Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles

Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles is an album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in 1962. It reached number 96 on the Billboard 200 and remained there for 11 weeks.^[1]

Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles
Studio album by Bobby Darin
Released	March 1962
Genre	Rhythm and blues
Length	36:17
Label	Atco
Producer	Ahmet Ertegün
Bobby Darin chronology
Twist with Bobby Darin (1961) Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles (1962) Things and Other Things (1962)

The album was reissued on CD in 2004, and in 2010 it was included in a box set entitled Original Album Series, which contains five of his studio albums.^[2]

Background

Darin recorded the album as a tribute to Ray Charles. His version of "What'd I Say" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. Guest soloists included Nino Tempo, Plas Johnson and Darlene Love. Darin said, "I'm proud to say that I was on the Ray Charles bandwagon when it was just a baby carriage. In fact, two singers—Fats Domino and Ray Charles—opened up my ears to a whole new world, different from anything I'd heard until then. They both became major influences when I realized these are the roots."^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]

In a review for AllMusic, critic JT Griffith wrote "In addition to the rocking "What'd I Say," standouts include the swinging testament to love, "I Got a Woman," "Ain't That Love," and "Hallelujah I Love Her So."... A listener can debate if these covers are as good as the originals (could they be?) but not the authenticity that jumps off the turntable."^[1]

Track listing

All songs by Ray Charles unless otherwise noted.

1. "What'd I Say" – 4:08
2. "I Got a Woman" (Charles, Renald Richard) – 6:34
3. "Tell All the World About You" (Charles, Percy Mayfield) – 1:54
4. "Tell Me How Do You Feel" – 2:50
5. "My Bonnie" – 2:33
6. "The Right Time" (Lew Herman) – 3:28
7. "Hallelujah I Love Her So" – 2:51
8. "Leave My Woman Alone" – 3:16
9. "Ain't That Love" – 2:57
10. "Drown in My Own Tears" (Henry Glover) – 3:23
11. "That's Enough" – 2:23

Personnel

• Bobby Darin – vocals
• Nino Tempo, Plas Johnson – saxophone
• Darlene Love – vocals (on "The Right Time")
• The Blossoms – backing vocals
• Jimmie Haskell – arrangements

References

1. Griffith, JT. "Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
2. "Bobby Darin – Original Album Series". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
3. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 394. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 28 December 2024.