Would You Believe? (Ray Charles album)

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Would You Believe?
Studio album by
Ray Charles
Released1990
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerRay Charles, Jimmy Lewis
Ray Charles chronology
Seven Spanish Angels and Other Hits
(1989) 		Would You Believe?
(1990) 		The Classic Years
(1991)

Would You Believe? is an album by the American musician Ray Charles, released in 1990.[1][2] He supported the album by touring with B.B. King.[3] Would You Believe? was Charles's first album for Warner Bros. Records.[4] The first single was "I'll Take Care of You".[5]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Jimmy Lewis, who also wrote some of the songs.[6] It is evenly divided between songs describing the joys of love and songs about the sorrows of love.[7] Charles employed drum machines and synthesizers for the first time on an album.[8] He provided the backing vocals on many of the tracks.[9] "Your Love Keeps Me Satisfied" is a cover of the Billy Preston song.[10] "Living Without You" was written by Johnny Mandel.[11] "Let's Get Back Where We Left Off" is a duet with Peggy Scott.[12]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Chicago Tribune[14]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[15]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[16]
Windsor StarB+[9]

The Chicago Tribune determined that "Charles matches his gritty vocals against a backing of synthesizers and drum machines and—amazingly—triumphs over technology."[14] Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Living Without You" "lightens up a touching, jazzy lament with a flittering sound that crosses clarinet and viola."[10] The Kingston Whig-Standard stated that "because Mr. Charles is still a marvelous singer and the songs are carefully chosen, this album is a delight."[6] The Star Tribune deemed the album "a frustrating mix of substandard songs and amateurish production guaranteed to disappoint even the most ardent fan."[17] LA Weekly concluded that Charles's "voice is still harsh/pretty, carrying an edge of ache and melancholy even in the light moments."[18]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."I'll Take Care of You" 
2."Your Love Keeps Me Satisfied" 
3."Ellie, My Love" 
4."I Can't Get Enough" 
5."Let's Get Back Where We Left Off" 
6."Child Support, Alimony" 
7."Fresh Out of Tears" 
8."Living Without You" 
9."Where's the Stairs?" 
10."Leave Him!" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mitchell, Rick (1 June 1990). "Feel His Soul". Houston. Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  2. ^ Snider, Eric (12 Feb 1991). "Dr. Ray Charles goes to class". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1D.
  3. ^ Jones IV, James T. (25 Sep 1990). "Charles In Charge". USA Today. p. 1D.
  4. ^ Schinder, Scott; Schwartz, Andy (2007). Icons of Rock: An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever. ABC-CLIO. p. 47.
  5. ^ Blackwell, Mary Alice (7 Sep 1990). "Ray Charles set to put his genius to work". The Daily Progress. p. 35.
  6. ^ a b Burliuk, Greg (26 Jan 1991). "Music to Believe In". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  7. ^ Hawn, John (14 Dec 1990). "Records". The Indianapolis Star. p. D9.
  8. ^ Thompson, Clifford (2020). Contemporary World Musicians. Taylor & Francis.
  9. ^ a b Jones, Owen (16 Mar 1991). "Record Review". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  10. ^ a b c Robbins, Ira (October 19, 1990). "Would You Believe?". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ Glackin, William (15 Mar 1992). "Soul Searcher". Encore. The Sacramento Bee. p. 18.
  12. ^ Lydon, Michael (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. Taylor & Francis. p. 376.
  13. ^ "Would You Believe? Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  14. ^ a b Kening, Dan (15 Nov 1990). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
  15. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 124, 127.
  16. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 60.
  17. ^ Deggans, Eric (15 Feb 1991). "Charles' 'Believe' Disappoints". Star Tribune. p. 3E.
  18. ^ Pitts Jr., Leonard (6 Dec 1990). "Music Reviews". LA Weekly. p. 89.
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