“I’ve Had My Fun”
Song by Ray Charles Trio
One of Ray Charles’ earliest recordings was “I’ve Had My Fun”, his retitled version of St. Louis Jimmy Oden’s 1941 piano blues hit “Going Down Slow”, released in 1950 on a 78 rpm record (Swing Time 215). The record is credited to Ray Charles Trio; the flip side was “Sitting On Top Of The World”.
This recording keeps the sad lyrics of the original but the arrangement and pace are more adventurous. It’s an odd juxtaposition, these cruel lyrics done at such a carefree pace; Ray would again record this song, under its original title and with a much heavier atmosphere, for his 1966 LP Crying Time.
“I’ve Had My Fun” is dominated by Ray’s piano and his lone voice, which is punchy and confident. It dates from a time when his singing was transitioning from his smooth Nat Cole croon to his natural bluesy voice. “I’ve Had My Fun” sounds a little like Nat Cole singing a haunted death blues – a mix of smooth and craggy.
The song is a message from a dying son to his mother, warning of his own death and attempting to ease the pain of the impending tragedy. He reasons that he’s led a fun life so there is no reason to lament his passing.
I have had my fun
If I don’t get well no more
My health is failing me
And I’m going down slow
For the still-teenaged Ray, who was driven nearly insane (by his own account) when his own mother died five or so years before this recording, the chilling situation described by the lyrics of “I’ve Had My Fun” are a reversal of a trauma he knew all too well. The singer of this song has no hope and doesn’t seem to want any.
Tell her don’t send no doctor
Doctor can’t do no good
It’s all my fault
Didn’t do the things I should
However, emotionally resonant though this song would seem to be for this particular singer, Ray doesn’t sound especially connected to the song’s subject matter on this recording. There is little pathos in his voice; he’s just singing the notes and words as written. It’s style over gravitas.
And it’s an unusual Ray Charles song indeed where that can be said. Only on his very earliest songs, before he’d found his true voice, did Ray turn in vocal performances that seem less than satisfying in hindsight. As “I’ve Had My Fun” catches him on the cusp of coming into his own, it’s good but seems wanting somehow.
It’s still a great recording overall, though; his strong, bluesy piano playing is remarkable, as is Gosady McKee’s perfectly-timed fret-sliding guitar chords. This was one of the last recordings McKee and bassist Milton Garret would do with Ray, and it shows that they knew their repertoire, and each other’s playing, well.
To hear “I’ve Had My Fun”, you can look for a copy of the original Swing Time 78, or find a compilation (maybe on CD) of Ray Charles’ pre-Atlantic songs. Beware of cheap LPs of Ray’s 1948-51 years; these often feature low sound quality, unwanted overdubs, and/or songs by unrelated artists.
Single releases
“I’ve Had My Fun”
by Ray Charles Trio
b/w