“Hit the Road Jack“ is a song written by the rhythm and blues artist Percy Mayfield….which was first recorded in 1960 as an a cappella demo sent to Art Rupe…..but it became famous after it was recorded by the singer-songwriter-pianist Ray Charles with The Raelettes vocalist Margie Hendrix ….and eventually became one of Charles’ signature songs. Charles’s recording hit # 1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100….as “Hit the Road Jack” won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. The song was # 1 on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks….and thus becoming Charles’s sixth # 1 on that chart. The song is ranked # 387 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The Chantels released an answer song, “Well, I Told You” which charted at # 29. I Got a Woman“ is also a song co-written and recorded by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles….. as Atlantic Records released the song as a single in December 1954….with “Come Back Baby” as the B-side….as both songs later appeared on the 1957 album Ray Charles (subsequently reissued as Hallelujah I Love Her So). The song was notably sampled in Kanye West’s 2005 hit song, “Gold Digger”. Then, in the infinite wisdom of Youtube…..who decided to block our original video medley by Ray Charles in 1978…..so, we found an awesome video from 1962 of Ray Charles and his original 1950’s band doing a medley including “I’ve Been Around” and “You Know I Know” plus “Tell Me What I Say”….. which is certainly worth the price of admission here at ImaSportsPhile.
Ray Charles: “I’ve Been Around” + “You Know I Know” + “Tell Me What I Say” – Performed With His Original 1950’s Band – Live On Stage In 1962
