Wish You Were Here Tonight
| Wish You Were Here Tonight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1983 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Ray Charles | |||
| Ray Charles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 for "Best Country Vocal Performance, Male".[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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B[8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "3/4 Time" | T. J. White | |
| 2. | "I Wish You Were Here Tonight" | J. Sullins | |
| 3. | "Ain't Your Memory Got No Pride at All" | R. Lane, R. Porter, B. Jones | |
| 4. | "Born to Love Me" | B. Morrison | |
| 5. | "I Don't Want No Stranger Sleepin' in My Bed" | B. Emerson, G. Jones | |
| 6. | "Let Your Love Flow" | L. E. Williams | |
| 7. | "You Feel Good All Over" | S. Throckmorton | |
| 8. | "String Bean" | J. Lewis | |
| 9. | "You've Got the Longest Leaving Act in Town" | S. Throckmorton, D. Kirby | |
| 10. | "Shakin' Your Head" | M. Smotherman |
References
- ^ Christy, Marian (April 27, 1983). "In the Key of Music". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
- ^ "Is Ray Charles switching from blues...". Tropic Mag. Miami Herald. August 28, 1983. p. 6.
- ^ "Nominees Included". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. March 7, 1984. p. 46.
- ^ "Ray Charles". Recording Academy. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ "Ray Charles". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Lydon, Michael (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. Routledge.
- ^ Kirby, Kip (February 5, 1983). "Ray Charles Returns with a Nashville Sound". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 5. p. 46.
- ^ a b c "Ray Charles". Robert Christgau. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Lloyd, Jack (April 13, 1984). "Year After Year, He's a Hot Act". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
- ^ Gold, Kerry (May 29, 2000). "The Genius of Ray Charles". Vancouver Sun. p. B9.
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (June 11, 2004). "His Sound Was Stunning". The Hamilton Spectator. p. G9.
- ^ Aregood, Rich (February 18, 1983). "'Wish You Were Here Tonight': Another Good Ray Charles Record". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 45.
- ^ "Wish You Were Here Tonight Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 302.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 124, 127.
- ^ Lacey, Liam (February 26, 1983). "Wish You Were Here Tonight Ray Charles". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
- ^ Marsh, Dave (March 19, 1983). "Good Music, Poor Sentiments". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 16.
