Wish You Were Here Tonight

Last updated
Wish You Were Here Tonight
Wish You Were Here Tonight.jpg
Studio album by
Released1983
Genre Country
Label Columbia
Producer Ray Charles
Ray Charles chronology
Brother Ray Is at It Again
(1980)
Wish You Were Here Tonight
(1983)
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
(1984)

Wish You Were Here Tonight is an album by the American musician Ray Charles, released in 1983. [1] [2] Charles shot videos for the title track and "3/4 Time"; both were nominated for American Video Awards. [3]

Contents

"Born to Love Me" was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Country Vocal Performance, Male". [4] The album peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. [5] It was a moderate commercial success. [6]

Production

Produced by Charles, the album was recorded in Los Angeles. [7] [8] Charles recorded many of the songs in a country music style, employing mandolin, banjo, and fiddle. [9] [10] [11] "Let Your Love Flow" is a cover of the Bellamy Brothers song. [12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Robert Christgau B [8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]

The Globe and Mail wrote that "the material Charles has chosen is nearly all third-rate and the arrangements limp along hopelessly out of synch with the growl and roar of his voice." [16] The Philadelphia Daily News opined that "it's the best he's made in the better part of a decade, and whatever the weakest material is more than made up for by his always wise and whimsical performances." [17] Robert Christgau deemed the album "another rehash of his jokey, deeply felt shtick... Not that it can't be great shtick." [8]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."3/4 Time" 
2."I Wish You Were Here Tonight" 
3."Ain't Your Memory Got No Pride at All" 
4."Born to Love Me" 
5."I Don't Want No Stranger Sleepin' in My Bed" 
6."Let Your Love Flow" 
7."You Feel Good All Over" 
8."String Bean" 
9."You've Got the Longest Leaving Act in Town" 
10."Shakin' Your Head" 

Related Research Articles

<i>Up to No Good</i> 1990 studio album by Peter Wolf

Up to No Good is the third solo album by the American musician Peter Wolf, released in 1990 on MCA Records.

<i>Final Exam</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Loudon Wainwright III

Final Exam is an album by the American musician Loudon Wainwright III, released in 1978. He supported it with a North American tour. The album was re-released on Telarc in 2007, coupled with his 1976 album, T Shirt. In 1995, Wainwright acknowledged that it was his least favorite of his albums.

<i>Time for a Witness</i> 1991 studio album by The Feelies

Time for a Witness is the fourth studio album by the American rock band the Feelies, released in 1991 on A&M/Coyote. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Angel Eyes</i> (Willie Nelson album) 1984 studio album by Willie Nelson

Angel Eyes is a studio album by the American musician Willie Nelson, released in 1984. Ray Charles dueted on the title track. The album peaked at No. 116 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Rock On</i> (Raydio album) 1979 studio album by Raydio

Rock On is the second album by Raydio, released in 1979 on Arista Records. The album reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 45 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Rock On was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Fear Yourself</i> 2003 studio album by Daniel Johnston

Fear Yourself is an album by the American musician Daniel Johnston, released in 2003. It was produced by Mark Linkous. The album included an 8-page booklet with exclusive Daniel Johnston drawings.

<i>Silver Lake</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Vic Chesnutt

Silver Lake is an album by the American musician Vic Chesnutt, released in 2003. Chesnutt supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with M. Ward.

<i>Woman Out of Control</i> 1983 studio album by Ray Parker Jr.

Woman Out of Control is the second solo album by Ray Parker Jr., released in 1983 on Arista Records.

<i>Root Hog or Die</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper

Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989. It was the duo's final studio album. Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography. The duo supported the album with a North American tour. Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.

<i>My World</i> (Ray Charles album) 1993 studio album by Ray Charles

My World is an album by the American musician Ray Charles, released in 1993. Charles incorporated elements of gospel, funk, and New jack swing.

<i>Lord of the Highway</i> 1987 studio album by Joe Ely

Lord of the Highway is an album by the American musician Joe Ely, released in 1987. It had been three and a half years since his previous album, during which time he recorded an unreleased album for MCA Records, assembled a new band, and toured. Ely supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>The Art of Defense</i> 1984 studio album by Nona Hendryx

The Art of Defense is the third studio album by the American musician Nona Hendryx. It was released in 1984 by RCA Records.

<i>White African</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Otis Taylor

White African is an album by the American musician Otis Taylor, released in 2001. The album won Taylor a W. C. Handy Award for best new blues artist.

<i>The Brightest Smile in Town</i> 1983 studio album by Dr. John

The Brightest Smile in Town is an album by the American musician Dr. John, released in 1983. It was his second solo piano album. It was reissued in 2006, along with Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, Vol. 1 plus bonus tracks.

<i>Surrender to Jonathan!</i> 1996 studio album by Jonathan Richman

Surrender to Jonathan! is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1996. Richman was the first musician signed to Neil Young's Vapor Records. Richman supported the album by touring with a full band.

<i>Reflections</i> (Gil Scott-Heron album) 1981 studio album by Gil Scott-Heron

Reflections is an album by the American poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron, released in 1981. It was his second album without Brian Jackson. Scott-Heron supported the album with a North American tour. The album peaked at No. 106 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Tales of the New West</i> 1985 studio album by the Beat Farmers

Tales of the New West is the debut album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1985. The band signed a one-album deal with Rhino Records. The album peaked at No. 186 on the Billboard 200. It had sold more than 40,000 copies by the end of 1985. An expanded edition of Tales of the New West was reissued in 2004.

<i>Respect the Dead</i> 2002 studio album by Otis Taylor

Respect the Dead is an album by the American musician Otis Taylor, released in 2002. Taylor supported the album with North American tour. Respect the Dead was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award for best contemporary blues album.

<i>About Them Shoes</i> 2005 studio album by Hubert Sumlin

About Them Shoes is an album by the American musician Hubert Sumlin, released in 2005. It was delayed for four years due to litigation. According to Sumlin, the album title was inspired by something Levon Helm said in the studio; on other occasions, he attributed the saying to his father.

<i>Howard Tate</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Howard Tate

Howard Tate is an album by the American musician Howard Tate, released in 1972. The first single was "Keep Cool ". The album was a commercial failure, due to the mediocrity of some of the songs, as well as Jerry Wexler's departure from Atlantic Records.

References

  1. Christy, Marian (27 Apr 1983). "In the Key of Music". Living. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
  2. "Is Ray Charles switching from blues...". Tropic Mag. Miami Herald. August 28, 1983. p. 6.
  3. "Nominees Included". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. 7 Mar 1984. p. 46.
  4. "Ray Charles". Recording Academy. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  5. "Ray Charles". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. Lydon, Michael (2004). Ray Charles: Man and Music, Updated Commemorative Edition. Routledge.
  7. Kirby, Kip (Feb 5, 1983). "Ray Charles Returns with a Nashville Sound". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 5. p. 46.
  8. 1 2 3 "Ray Charles". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  9. Lloyd, Jack (13 Apr 1984). "Year After Year, He's a Hot Act". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F28.
  10. Gold, Kerry (29 May 2000). "The Genius of Ray Charles". Vancouver Sun. p. B9.
  11. Breznican, Anthony (11 June 2004). "His Sound Was Stunning". The Hamilton Spectator. p. G9.
  12. Aregood, Rich (February 18, 1983). "'Wish You Were Here Tonight': Another Good Ray Charles Record". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 45.
  13. "Wish You Were Here Tonight Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  14. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 302.
  15. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 124, 127.
  16. Lacey, Liam (26 Feb 1983). "Wish You Were Here Tonight Ray Charles". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
  17. Marsh, Dave (19 Mar 1983). "Good Music, Poor Sentiments". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 16.