“What Have I Done”
Song by Ray Charles Trio
“What Have I Done” was one of the last songs Ray Charles ever performed with his friends Gossie McKee and Milton Garret before the trio split up in 1950. It was most likely recorded in 1950 in Los Angeles and released on a 78 with “See See Rider” on the other side (Swing Time 217), and was credited to the Ray Charles Trio.
“What Have I Done” opens with Ray Charles’ lively, bluesy piano, hitting a motley collection of single notes, Ray’s skill and comfort at the keys already on their way to becoming full formed. Gossie’s dramatic guitar slides and stinging blues notes pepper the performance throughout, and Milton’s upright bass anchors the song to the soil.
Ray Charles’ voice is pure of timbre and emotionally pleading:
Tell me honey, what are you gonna do?
Tell me baby, please tell me
What have I done?
Ray wrote this song himself, and his lyrics find him listing all the things he has done for his ungrateful woman, who was “beat and ragged and mocked” when he took her in. He can’t understand how she could possibly be anything less than grateful. Why is she upset? What had he done now??
Although Ray’s vocals are reserved, floating high and free and unexercised, he lets his frustration pour forth in his solo, which sees him violently hitting loud, repeated chords in a staccato rhythm before devolving into fast-played single notes higher on the keyboard – the wailing anger that he isn’t letting his voice convey.
It is not known exactly when “What Have I Done” was recorded, or when it was released; even the Swing Time catalog number may not narrow it down reliably. It is thought that it may have been at a session in April or May of 1950, during which six songs were recorded by Jack Lauderdale of Swing Time Records. All six were released as Swing Time 215, 217, and 218. The index number suggests a release date of July 1950 or so, but it’s only a guess.
Copies of the original 78 rpm disc aren’t seen for sale often, though they do appear from time to time. Otherwise, “What Have I Done” can be found on innumerable bootleg LPs that have been released since the 1950s compiling Ray’s pre-Atlantic 78s. These are not recommended as sound quality varies and there are often unwanted overdubs (plus other problems). Try for a recent CD issue that gathers every known recording in a single package.
Single releases
“See See Rider”
by Ray Charles Trio
b/w
“What Have I Done”
by Ray Charles Trio