The Walrus - Music With Big Fuckin' Teeth!

02/21/2008

Why Country Musicians Shouldn't Cover Ray Charles Songs

Ray Charles' 1959 hit "What'd I Say" is one of those songs that's likeable every time it's heard. Rooted in blues and gospel, the natural groove in Charles soulful delivery is classically effortless. A bunch of words beginning with the letter "S" come to mind when describing this song. Slyly suggestive of sex, the song slinks through sass and smoke to steamy satisfaction. Case in point...

Johnny Cash and June Carter are certainly a pair to be reckoned with in the world of country music. Outside of that world however, it's an entirely different story as their 1967 album Carryin' On With Johnny Cash and June Carter demonstrates. When The Man in Black takes his turn covering Charles "What'd I Say," he sounds a lot like an uptight politician cutting loose at a fund-raising event. There is nothing natural about this duet, and words like awkward, clumsy, uncomfortable, gawky are the only way to describe this performance. At least June has a bit of soul in her, but eeeeek.

There are a handful of other gems on this record that are actually great such as "Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man," while others songs are not so great like "From Sea to Shining Sea." Nonetheless, it's a record you should own for that very reason.
Same goes for Ray Charles- his early records are incredibly amazing and if you don't already own them, treat yourself!