Song Details
- Artist
- Ray Charles
- Album
- What'd I Say
- Released
- 1959
- Genre
- R&B, Soul, Rock & Roll
- Length
- 6:28
¶ Deep Analysis
"What'd I Say" is the moment soul music was born. Improvised live on stage when Ray Charles had 12 minutes left to fill, the song combines the sacred (gospel call-and-response) with the profane (sexually suggestive moans and rock rhythms).
The Electric Piano
This was one of the first times an electric piano (a Wurlitzer) was used prominently in a hit record. Ray's funky, distorted sound gave the song a raw edge that acoustic pianos couldn't match.
The song starts with a tight Latin rhythm, builds into a frenzied dance track, and then drops into the famous "Uhh! Ohh!" call-and-response section with The Raelettes, which was so suggestive that many radio stations banned it.
@ History & Impact
-
1
Crossover Hit
It was Ray Charles' first gold record and crossed over massively to white audiences, helping to break down racial barriers in the music industry.
-
2
Beatles Cover
The Beatles honed their skills playing this song live in Hamburg for hours at a time, with John, Paul, and George all taking turns on vocals.