THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

475-Ray Charles-What’d I Say.

1959-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.45.Ray Charles said ‘I’m not one to interpret my own songs,but if you can’t figure out ‘What I Say,’ then somethings wrong.Either that or you’re not accustomed to the sweet sounds of love.’

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23rd, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, United States, he died on June 10th, 2004, at the age of 73 from liver failure. His first record label ‘Atlantic’ released 11 Albums of his material between 1957-1961, after leaving ‘Atlantic’ and signing with ‘ABC’ records there were a further 24 Albums issued from 1960-1973. Another 23 Albums were released on various labels from 1973 to 2004, following his death a further four posthumous releases have been issued. On the Billboard singles chart he has achieved 34 top 40 entries, including three of his songs reaching Number 1, between 1957-1990.

‘What’d I Say’ is considered to be a landmark song, and key in the development of what was to become known as ‘Soul’ music. Charles mixed Gospel, and R&B, and Rock N’ Roll to create the song, he was playing live, and the band had played all of their material, but there was still 12 minutes to fill. Charles told the band to improvise, and over the course of many concerts, and due to audience appreciation, the song developed, and then it was finally recorded, it would become the song with which Charles would finish every concert for the rest of his career.

The female backing vocals on the track were provided by ‘The Raelettes’ who were an American girl group formed in 1958 to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles, they had originally been called ‘The Cookies’ when first getting together in 1954.

Ray Charles (see also best songs 185) scored his first top 10 single on Billboard with ‘What’d I Say,’ when it peaked at Number 6 in 1959. The song has reached the top 40 on three further occasions, in 1961 Jerry Lee Lewis made Number 30 with his version, in 1962 Bobby Darin took the song to Number 24, and in 1964 Elvis Presley made Number 21.

‘Hey mama don’t you treat me wrong, come and love your daddy all night long. See the girl with the diamond ring, she knows how to shake that thing.’