10

RayCharles,'What'dISay'

Writer:Charles
Producers:AhmetErtegun,JerryWexler
Released:June'59,Atlantic
15weeks;No.6
"Thepeoplejustwentcrazy,andtheylovedthatlittleummmmh,unnnnh,"RayCharlestoldRolling
Stonein1978,describingtheinstantgenesisof"What'dISay,"hisfirstTop10popsingleandthe
greatestfeelgoodsonginrock&roll."Lateron,peoplesaiditwasvulgar,"Charlescontinued,referring
tothatirresistible,sexuallyheatedvocalbridge."But,hell,let'sfaceit,everybodyknowsabout
theummmmh,unnnnh.That'showweallgothere."
Themantheycalled"TheGenius"literallywrote"What'dISay"infrontofanaudience,inlate1958or
early'59.HeandhiscrackR&Borchestra,newlysupplementedbyafemalevocalgroup,theRaelettes,
wereplayingamarathondanceshowinasmalltownnearPittsburgh.WhenCharlesranoutofrepertoire
lateinthesecondset,hekickedintoanuphillbassnotearpeggioonthepiano,toldthebandtofollow
alongandinstructedtheRaelettes,"WhateverIsay,justrepeatafterme."Afterward,Charlessaid,
dancersrusheduptohimandasked,"WherecanIbuythatrecord?"
"What'dISay"maynothavebeenmuchofasongahandfulofshort,unconnectedverses,thechorus
andthatbridgewhenCharlescutitonFebruary18th,1959,atAtlantic'sNewYorkstudio.(Thesix
andahalfminuteraveupwasmasterfullyeditedandresequencedbythelabel'svisionaryengineer,
TomDowd,fromanevenlongerstudioperformance.)Butoutofnecessity,thatnightonthebandstand
Charleshadturnedtotheblackgospelexperienceheknewsowell,theshared,mountingecstasyofcall

andresponse."Churchwassimple,"hesaidinhisautobiographyBrotherRay."Preachersangorrecited,
andthecongregationsangrightbackathim."
ThatisexactlyhowCharlesrecorded"What'dISay,"withatorridsecularspinheightenedbythemetallic
attackofhisWurlitzerelectricpiano.Charles'grunt'n'groanexchangeswiththeRaeletteswerethe
closestyoucouldgettothesoundoforgasmonTop40radioduringtheEisenhowerera.Fortyfiveyears
later,theystillgivesweetrelease.
Appearson:TheUltimateHitsCollection(Rhino)
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