“If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady”

“If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady” is a stellar song from Ray Charles’ 1972 album Through The Eyes Of Love. Ray double-tracks his voice — on the choruses, he’s in the right ear playing it safe, while on other parts of the song he’s twisting and fussing around in the left — and the recording is led by his understated electric piano and an occasional plucky acoustic guitar.

“If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady” finds Ray in particularly fine voice — deep and growly, but then high and lovely. It’s some of his best singing of the early 1970s. The song itself features a recurring dramatic descending section on which Ray is especially compelling, enunciating unexpected syllables (“You give me life, you make bad times turn into the good times…”). The listener sits up, shuts up, and pays attention. Yes sir, Mr. Charles.

The performance of “If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady” shows how Ray Charles could take a song with a simple message and infuse it with overwhelming pathos and drama. Such was his talent and his life. The smoothness of the musicians, the balance and unity of the recording, and the effortlessness of the genius’s vocals are all remarkable here. On “If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady”, everything comes together. It’s a standout moment from Brother Ray’s career.

Listen to “If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady”

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