much like the previous " I Got a Woman" an ...

" (#9, 1955), "

A Fool for You "A Fool for You" is a bluesy, proto-soul single written and released by musician Ray Charles on Atlantic Records in 1955. The single was Charles' second number-one R&B hit. Personnel *Lead vocal and piano by Ray Charles *Instrumentation by th ...

" (#1, 1955), "Greenbacks" (#5, 1955), "

Drown in My Own Tears "Drown in My Own Tears", originally credited as "I'll Drown in My Tears", is a song written by Henry Glover. It is best known in the version released as a single in 1956 by Ray Charles on the Atlantic record label. History "Drown in My Own Tear ...

" (#1, 1956), "Mary Ann" (#1, 1956), "

Hallelujah I Love Her So "Hallelujah I Love Her So" is a single by American musician Ray Charles. The rhythm and blues song was written and released by Charles in 1956 on the Atlantic label, and in 1957 it was included on his self-titled debut LP, also released on Atl ...

" (#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 ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...

'' thought that "lesser tunes like 'Funny but I Still Love You' and 'Losing Hand' are just as interesting" as the hits.

Track listing

Personnel

– vocals, piano * The Ray Charles Orchestra – instrumentation *

Jerry Wexler Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian fil ...

– producer *

Marvin Israel Marvin Israel (July 3, 1924 – May 7, 1984) was an American artist, photographer, painter, teacher and art director from New York City known for modern/surreal interiors, abstract imagery. Israel created sinister shadowy and exuberant interiors ...

– cover

References

* Atlantic Records 8006 {{DEFAULTSORT:Ray Charles (Album) 1957 debut albums Ray Charles albums Albums produced by Jerry Wexler Albums produced by Ahmet Ertegun Atlantic Records albums