"Here We Go Again" is a
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
standard written by
Don LanierDon Lanier is a songwriter and composer. He composed and wrote dozens of songs for artists including Ray Charles, Dean Martin, The Everly Brothers and Hank Snow. His latest contributions as a songwriter and composer were on Featuring by Norah Jones and on Sugartime by Charlie Phillips...
and
Red SteagallRussell Steagall is a multitalented showbusiness personality whose career has covered a period of 35 years and has spanned the globe...
that first became notable as a
rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singleIn music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
from his 1967 album
Ray Charles Invites You to ListenRay Charles Invites You to Listen is a studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in June 1967. Made up of several standards, the album had Charles experiment with falsetto...
. Its most notable
cover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
is the rhythm and blues music duet by Charles and
Norah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, appearing on the 2004
Genius Loves CompanyGenius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
album. The song has been covered in a wide variety of musical genres. In total, three different versions have had success on music charts, however none on country music charts.
Currently, the biggest commercial success has been Charles' 1967 version, and the biggest critical success has been the 2004 duet. The original version spent twelve consecutive weeks on the
US Billboard Hot 100 chartThe Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 15. The
Nancy SinatraNancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
version charted for five weeks in 1969. When
Genius Loves Company was released, the duet cover on that album earned the
Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and
Best Pop CollaborationThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
at the 47th Grammy Awards posthumously for Charles who died in 2004.
Although its two most successful versions have been rhythm and blues music recordings, many of its other notable covers were featured on the track-listings on country music albums. "Here We Go Again" was first covered in an instrumental jazz music format, and the more recent covers have all had duet vocal arrangements. , the most recent notable version is by
Willie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and
Wynton MarsalisWynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
featuring Jones from a 2011
tribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
by Nelson and Marsalis featuring Jones entitled
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray CharlesHere We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles is a 2011 live tribute album to American singer and pianist Ray Charles. Recorded by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and jazz singer Norah Jones...
. The song lent its name to Steagall's 2007 album as well as the tribute album. Covers of the song appear on
compilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s of some artists who never released "Here We Go Again" as a single in addition to those who did.
Original version
In November 1959, Charles signed with
ABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
after twelve years as a professional musician and following the expiration of his
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
contract. In the 1960s, he experienced
crossoverCrossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
success. Because ABC signed him as a rhythm and blues singer, he waited until his contract was up for its three-year renewal before experimenting with
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, although he wanted to do so sooner. With the assistance of ABC executive
Sid FellerSidney "Sid" Feller was an American conductor and arranger, best known for his work with Ray Charles. He worked with Charles on hundreds of songs including Georgia on My Mind and worked as Charles' conductor while on tour...
, he gathered a set of songs to record, despite the wishes of ABC. The 1962 albums,
Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicModern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a studio album by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles, released in April 1962 on ABC-Paramount Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in early to mid-February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and at United Recording Studios...
and its follow-up
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two is a 1962 album by Ray Charles. It is the second volume of country and western recordings by Charles following his landmark debut on ABC Records...
, broadened the appeal of country music to the mainstream to the point where it began to have more white fans than black. In 1962, he founded his own record label,
Tangerine RecordsTangerine Records was a record label owned by Ray Charles between 1962 and 1973. In 1962, he founded his own record label, Tangerine Records which ABC-Paramount Records promoted and distributed. In 1973 Charles left ABC and he closed Tangerine and started Crossover records. Early singles labels...
which ABC-Paramount promoted and distributed.
This song was made during a phase in Charles' career when he was performing a lot of country music. Thus, "Here We Go Again" was a Tangerine label ABC-Paramount distribution country music song performed in Charles' style. However, Tangerine did not appear on the label of his works until 1968. Although Fuller left ABC in 1965, he arranged
Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. As producer, Joe Adams did the engineering.
The song was written by Lanier and Steagall and was published by the Dirk Music Company. It was recorded at
RPM InternationalRPM International Inc is a multinational holding company with subsidiaries that manufacture and market high-performance specialty coatings, sealants and building materials. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants and Euco...
Studios in Los Angeles and was listed as the sixth of ten tracks on the
Invites You to Listen album (
catalog numberThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
ABCS-595). Starting in 1987, it was included in numerous greatest hits and compilation albums. When
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was reissued in 1988, the song was added as a bonus track on that album. The song was also included on the 1988 album
Ray Charles AnthologyRay Charles Anthology is the first compact disc to collect many of soul music icon Ray Charles' ABC-Paramount-era recordings. Allmusic considers it to be "the best single CD collection of Ray Charles' '60s and '70s ABC-Paramount material", while Rhino Records, the issuing label, refers to it in the...
.
Performance history
The album tour playlist is not readily available, but "Here We Go Again" was the best-charting song on the album (and likely on the playlist). Charles' 1967 tour for the album began with a
benefit concertA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
on the
USS ConstellationUSS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
, which was preparing for departure for the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
from San Diego Harbor. The tour, Charles' first since 1964, continued to Europe in mid-April with showings at
Royal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London and
Salle PleyelThe Salle Pleyel is a concert hall in Paris, France. The resident ensembles are the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.-History and Design:...
in Paris as well as appearances in Vienna. In May, the band played
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's
Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
back in the United States before returning to California. The tour received bad reviews from publications such as
Jazz Journal,
Jazz MagazineJazz Magazine is a French magazine dedicated to jazz. It was created in 1954 by Nicole and Eddie Barclay and Jacques Souplet. Frank Ténot - who had left Jazz Hot to join Jazz Magazine - and Daniel Filipacchi became directors of the magazine soon after its creation, becoming owners in 1956...
and
New York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. Later that summer, the band played Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. In the fall, Charles had his first lucrative Nevada Casino performances starting with a three-week run at
Harrah's RenoHarrah's Reno is a hotel casino in Reno, Nevada. Harrah's Reno is credited for being Harrahs Entertainment's first hotel when the company was owned by its founder William F. Harrah.-History:...
that was praised in
VarietyVariety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. The tour also had an extended fall run at the
Copacabana nightclubThe Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
.
Composition
According to the sheet music published by Dirk Music, "Here We Go Again" is set in 12/8 time with a slow shuffle
tempoIn musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of sixty-nine beats per minute. The song is written in the
keyIn music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of B
{{good article}}
"Here We Go Again" is a
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
standard written by
Don LanierDon Lanier is a songwriter and composer. He composed and wrote dozens of songs for artists including Ray Charles, Dean Martin, The Everly Brothers and Hank Snow. His latest contributions as a songwriter and composer were on Featuring by Norah Jones and on Sugartime by Charlie Phillips...
and
Red SteagallRussell Steagall is a multitalented showbusiness personality whose career has covered a period of 35 years and has spanned the globe...
that first became notable as a
rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singleIn music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
from his 1967 album
Ray Charles Invites You to ListenRay Charles Invites You to Listen is a studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in June 1967. Made up of several standards, the album had Charles experiment with falsetto...
. Its most notable
cover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
is the rhythm and blues music duet by Charles and
Norah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, appearing on the 2004
Genius Loves CompanyGenius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
album. The song has been covered in a wide variety of musical genres. In total, three different versions have had success on music charts, however none on country music charts.
Currently, the biggest commercial success has been Charles' 1967 version, and the biggest critical success has been the 2004 duet. The original version spent twelve consecutive weeks on the
US Billboard Hot 100 chartThe Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 15. The
Nancy SinatraNancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
version charted for five weeks in 1969. When
Genius Loves Company was released, the duet cover on that album earned the
Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and
Best Pop CollaborationThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
at the 47th Grammy Awards posthumously for Charles who died in 2004.
Although its two most successful versions have been rhythm and blues music recordings, many of its other notable covers were featured on the track-listings on country music albums. "Here We Go Again" was first covered in an instrumental jazz music format, and the more recent covers have all had duet vocal arrangements. {{As of|2011}}, the most recent notable version is by
Willie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and
Wynton MarsalisWynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
featuring Jones from a 2011
tribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
by Nelson and Marsalis featuring Jones entitled
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray CharlesHere We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles is a 2011 live tribute album to American singer and pianist Ray Charles. Recorded by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and jazz singer Norah Jones...
. The song lent its name to Steagall's 2007 album as well as the tribute album. Covers of the song appear on
compilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s of some artists who never released "Here We Go Again" as a single in addition to those who did.
Original version
In November 1959, Charles signed with
ABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
after twelve years as a professional musician and following the expiration of his
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
contract.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|pp=196-97}} In the 1960s, he experienced
crossoverCrossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
success. Because ABC signed him as a rhythm and blues singer, he waited until his contract was up for its three-year renewal before experimenting with
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, although he wanted to do so sooner. With the assistance of ABC executive
Sid FellerSidney "Sid" Feller was an American conductor and arranger, best known for his work with Ray Charles. He worked with Charles on hundreds of songs including Georgia on My Mind and worked as Charles' conductor while on tour...
, he gathered a set of songs to record, despite the wishes of ABC.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=222}} The 1962 albums,
Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicModern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a studio album by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles, released in April 1962 on ABC-Paramount Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in early to mid-February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and at United Recording Studios...
and its follow-up
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two is a 1962 album by Ray Charles. It is the second volume of country and western recordings by Charles following his landmark debut on ABC Records...
, broadened the appeal of country music to the mainstream to the point where it began to have more white fans than black.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=223}} In 1962, he founded his own record label,
Tangerine RecordsTangerine Records was a record label owned by Ray Charles between 1962 and 1973. In 1962, he founded his own record label, Tangerine Records which ABC-Paramount Records promoted and distributed. In 1973 Charles left ABC and he closed Tangerine and started Crossover records. Early singles labels...
which ABC-Paramount promoted and distributed.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=248}}{{sfn|Lydon|1998|pp=213-16}}
This song was made during a phase in Charles' career when he was performing a lot of country music. Thus, "Here We Go Again" was a Tangerine label ABC-Paramount distribution country music song performed in Charles' style. However, Tangerine did not appear on the label of his works until 1968.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=354}} Although Fuller left ABC in 1965,{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=260}} he arranged
Ray Charles Invites You to Listen.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=268}} As producer, Joe Adams did the engineering.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=268}}
The song was written by Lanier and Steagall and was published by the Dirk Music Company. It was recorded at
RPM InternationalRPM International Inc is a multinational holding company with subsidiaries that manufacture and market high-performance specialty coatings, sealants and building materials. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants and Euco...
Studios in Los Angeles and was listed as the sixth of ten tracks on the
Invites You to Listen album (
catalog numberThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
ABCS-595). Starting in 1987, it was included in numerous greatest hits and compilation albums. When
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was reissued in 1988, the song was added as a bonus track on that album. The song was also included on the 1988 album
Ray Charles AnthologyRay Charles Anthology is the first compact disc to collect many of soul music icon Ray Charles' ABC-Paramount-era recordings. Allmusic considers it to be "the best single CD collection of Ray Charles' '60s and '70s ABC-Paramount material", while Rhino Records, the issuing label, refers to it in the...
.
Performance history
The album tour playlist is not readily available, but "Here We Go Again" was the best-charting song on the album (and likely on the playlist). Charles' 1967 tour for the album began with a
benefit concertA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
on the
USS ConstellationUSS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
, which was preparing for departure for the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
from San Diego Harbor. The tour, Charles' first since 1964, continued to Europe in mid-April with showings at
Royal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London and
Salle PleyelThe Salle Pleyel is a concert hall in Paris, France. The resident ensembles are the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.-History and Design:...
in Paris as well as appearances in Vienna. In May, the band played
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's
Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
back in the United States before returning to California. The tour received bad reviews from publications such as
Jazz Journal,
Jazz MagazineJazz Magazine is a French magazine dedicated to jazz. It was created in 1954 by Nicole and Eddie Barclay and Jacques Souplet. Frank Ténot - who had left Jazz Hot to join Jazz Magazine - and Daniel Filipacchi became directors of the magazine soon after its creation, becoming owners in 1956...
and
New York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. Later that summer, the band played Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. In the fall, Charles had his first lucrative Nevada Casino performances starting with a three-week run at
Harrah's RenoHarrah's Reno is a hotel casino in Reno, Nevada. Harrah's Reno is credited for being Harrahs Entertainment's first hotel when the company was owned by its founder William F. Harrah.-History:...
that was praised in
VarietyVariety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. The tour also had an extended fall run at the
Copacabana nightclubThe Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|pp=268-72}}
Composition
{{Listen
|filename=Here We Go Again (Charles) sample.ogg
|title="Here We Go Again" (1967)
|description=
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' "Here We Go Again" from
Ray Charles Invites You to ListenRay Charles Invites You to Listen is a studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in June 1967. Made up of several standards, the album had Charles experiment with falsetto...
is the first notable cover of the song. It is a rhythm & blues version from the part of Charles's career when he was recording
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.}}
According to the sheet music published by Dirk Music, "Here We Go Again" is set in 12/8 time with a slow shuffle
tempoIn musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of sixty-nine beats per minute. The song is written in the
keyIn music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of B
{{good article}}
"Here We Go Again" is a
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
standard written by
Don LanierDon Lanier is a songwriter and composer. He composed and wrote dozens of songs for artists including Ray Charles, Dean Martin, The Everly Brothers and Hank Snow. His latest contributions as a songwriter and composer were on Featuring by Norah Jones and on Sugartime by Charlie Phillips...
and
Red SteagallRussell Steagall is a multitalented showbusiness personality whose career has covered a period of 35 years and has spanned the globe...
that first became notable as a
rhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singleIn music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
from his 1967 album
Ray Charles Invites You to ListenRay Charles Invites You to Listen is a studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in June 1967. Made up of several standards, the album had Charles experiment with falsetto...
. Its most notable
cover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
is the rhythm and blues music duet by Charles and
Norah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, appearing on the 2004
Genius Loves CompanyGenius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
album. The song has been covered in a wide variety of musical genres. In total, three different versions have had success on music charts, however none on country music charts.
Currently, the biggest commercial success has been Charles' 1967 version, and the biggest critical success has been the 2004 duet. The original version spent twelve consecutive weeks on the
US Billboard Hot 100 chartThe Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number 15. The
Nancy SinatraNancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
version charted for five weeks in 1969. When
Genius Loves Company was released, the duet cover on that album earned the
Grammy Award for Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and
Best Pop CollaborationThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
at the 47th Grammy Awards posthumously for Charles who died in 2004.
Although its two most successful versions have been rhythm and blues music recordings, many of its other notable covers were featured on the track-listings on country music albums. "Here We Go Again" was first covered in an instrumental jazz music format, and the more recent covers have all had duet vocal arrangements. {{As of|2011}}, the most recent notable version is by
Willie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and
Wynton MarsalisWynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
featuring Jones from a 2011
tribute albumA tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
by Nelson and Marsalis featuring Jones entitled
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray CharlesHere We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles is a 2011 live tribute album to American singer and pianist Ray Charles. Recorded by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and jazz singer Norah Jones...
. The song lent its name to Steagall's 2007 album as well as the tribute album. Covers of the song appear on
compilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s of some artists who never released "Here We Go Again" as a single in addition to those who did.
Original version
In November 1959, Charles signed with
ABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
after twelve years as a professional musician and following the expiration of his
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
contract.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|pp=196-97}} In the 1960s, he experienced
crossoverCrossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
success. Because ABC signed him as a rhythm and blues singer, he waited until his contract was up for its three-year renewal before experimenting with
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, although he wanted to do so sooner. With the assistance of ABC executive
Sid FellerSidney "Sid" Feller was an American conductor and arranger, best known for his work with Ray Charles. He worked with Charles on hundreds of songs including Georgia on My Mind and worked as Charles' conductor while on tour...
, he gathered a set of songs to record, despite the wishes of ABC.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=222}} The 1962 albums,
Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicModern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a studio album by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles, released in April 1962 on ABC-Paramount Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in early to mid-February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and at United Recording Studios...
and its follow-up
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vol. 2Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two is a 1962 album by Ray Charles. It is the second volume of country and western recordings by Charles following his landmark debut on ABC Records...
, broadened the appeal of country music to the mainstream to the point where it began to have more white fans than black.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=223}} In 1962, he founded his own record label,
Tangerine RecordsTangerine Records was a record label owned by Ray Charles between 1962 and 1973. In 1962, he founded his own record label, Tangerine Records which ABC-Paramount Records promoted and distributed. In 1973 Charles left ABC and he closed Tangerine and started Crossover records. Early singles labels...
which ABC-Paramount promoted and distributed.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=248}}{{sfn|Lydon|1998|pp=213-16}}
This song was made during a phase in Charles' career when he was performing a lot of country music. Thus, "Here We Go Again" was a Tangerine label ABC-Paramount distribution country music song performed in Charles' style. However, Tangerine did not appear on the label of his works until 1968.{{sfn|Charles & Ritz|2004|p=354}} Although Fuller left ABC in 1965,{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=260}} he arranged
Ray Charles Invites You to Listen.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=268}} As producer, Joe Adams did the engineering.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|p=268}}
The song was written by Lanier and Steagall and was published by the Dirk Music Company. It was recorded at
RPM InternationalRPM International Inc is a multinational holding company with subsidiaries that manufacture and market high-performance specialty coatings, sealants and building materials. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Universal Sealants and Euco...
Studios in Los Angeles and was listed as the sixth of ten tracks on the
Invites You to Listen album (
catalog numberThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
ABCS-595). Starting in 1987, it was included in numerous greatest hits and compilation albums. When
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was reissued in 1988, the song was added as a bonus track on that album. The song was also included on the 1988 album
Ray Charles AnthologyRay Charles Anthology is the first compact disc to collect many of soul music icon Ray Charles' ABC-Paramount-era recordings. Allmusic considers it to be "the best single CD collection of Ray Charles' '60s and '70s ABC-Paramount material", while Rhino Records, the issuing label, refers to it in the...
.
Performance history
The album tour playlist is not readily available, but "Here We Go Again" was the best-charting song on the album (and likely on the playlist). Charles' 1967 tour for the album began with a
benefit concertA benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
on the
USS ConstellationUSS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
, which was preparing for departure for the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
from San Diego Harbor. The tour, Charles' first since 1964, continued to Europe in mid-April with showings at
Royal Festival HallThe Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London and
Salle PleyelThe Salle Pleyel is a concert hall in Paris, France. The resident ensembles are the Orchestre de Paris and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.-History and Design:...
in Paris as well as appearances in Vienna. In May, the band played
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's
Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
back in the United States before returning to California. The tour received bad reviews from publications such as
Jazz Journal,
Jazz MagazineJazz Magazine is a French magazine dedicated to jazz. It was created in 1954 by Nicole and Eddie Barclay and Jacques Souplet. Frank Ténot - who had left Jazz Hot to join Jazz Magazine - and Daniel Filipacchi became directors of the magazine soon after its creation, becoming owners in 1956...
and
New York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. Later that summer, the band played Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. In the fall, Charles had his first lucrative Nevada Casino performances starting with a three-week run at
Harrah's RenoHarrah's Reno is a hotel casino in Reno, Nevada. Harrah's Reno is credited for being Harrahs Entertainment's first hotel when the company was owned by its founder William F. Harrah.-History:...
that was praised in
VarietyVariety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. The tour also had an extended fall run at the
Copacabana nightclubThe Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
.{{sfn|Lydon|1998|pp=268-72}}
Composition
{{Listen
|filename=Here We Go Again (Charles) sample.ogg
|title="Here We Go Again" (1967)
|description=
Ray CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
' "Here We Go Again" from
Ray Charles Invites You to ListenRay Charles Invites You to Listen is a studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in June 1967. Made up of several standards, the album had Charles experiment with falsetto...
is the first notable cover of the song. It is a rhythm & blues version from the part of Charles's career when he was recording
country musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.}}
According to the sheet music published by Dirk Music, "Here We Go Again" is set in 12/8 time with a slow shuffle
tempoIn musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of sixty-nine beats per minute. The song is written in the
keyIn music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of B{{music, and the vocals span from the low note of
G3Sol, So, or G is the fifth note of the solfège starting on C. As such it is the dominant, a perfect fifth above C.When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle G note is approximately 391.995 Hz...
to the high note of
C5C or Do is the first note of the fixed-Do solfège scale. Its enharmonic is B.-Middle C:Middle C is designated C4 in scientific pitch notation because of the note's position as the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano keyboard...
. It is also influenced by the genres of country music and
gospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. According to Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic, "'Here We Go Again' is a soulful ballad in the Southern blues tradition. Lyrically, it has a resignation and pain that makes the blues, simply, what it is. The recording has a simple and sterling gospel arrangement and, in retrospect, is one of Charles' finer attempts in the studio from the 1960s."
Reception
In a review for the single,
Billboard magazine wrote that the song could easily be a "blockbuster" for Charles. Greenwald described the original as "Another excellent example of how Ray Charles was able to fuse blues and country".
The original version debuted on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart in the May 20, 1967 issue at number 79 and on the
US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles top 50 chartHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
on June 10, 1967 at number 48. For the weeks ending July 15, July 22 and July 29, the song spent three weeks at its peak position of number 15 on the Hot 100 chart. It spent July 22 and July 29 at its peak position of number 5 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. By August 12, it fell out the Hot 100 chart, ending a 12 week run. It remained on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart for 13 weeks ending on September 2. "Here We Go Again" was Charles' last single to enter the top twenty of the Hot 100.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=209}} For the year 1967, the song finished at number 80 on the
US Billboard Year-EndBillboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November...
Hot 100 chart and 33 on the Year-End Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart.
Abroad, it debuted on the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
top 40 at number 38, which would be its peak, on July 8, 1967. It totalled 3 non-consecutive weeks on the chart. In the Netherlands, "Here We Go Again" appeared on the singles chart at number 10 on July 15, 1967, and later peaked at number three.
Track listing
- "Here We Go Again" – 3:14
- "Somebody Ought to Write a Book About It" – 3:02
According to Allmusic, the solo version is listed at lengths between 3:14 and 3:20 on various albums.
Credits
Charles is credited as the vocalist and the pianist with unknown accompaniment.
Sid FellerSidney "Sid" Feller was an American conductor and arranger, best known for his work with Ray Charles. He worked with Charles on hundreds of songs including Georgia on My Mind and worked as Charles' conductor while on tour...
was the
arrangerIn investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and
conductorConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. This is one of two songs ("
Yesterday"Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...
") on the album that in addition to being listed as
ABC-ParABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
ABC595 is credited as
DunhillDunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...
DZS036 [CD]. The individual song had a label number ABC/TRC 10938. "
In the Heat of the Night"In the Heat of the Night" is a 1967 song performed by Ray Charles, composed by Quincy Jones, and written by Marilyn Bergman & Alan Bergman for the film In the Heat of the Night...
" also had a Dunhill credit but a different number for both Dunhill and ABC.
Nancy Sinatra version
Sinatra recorded a cover of the song for the 1969 album
Nancy-Track listing:# "God Knows I Love You" – 3:09# "Memories" – 3:42# "Just Bein' Plain Old Me" – 3:35# "Here We Go Again" – 3:09...
, which was later
remasterRemaster is a word marketed mostly in the digital audio age, although the remastering process has existed since recording began...
ed and reissued in 1996. This was her first album after ending her business relationship with producer,
Lee HazlewoodLee Hazlewood , born Barton Lee Hazlewood was an American country and pop singer, songwriter, and record producer, most widely known for his work with guitarist Duane Eddy during the late 1950s and singer Nancy Sinatra in the 1960s.Hazlewood had a distinctive baritone voice that added an ominous...
. The cover, which according to programming guides had more of an
easy listeningEasy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
/country music appeal, was produced by
Billy StrangeWilliam E. "Billy" Strange is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor.-Recordings and songwriting:...
. The B-side to the single "Memories" was written by Strange along with
Mac DavisMac Davis is a country music singer, songwriter, and actor originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much crossover success...
.
Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, stating that the cover was a "smooth" with a "sing-a-long pop style". They also commended Sinatra's vocal performance, writing it was "fine".
Chart performance
Although
CD UniverseCD Universe.com is an e-commerce site that sells music CDs and mp3 downloads, movies and video games worldwide. CD Universe was created in 1996 by founder and CEO Charles Beilman in Wallingford, Connecticut, where it is still maintained and operated...
describes the song as a country music song, it never charted on country music charts. For the week ending May 17, 1969, the song was listed among
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chartThe Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
at number 106 and debuted on the US
Billboard Easy Listening Top 40 chart at number 30. The following week, it debuted on the Hot 100 chart at number 98. The song then spent two weeks in the US
Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at 98. For the week ending June 7, the song spent a second consecutive week at its peak position of number 19 on the Easy Listening chart. The week ending June 14, 1969 was the song's fifth and final weak on the Easy Listening chart. In Canada, "Here We Go Again" debuted at number 38 on the
RPMRPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Adult Contemporary chart (previously Young Adult Chart), the week dated June 2, 1969. It peaked at number 21 for the week of June 16, 1969. The song spent a total of five weeks on the chart. According to Allmusic databases, 1969 was the final year in her career that Sinatra reached the Hot 100 chart.
Track listing
- "Here We Go Again" – 3:07
- "Memories" – 3:40
According to Allmusic, the original track has a 3:09 length, but when it appeared on the 2006 compilation album
Essential Nancy Sinatra, it had a length of 3:11. The single was initially released through Reprise Records. In a non-exclusive licensing agreement, Reprise (part of Warner Music) gave
RCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
the rights to distribute the records of some of their artists including Sinatra and
Dean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
. Also, in 1971, Sinatra and Reprise parted ways and she signed a long term contract with RCA Records.
Credits
The following musicians performed on this track:
- B.J. Baker Singers (backup vocals)
- The Blossoms
The Blossoms were a backing group from California. They had a recording career in their own right and were to the American West Coast what The Sweet Inspirations were to the East Coast and The Andantes were for Motown.-Early years:...
(backup vocals)
The following musicians performed on this album:
- Al Casey
Alvin W. Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly noted for his work as a session musician, but also released records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States...
(guitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
)
- Jerry McGee (guitar)
- Red Rhodes
Rhodes played pedal steel on many country rock, pop and rock albums with The Monkees, James Taylor, Seals and Crofts, The Byrds, The Carpenters and many other groups. He is most often remembered for his work with former Monkee Michael Nesmith on Nesmith's first solo albums in the early 1970s...
(steel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
)
- Sid Sharp (violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, stringsA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
)
- Jim Horn
Jim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
(fluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
)
- Roy Caton (trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
)
- Don Randi
Don Randi is an American keyboard player, bandleader and songwriter. He has performed on innumerable recordings, including many as a session musician and member of "The Wrecking Crew", as well as releasing his own jazz records...
(pianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
)
- Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
(bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
)
- Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye is an American musician, best known as one of the most prolific and widely heard bass guitarists in history, playing on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions in a 55 year career....
(bass guitar)
- Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
(drums)
Norah Jones and Ray Charles duet version
In 2004, Charles re-recorded "Here We Go Again" as a duet with American
singer-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Norah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, who grew up listening to Charles. While Jones and Charles harmonized, the
Hammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
instrumentation was performed by
Billy PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
,{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=278}} who had at one time been the regular organist in Charles' band. During her
BillboardBillboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
interview for her 2010
...Featuring album of collaborations, which included her "Here We Go Again" duet, Jones said "I got a call from Ray asking if I'd be interested in singing on this duets record. I got on the next plane and I brought my mom. We went to his studio and did it live with the band. I sang it right next to Ray, watching his mouth for the phrasing. He was very sweet and put me at ease, which was great because I was petrified walking in there." She noted in one
...Featuring interview that the only part that was not done live was a piano overlay that she added after the fact to complement Charles' keyboard. In the same interview, she noted that she had been given the opportunity to select a song from Charles' songbook to perform as a duet and felt that this one provided the best opportunity to harmonize rather than alternate vocal verses.
Reception
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| width = 150
| image1 = Norah Jones.jpg
| width1 =
| alt1 = Woman in black sleeveless top and multicolored skirt sitting at a piano in a performance hall with a band behind her.
| caption1 = Jones in April 2005, 2 months after "Here We Go Again" won a
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
| image2 = NorahJones Parque Independencia 2010.jpg
| width2 =
| alt2 = Smiling woman with short dark hair in red flower-print dress playing red and white electric guitar
| caption2 = Jones when
...Featuring was released in November 2010
| header =
| header_align =
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}}
{{Listen
|filename=Here We Go Again (Jones-Charles) sample.ogg
|title="Here We Go Again" (2004)
|description=The Jones-Charles version was the first notable duet vocals version and earned
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s for
Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and
Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
(posthumously for Charles).}}
As part of Charles'
Genius Loves Company, this song proved to be the most popular and critically acclaimed song on an album that won the
Grammy Award for Album of the YearThe Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
. Although the song had its early detractors, it received mostly favorable reviews.
The Daily Vault described the song as a "jazzy, slinky
pas de deuxIn ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
" in which Charles matches Jones note for note.
JazzTimesJazzTimes is a magazine that dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of...
said Charles "blends seamlessly with Jones on a velvet-and-
buckramBuckram is a stiff cloth, made of cotton, and still occasionally linen, which is used to cover and protect books. Buckram can also be used to stiffen clothes. Modern buckrams have been stiffened by soaking in a substance, usually now pyroxylin, to fill the gaps between the fibres.In the Middle...
" performance.
Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
notes that Jones carried the vocal burden as did many of his duet partners on the album.
USA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
said the song "strikes an easy groove".
PopMattersPopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
says "Jones nicely compliments Charles on this beautiful opening track". The song was described by The
Orlando SentinelThe Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
's Jim Abbott as a recreation of one of the best performances from Charles' country music phase of the 1960s that produced the perfect "combination of voices and instruments" with Preston's Hammond B3 performance accompanying Jones and Charles. Preston's performance was favorably described by
The Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
's Richard Harrington as "smoky". The
Chicago TribuneThe Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
noted that critic Randy Lewis said the song's "countrified ache" represented that part of Charles' career. As opposed to other times on the album, when Charles' voice was understated, this song was said to represent his "indomitable spirit", while Jones performed as "an empathetic foil, [with] her warm, lazy vocals meshing convivially with his over a spare but funky arrangement". Author Mike Evans wrote that "there's a mutual warmth of purpose in every breath [Charles and Jones] take" on the song.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=278}}
Music WeekMusic Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
noted the timeliness of the release with
RayRay is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
in theaters and described the song as a soulful song that finely combines Charles' "deep, honeyed growl with Jones's [sic] lighter timber", while noting Preston for his "sweeping" organ work.
When the song was included on Jones'
...Featuring, which included three of her collaborations from Albums of the Year and several from Albums that were nominees, the song did not stand out. Few of the reviews at
MetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
had substantive comments on the collaboration when included among her group of collaborations. While reviewing Jones' album
...Featuring, Jonathan Keefe of
Slant MagazineSlant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
wrote that the duet was a "more staid and less compelling recording" in the album. However, Allmusic noted that she worked comfortably with Charles and
Soul Tracks said the track was more than just filler.
Awards and nominations
In December 2004, the song was nominated in two categories at the 47th Grammy Awards. At the February 13, 2005 awards ceremony, the duet earned the award for both of these categories:
Record of the YearThe Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
and
Best Pop Collaboration with VocalsThe Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality pop songs on which singers collaborate...
. It was the second Record of the Year winner not to make the Hot 100 (following "Walk On" in 2001 by
U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
). The song won Record of the Year, but not
Song of the YearThe Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
. Record of the Year is awarded to the artist(s), producer(s), recording engineer(s) and/or mixer(s), if other than artist for newly recorded material. Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter(s) of a new song or a song first achieving prominence during the eligibility year. Steagall and Lanier are credited as the writers of this song from their work on its original version in 1967. Thus, the song was not a new song.
Chart performance
For the week ending September 18, 2004,
Genius Loves Company sold 202,000 copies, ranking second on the
US Billboard 200 chartThe Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Opening week sales earned Charles his highest charting album in over 40 years. Digital singles sales saw 12 of the 13 tracks on the album make the US
Billboard Hot Digital Tracks Top 50 chart. "Here We Go Again" was the download sales leader among the albums tracks, but the 12 tracks totaled 52,000
digital downloadA music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s. During this album release week, the song debuted on the US
Billboard Hot Digital TracksThe Hot Digital Tracks chart is a song popularity chart that ranks the best selling digital tracks in the United States according to Billboard magazine...
chart at number 26. "Here We Go Again" fell out of the top 50 two weeks later. It was released for digital download on January 31, 2005.
After the album earned eight Grammy Awards and the song won Record of the Year, sales picked up and the album was re-promoted. "Here We Go Again" entered the US
Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number five in the issue dated (for the week ending) February 26, 2005. The song charted for a week on both the US
Billboard Hot Digital SongsThe Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
chart top 75 at number 73 and the US
Billboard Pop 100The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
chart at number 74 for the week ending March 5, 2005, but still did not make the Hot 100 chart, ranking 113th before falling out of the chart. However, it ascended to its Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart peak position of number two for the week ending March 5, 2005. A Compact Disc single of the song was released on April 19, 2005.
In Austria, the duet debuted on the
Ö3 Austria Top 40Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann...
chart at number 53 on March 6, 2005, and peaked the following week at number 52. It logged six weeks on the chart. "Here We Go Again" entered the French Singles Chart at number 54 on April 2, 2005, and peaked one week later at number 51. It lasted 10 weeks on the top 100 chart.
Track listing
- "Here We Go Again" (Ray Charles and Norah Jones) – 3:59
- "Mary Ann" (Poncho Sanchez featuring Ray Charles) – 5:05
- "Interview With Norah Jones" – 1:35
According to Allmusic, the duet version was between 3:56 and 3:59 on various albums.
Credits
Musicians
- Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
(keyboardA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
)
- Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
(piano)
- Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
(Hammond B3)
- Irv Kramer (guitar)
- Tom Fowler (bass guitar)
- Ray Brinker (drums)
Technicians
- John Burk (producer)
- Terry Howard (recording)
- Seth Presant (Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
engineer)
- Ken Desantis (assistant engineer)
- Bill Kramer (assistant engineer)
- Mark Fleming (assistant engineer)
- Al Schmitt
Al Schmitt is a recording engineer and record producer.-Early career:Schmitt grew up in New York City. After serving in the U.S. Navy he began working at Apex Recording Studios at the age of 19. In the late 1950's Schmitt moved to Los Angeles and became a staff engineer at Radio Recorders on Santa...
(mixer)
- Steve Genewick (assistant mixer)
- Doug Sax (mastering)
- Robert Hadley (mastering)
The song was recorded at RPM International Studio (Los Angeles), mixed at
Capitol StudiosThe Capitol Studios complex opened in the Capitol Records Building, a futuristic new building in the heart of Hollywood, in 1956. It has since hosted some of the most treasured recordings in music history, from Frank Sinatra to the Beastie Boys. It is owned by Capitol Records whose parent company...
and mastered at the Mastering Lab.
Other versions
Billy VaughnRichard "Billy" Vaughn was an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, orchestra leader, and A&R man for Dot Records....
covered "Here We Go Again" on his 1967
Ode to Billy Joe instrumental jazz album, as did Martin on his 1970 album
My Woman, My Woman, My Wife.
Glen CampbellGlen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
's version of the song appeared on his 1971 album
The Last Time I Saw HerThe Last Time I Saw Her is the 20th album by American singer/guitarist Glen Campbell, released in 1971 .-Track listing:Side 1:# "The Last Time I Saw Her" - 4:06# "Rose Garden" - 2:44...
,
Eddy ArnoldRichard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
's on his 1972 album
Lonely People, and
George StraitGeorge Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
's on his 1992 album
Holding My OwnHolding My Own is a 1992 album by country music singer George Strait. It was released by MCA Records and features the singles "Gone as a Girl Can Get" and "So Much Like My Dad", both of which charted in the Top 5 on the country charts...
. Steagall performed it with
Reba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
on his 2007
Here We Go Again album, but she did not include it on her 2007 duets album
Reba: DuetsReba: Duets is the twenty fourth studio album by American country music artist, Reba McEntire. The album was released September 18, 2007 on MCA Nashville Records and September 24, 2007 on Humphead Records in the UK, and was produced by Tony Brown, Dann Huff, McEntire, and Justin Timberlake.Reba:...
, which was released four weeks later. Their collaboration was favorably reviewed, and McEntire was said to reinvigorate this country standard. Martin's version was 3:07, and it later appeared on compilation albums, starting with the 1996
Dean Martin Gold, Vol. 2. It has appeared on a handful of other Martin compilation albums at lengths between 3:05 and 3:08. Campbell's version was only 2:26. Strait's version is 2:53 and appears later on his 2004
Greatest Collection at a 2:55 length. Steagall's version with McEntire (who Steagall discovered at a 1974 county fair) is 3:10.
Nelson and Marsalis along with Norah Jones performed two concerts, at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre, on February 9 and February 10, 2009. A 2011
liveA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
tribute album by Nelson and Marsalis featuring Jones entitled
Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles was recorded on these two live dates. The album included a track entitled "Here We Go Again". The album was released on March 29, 2011. Vocals on "Here We Go Again" were performed by Jones and Nelson, while instrumental support was provided by Marsalis (trumpet), Dan Nimmer (piano),
Mickey RaphaelMichael Siegfried "Mickey" Raphael is a professional harmonica player, best known for his work with Willie Nelson. He has recorded with Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Elton John, Mötley Crüe, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Chesney, U2 and Neil Young.Raphael's style is mostly second...
(
harmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), Walter Blanding (
tenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
), Carlos Henriquez (
bassBass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
) and
Ali JacksonAli Jackson is a jazz drummer.His mother, a classical pianist, taught him piano at and how to read music at age 4. Jackson's father, a professional bass player, taught him music theory and gave him drums lesson from rudiment books. He attended Detroit's prestigious Cass Technical High School. He...
(drums and percussion). The song, which had a length of 5:10, was arranged by Andy Farber and performed in a rhythm and blues 12/8 shuffle.
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
music reviewer Bill Tilland noted that Jones added her usual "style and panache" to this performance. At one concert performance,
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
critic Nate Chinen, felt the song sounded unrehearsed, but it is not clear what he felt of the album version. Although critique of this track is sparse reviewers of Pop Matters' Will Layman notes that the album reveals "how decisive and strong Jones sounds while singing with a truly legitimate jazz group" and how Nelson predictably "breezes through his tunes with cavalier grace". Meanwhile, he praises the professional mastery of Marsalis' quintet. Tilland also notes that on the album Marsalis' band "compensates quite adequately for occasional lacklustre vocals."
Strait's country music version was performed with the following instrumental support: Joe Chemay (bass guitar),
Floyd DominoFloyd Domino is an American musician known for his work in the genre of Western Swing.Born a native of California, Domino was introduced to Western Swing by way of the musicians who had migrated from Texas and Oklahoma in the 1930s and 1940s....
(piano),
Buddy EmmonsBuddy Emmons , is an American guitarist.Emmons has been called "The World's Foremost Steel Guitarist" and his talent is greatly admired by fellow steel guitarists...
(steel guitar), Steve Gibson (
acoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
),
Johnny GimbleJohn Paul Gimble , better known as Johnny Gimble, is an American country musician associated with Western swing. He is an award-winning fiddle player and considered one of the most impressive fiddlers in the genre's history....
(
fiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
),
Jim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
(
saxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
,
alto fluteThe alto flute is a type of Western concert flute, a musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the next extension downward of the C flute after the flûte d'amour. It is characterized by its distinct, mellow tone in the lower portion of its range...
),
Larrie LondinRalph Gallant, better known by his stage name Larrie Londin , was an American drummer and session musician. Londin played with a wide range of artists including Journey and Steve Perry....
(drums), Liana Manis (background vocals), Curtis Young (background vocals), and Reggie Young (
electric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
). The album was produced by
Jimmy BowenJimmy Bowen is an American record producer and former pop music performer.Bowen was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico. He began as a teenage recording star in 1957 with "I'm Stickin' With You," originally the flip side of the hit record "Party Doll" by Buddy Knox, but ultimately a Top 20 recording...
and Straight. In 1992,
Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
regarded the album as Strait's "most hard-core country album" up to that point in his career. Allmusic notes that the album held its own at the time of release against most of its competitors and has aged better than most country music albums.
PeopleIn 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
says the album represents the most straightforward style of singing.
iTunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
describes the album as the result of a a transition in eras of country music.