Ray Charles Ode To Billie Joe (vocals by Raelett, Clydie King) via Ray Charles Video Museum for @TylerMahanCoe
Ode To Billie Joe
Clydie King was a Raelett from March 1966 to July 1968.
She was Ray's duet partner when he recorded Sweet Memories, and during concerts she was 2nd lead on Baby, It's Cold Outside, and solo'ed in If You Love Me Like You Say and Ode To Billie Joe.
In this session, which was assigned by Liberty records and took place at RPM, she sang two of these songs.
In an interview Ray Charles had already declared that the final piano chord on You Love Me Like You Say was his.
When these tracks, after almost 40 years, were first issued by Stateside, Clydie said in the liner notes that Ode To Billy Joe had been arranged by Ray Charles.
Listening to this recording, it becomes clear that he subtly contributed to it as well.
At 0:25 you can vaguely, in the background, hear him respond to Clydie's call (just as he did in the live version that was captured at the Blues Thing concert), and the final piano chord is unmistakably his also: he plays Pop Goes The Weasel!
In the line-up above, instruments were inferred based on what these musicians were best known for. Jim Gordon, a multi-instrumentalist, may also have played reeds, flute or clarinet. The attribution of the alto to Charles W. Miller is uncertain. Regrettably, I haven't found anything on Robert L. Stolz. Dick "Slyde" Hyde was credited for "1 Dbl", i.e. he either played a second instrument (in his case that may have been any kind of horn), or he was paid double as a 'first call'-session musician.
The Stateside release credited Ike Turner (who recorded it in 1972) for writing the song. Taylor's own original is from 1964. Ray Charles was mentioned in the notes to Taylor's compilation CD The Galaxy Years:
"Members of the Ray Charles band are said to be present on some selections and indeed [a few tunes from this period] have a strong Charles flavour". Any contributions by band members (or maybe even the song being recorded - at RPM??) may explain how Ray got to know the song, which wasn't a hit.
 |
F.l.t.r. Merry Clayton, Alex Brown, Gwen Berry, Clydie King at Newport Jazz Fest on July 7, 1968. From Michigan Daily (Jul. 13): "Charles is an unequaled musical institution. He closed his performance with High-Heeled Sneakers [= Hi Heel Sneakers], bringing the house down 8 times. One highlight of the remarkable afternoon was the performance of Ode To Billy Joe by Sister Clara [= Clydie] of the Raelets. The Ode will never sound the same."
The Raelette singing this great song is "Sister" Clydie King.
The tune first appeared on a bootleggish live CD, It's A Blues Thing, released in 1995 (cf. Amazon).
The concert was in 1968.
The studio version on the compilation CD Clydie King - The Imperial And Minit Years (EMI Europe, 2007; track #18) was probably recorded on an earlier date (February 22, 1968) than the live concert (also from '68, but precise date unknown). Ray's ad-libs on the studio version are barely hearable (session notes here).
In the liner notes of her compilation CD Clydie declared that Ray arranged the song for her.
reposted from Ray Charles Video Museum
I'm not James Bond or Jimmy Beard But I know what to drink with weird. White or red, Your meal's still dead, Just get fed and Go to bed. And whether to drink old or young Is down to Rampling or Christensen. Chardonay with fish fillet And meat with Vosne Romanee. But when I drink, There is no doubt, I place my order and Make it stout: A Guiness and a Jameison, 'What was it that you called me, then?' Cape buffalo, lion, antelope, I'd even order for the Pope. Christ-blood singing in a chalice, Sweet red wine drunk without malice. Abstemious host? The Father, Son, without the Ghost. For there is spirit stronger still, There's Mountain Dew in them there hills; Unfettered by the soul's religion-- Black Velvet bubbles, Paris to Dublin. To begin, how about an apertif? Kir, why not? Please make it brief. And should you want a postprandial, The green stuff's good after a while. Absinthe makes the tart grow fond, La fee vert waves her magic wand. And if there is no place to go, I'd stay inside with Veuve Clicquot. It's time to drink your rations up, To lullabies that fill your cup.