Wish You Were Here Tonight
Studio album by
Ray Charles
Released1983
GenreCountry
LabelColumbia
ProducerRay Charles
Ray Charles chronology
Brother Ray Is at It Again
(1980)		 Wish You Were Here Tonight
(1983)		 Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
(1984)

Wish You Were Here Tonight is an album by the American musician Ray Charles, released in 1983.[1][2] Charles shot videos for the title track and "3/4 Time"; both were nominated for American Video Awards.[3]

"Born to Love Me" was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Country Vocal Performance, Male" category.[4] The album peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.[5] It was a moderate commercial success.[6]

Production

Produced by Charles, the album was recorded in Los Angeles.[7][8] Charles recorded many of the songs in a country music style, employing mandolin, banjo, and fiddle.[9][10][11] "Let Your Love Flow" is a cover of the Bellamy Brothers song.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Robert ChristgauB[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[15]

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the material Charles has chosen is nearly all third-rate and the arrangements limp along hopelessly out of synch with the growl and roar of his voice."[16] The Philadelphia Daily News opined that "it's the best he's made in the better part of a decade, and whatever the weakest material is more than made up for by his always wise and whimsical performances."[17] Robert Christgau deemed the album "another rehash of his jokey, deeply felt shtick... Not that it can't be great shtick."[8]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."3/4 Time" 
2."I Wish You Were Here Tonight" 
3."Ain't Your Memory Got No Pride at All" 
4."Born to Love Me" 
5."I Don't Want No Stranger Sleepin' in My Bed" 
6."Let Your Love Flow" 
7."You Feel Good All Over" 
8."String Bean" 
9."You've Got the Longest Leaving Act in Town" 
10."Shakin' Your Head" 

References

  1. ↑ Christy, Marian (27 Apr 1983). "In the Key of Music". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  2. ↑ "Is Ray Charles switching from blues...". Tropic Mag. Miami Herald. August 28, 1983. p. 6.
  3. ↑ "Nominees Included". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. 7 Mar 1984. p. 46.
  4. ↑ "Ray Charles". Recording Academy. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ray Charles". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Lydon, Michael (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. Routledge.
  7. ↑ Kirby, Kip (Feb 5, 1983). "Ray Charles Returns with a Nashville Sound". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 5. p. 46.
  8. 1 2 3 "Ray Charles". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Lloyd, Jack (13 Apr 1984). "Year After Year, He's a Hot Act". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
  10. ↑ Gold, Kerry (29 May 2000). "The Genius of Ray Charles". Vancouver Sun. p. B9.
  11. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (11 June 2004). "His Sound Was Stunning". The Hamilton Spectator. p. G9.
  12. ↑ Aregood, Rich (February 18, 1983). "'Wish You Were Here Tonight': Another Good Ray Charles Record". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 45.
  13. ↑ "Wish You Were Here Tonight Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 302.
  15. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 124, 127.
  16. ↑ Lacey, Liam (26 Feb 1983). "Wish You Were Here Tonight Ray Charles". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
  17. ↑ Marsh, Dave (19 Mar 1983). "Good Music, Poor Sentiments". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 16.
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