“Something’s Wrong”
Song by Ray Charles
One of our very favorite Ray Charles songs from the 1960s is buried on a B-side that nobody talks about anymore. “Something’s Wrong” is pure wonder and delight, a stunning achievement of a recording. It was released in May of 1964, backing the song “My Baby Don’t Dig Me”, at a time when Ray’s personal and professional lives had become chaotic. He had enormous success, sure, but also turmoil that would prove unsustainable. Something was definitely wrong… but oh this song is so right!
Percy Mayfield wrote “Something’s Wrong” and in the hands of Ray and his band it’s mesmerizing. The song begins with an oddly-timed intro, spooky brass underscoring an itchy discomfort. But just as soon as you’ve adjusted to its rhythm it abruptly changes, to a differently-timed alternate intro for a weird few half bars. Finally ol’ Ray’s voice interrupts, off-beat, instantly halting the music for a few seconds of a cappella singing that establishes the song’s actual rhythm, which turns out to be slower still. It’s a disorienting start to a discombobulated tale.
The rest of “Something’s Wrong” is a long slow burn. Minimalist drums tap out the merest of beats, the muted brass stays on one single note for entire lines, and Ray twists and chokes the melody into something hurt, an exposé of honest desperation. He soars freely into high falsetto before plunging back to the ground again, his emotions a haphazard map of feeling and confusion. “It’s hard to believe but it’s true / Something’s wrong,” the man laments, his words plopping into the dark earth like discarded rocks. The music behind him sounds like a James Bond theme played at 16 rpm. “You’ve forgotten old Ray’s still around,” goes his solipsistic weep.
“Something’s Wrong” is all about animated anguish giving way to lugubrious lows, a miasma of give and take painting a forlorn image. The song was never included on an album at the time of its release and doesn’t usually get picked for Ray’s endless compilations, but “Something’s Wrong” is the Genius at his sad and jaw-dropping best.
Single releases
“My Baby Don’t Dig Me”
b/w
“Something’s Wrong”
Listen to “Something’s Wrong”
Get your own “Something’s Wrong” on 45 or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the out-of-print complete ABC singles 5xCD box set.