Ray Charles - Ol' Man River

[oak71]

Thanks for posting. Can't find this in iTunes. Beautiful song. No one did it like Ray.

[Mackingcole]

Love this version of a Classic song, by one of the greatest song interpreters ever. Got to admit I love the singers on this too - an awesome track. Thanks for uploading.

[pierluigi471]

Tanks for his excellent version.

[wingzfreak365]

goosebumps every time

[tlee51ftw]

I used to have an album of Ray Charles greatest hits that had this on it. I've hunted for it before and never found it, until now. The best version ever, I think. Thanks for posting.

[chazdesimone]

@tlee51ftw If I had to choose only one RC song it would be this one. You can hear the genuine strife in his singing here, and I was told he was going through a rough time and they caught the mood in just one take. "...and so ssssick of trying..." says it all. I actually like the backup singers and rich orchestration (the singers could be more gospelly, though).

[tlee51ftw]

@chazdesimone If I had to choose only one RC song it would be a bunch of them..... : )

Unlike some of the fans I don't really have an opinion of the orchestra and back up singers but I would have liked to have heard it with just Ray and the piano just to see. It's hard for anyone to screw up a Ray Charles song no matter how they arrange it.

[stenocrate]

thnak you ray, sei il più grande, i love all your songs... !!!

[dfarmbrough]

It's just like Ray to completely ignore standard interpretations of this song and do his own thing :)

[chiguyfalco]

Ray has touched my life for 50 years. There is no other like him.

I still get chills listening to this.

I don't think that Ray would agree with you that the singers take away from his impact. They just frame his greatness.

[goru112]

the best version of this song. thnx to d uploader

[5eilat5]

i just love this! thank you!

[jor99912]

I remember I had this in my collection when I came home on leave before departing for Vietnam in1967. Along with Jimmy Reed & other hard Blues stuff I stole from Georgia & Alabama White guys rooms! i probably still have them in my basement. BIG 78s records!

[jaycee1938]

God! Thank you so much for posting this beautiful piece.. It's a wonderful quality-version..

[elstroshitnonstop]

sounds like bobby charles

[countparas]

thanks for posting

[jpchamant]

enlevez les realet's et le charme se perd; d'autant plus que sa femme en est une

[dmattosbr]

Thanks a lot Chris!

[ghettoindie]

omg took me years beyond years to find the name of this version. it's my fave from joe versus the volcano too.

[trentoification]

Thanks buddy!!;]

[einekleineblues]

Rarely has this song been sung with such raw feeling. I love the huge contrast between the conventional choral intro and the moment Ray chimes in with his utter sincerity and truthfulness. He sings this song with all the pain and suffering that generations of his forebears had to suffer under white rule.  "You know I get weary & so sick of trying", shows Ray's heart...and what a big heart that man had. Yes, Robeson & Sinatra did a great job, but somehow Ray just lived this song.

[rranswerman]

@einekleineblues Raw feeling and a cold. This was recorded during a night session while he had a cold and was taking cold medicine. Each time the choir sang the beginning, he feel asleep at his piano and missed his cue so they decided to just start a few bars prior to his entry and the two parts would be edited together later. His vocal part was done from start to end in one take. The sniffle near the end is actually a function of his cold. How he did this while sick is beyond me.

[dang622]

the best version

[claude4268]

Une extraordinaire version par l'immense Ray Charles ...

[1208mlassen]

WTF did I just hear? Listen to Robeson or Sinatra sing it.

By the way, two thumbs up for johnny.

[johnny4463435]

noob he fucked it up added a bunch of useless shit and ruined the song what a fag

[damienrecords]

Mr. Charles auditioned and chose the singers. He had finay approval of EVERY song and mix prior to release. He must have liked it. Remember, it IS a show--tune from SHOW BOAT.

[rosscalverley]

@damienrecords Actually think the singers sound better than him....

[youchewb]

@rosscalverley oh fuk off ross i know u cunt and u hate black people... oh i get it, their good for entertainment. go fuk yaself

[mckvicker]

Miss you so much Ray! You'll always be the King of soul!!!!!!!!!!!

[mckvicker]

Miss you so much Ray! You'll always be the King of soul!!!!!!!!!!!1

[lnefouse]

if this doesn't make you well up then you aint human, that, or your a stoned cold bigot..when the expression of "SOUL" was coined it was RAY Charles they had in mind...I bought this albumn right before leaving for Vietnam...and let me tell you a whole lot of brothers died in that shit hole...and the ones that didn't, came back to this bullshit..and I'm a white dude ......

[jtmom1959]

according to my father, who produced this song....Ray was very sick with the flu while recording this...this was also one fo the first songs to be cut and edited.

[dubyabee5]

ray charles voice is so distinctly great...if a well played saxophone had a voice, it would sound like ray charles.

[moses1999]

Thanks Ray! Hey if any one can find the Ray Charles rendition his performed at a Frank Sinatra birthday party benefit. It is a different version but very very nice as well. Mr Charles comment right before he begin singing and it is worth listening too as well. hit me up on yahoo if any one post it. Thanks Mosestr104@yahoo

[wattever333]

the chorus is there for contrast. get it.

[612giz]

Chris180Z...thanx for posting! Mr. Ray Charles...i'm in "one of those jobs," i play this song in my head while @ work...it gives me the strength to keep "motoring-on!" R.I.P. Sir!!

[jpchamant]

J'avais 12 ans en 1958, et sur RTL après ZappyMax et n'écoutez pas Mesdames: surprise Ray chante Old man River, tel quel, la radio diffusait l'air et tremblant que le repas arrive j'étais heureux, plus tard à Paris j'assistais à de nombreux concert à l'Olympia mais jamais je n'ai eu cette impression d'avant: Génius, oui,c'est bien lui!

[telijencio]

Ray Charles was a incomparable genius! Your version of Ol´Man River and Hit the Road Jack are insuperable! This version always makes me cry, especially when he says "I get weary and so sick of trying. I´m tired of living, but I´m feared of dying". I never felt so much emotion in a voice.

[Countdown33k]

haha yess the background singers make this track sounds like some kind of disney christmas movie...

[gsdsteve]

@DavisNetPromos5550 You are 100% correct. The Raelettes wouldn't sound right on this song.

[max9607]

thanks for posting I kinda feel like 4:25 on right now.

[DavisNetPromos5550]

The singers are NOT horrid! Please do not spend your time trashing this absolute CLASSIC!!

The contrast between the rawness on Ray's voice and the the sophisticated sound of the singers makes the meaning of the lyrics all the more meaningfull.

Ray took a lot of crap from blues lovers during this period ...but this song along with "You'll Never Walk Alone" and others were absolutely BRILLIANT!

Anyone who is not touched by these recordings needs to get off Youtube and play your crappy radio!

[ponchocervantes]

this is the ONLY interpretation of this tune...perhaps only surpassed by pops...

[barryasus]

Beautiful combination of elements. The tension between the singers and Ray is absolutely wonderful and it brings out an amazing sound and feeling when you listen to this song. Strings, yes those beautiful strings.

[barryasus]

Beautiful combination of elements. The tension between the singers and Ray is absolutely wonderful and it brings out an amazing sound and feeling when you listen to this song. Strings, yes those beautiful strings.

[sandgrules]

Thanks for the upload! This is one of my favorites, especially in Joe Vs the Volcano.

[bbbernardo]

Thank you for posting!

[biastg]

Ray Charles's "Ol' Man River" was a departure from the classic version, but it was, in my opinion, marvelous. The contrast between the sweet-smooth sound of the choir singing the verse against the rough tenor-sax sound of Ray's voice—which was dripping with emotion—brought the meaning of the song home in an unmistakable way.

[skybendu]

Disagree about the singers. They provide a great foil for Ray's time-stretching/soulful delivery. Can't imagine a better contrast than this! My major complaint is that they seem to use the same ending a lot (listen to "Standards" album & hear for yourselves). Classic version in any case! Love the way those strings hit w/ the intro "Mississippi" motif @ the end... sends chills.

[Stonelee1947]

Maybe the most beautiful song I have ever heard......been enjoying it since the 60's.......shewy bee..........

[A1sausie]

1:30 

[MrTobias1979]

I remember hearing this song in the movie Joe VS the volcano. It was great then and great now.

[Stonelee1947]

One of my all time favorites.....so soothing like the South!!

[grandslam1998]

Bravo Bravo.

[yellowsayshello]

thank u! :D

[aristottlesdeathwish]

my favorite version of the song right here

[spinoia]

Ray is great! Excellent interpretation!

[jaw444]

thanks for posting this, nice quality. i got this album, Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul, in 1964 (it came out in 63). This is one of my favorite tracks, i love the singers on this song, it's call and response, that's what the song is about, "..he don't plant cotton.." (he don't plant cotton).. great arrangement. Other great tracks on that album, Stranger in Town and Ray's great cover of Over the Rainbow. Could you by any chance post Stranger in Town? :-) thanks again

[Vllrd]

I'm addicted to this singer, and this song is just perfect... I love you, Ray...

[kb420ps]

Thanks for uploading this song. My mom was a big Ray Charles fan, but I actually know this song from the movie "Joe versus the volcano".

I love this song.

[DAVIDSILVERCA]

@kb420ps I first heard this version on Joe V The Volcano too!!!

[jelliclestar]

@kb420ps I officially love you for knowing Joe vs. the Volcano. This part brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it.

[612giz]

@kb420ps YAH!! Joe vs. The Volcano!! Joe Banks!! Mr. Waturi!! The Island of Bubaru!!!

[jpchamant]

Comme à la radio chantée sur une radio quand un midi passé aorès Zapy Max zt n'écoutez pas Mesdames oh, surprise la première fois

Old Man river by the Genius himself Waouh....

c'était en 1957 je crois. Dommage qu'il n'y ai pas de vidéo, bon génial quand même non?

[wdrayr]

I've never heard this version.  I wish that somehow the horrid 'Ray Charles Singers' could be eliminated from the track. They take away some of the impact of Mr. Charles brilliant interpretation.

All that said, he is at his best.

Boy, I miss him.

[Chris180Z]

I would have to agree with the singers! As for Ray, well, perfect as ever! :)

[biastg]

@Chris180Z I like the contrast between the smooth-sweet chorus and Ray's rough tenor-sax voice—I think it helps to deliver the emotion of the song. And one thing about Ray: he had artistic control over every single note that he ever recorded. It's quite a departure from the classic Paul Robeson interpretation, but I like it a lot.

[Kaalec]

@wdrayr I thought so too when I first listened to it. But then I thought that the very traditional chorus and strings actually made his soulful version shine even brighted in contrast. He was amazing.

[orme96]

@wdrayr the singers are a bit too intense, but they sing some phrases beautifully. also, they provide great contrast for ray's beautiful entrance. and they set the mood quite well.

[cjacja21]

@wdrayr I agree with you, the singers seem to take away from the true emotion of it..... but Ray is amazing, one of the best versions I heard of this brilliant song xx

[Silva1n1]

@wdrayr I used to feel the same about the singers. But in time I grew to appreciate the contrast between Ray and the choral singers. I always notice that voice whisper something after Ray first sings ''rolling along'' - little things like that are so special...

[dogkelp]

@wdrayr

I agree on the singers' ill-conceived backing, but they're probably not the "Ray Charles singers" per se but rather a team of backing vocalists assembled by ABC when it was put together. The Ray Charles Singers were run by a different Ray Charles, an arranger, though they recorded on a subsidiary of ABC when Ray the singer did, so it's an open question whether they ever worked together. Confusing, but doesn't ruin genius.

[pinkyrhythm]

Thx for this! One of my best from him and this quality is really great!

[Chris180Z]

Amazing when Ray comes in at 1:34

[vinobody]

@Chris180Z and how he comes out at around 5:00

[ace51515]

heres an extra view by the way riveting pic : )