“You And I”
Song by Ray Charles and Betty Carter
Ray Charles and Betty Carter cut loose on the big brassy band-led “You And I”, the second song on their collaboration LP Ray Charles And Betty Carter (July 1961). It follows the general theme of the album of songs about a couple.
“You And I” was written by Meredith Wilson and was originally a hit for Glenn Miller in 1941. Crooners such as Sinatra and Crosby also recorded the song in subsequent years. “You And I” fits the theme of the Ray and Betty album very well and is a great choice.
The preceding song, “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”, had established an air of romantic fragility, and “You And I” immediately sets about breaking that in an effort to expand the mood of the LP. Sassy and poppy, “You And I” is nothing more than a carefree and self-satisfied moment of basking in ones own pure love.
Ray and Betty don’t see anything but each other, and pride themselves that their love reflects the very blue of the sky and the song of birds. The rest of the world is tuned out on “You And I”: this song sets the spiritual glue that binds the lovers throughout the rest of the LP.
Betty Carter’s ultra-pure tones begin the song with the sound of a high, free angel’s voice. When Ray sings afterwards, he also uses his gentlest and most rapturous voice, but his natural grit and lower register is inescapable. The two mix perfectly for the male/female dynamics so important to the song and the album.
Fathead shows the way
Ray’s saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman is the instrumental star of “You And I”; while the trumpets of the big band (arranged by Marty Paich) blast out their catchy rhythms, Newman takes advantage of a lengthy middle section to add an excellent solo, adding many additional layers of hipness to an otherwise – dare I say – fairly square recording.
And as intoxicating as Ray’s sensual voice could be, it’s Fathead’s sax that really seems to inspire Betty: after his solo ends she sings again but this time seems especially excited. The sax solo, in fact, seems to electrify the brass band too; everyone sounds even better afterwards.
With its thrilling ending, in which Ray and Betty join together on a drawn-out re-singing of the song’s title, giving it their all, “You And I” communicates much to the listener about the roles of the couple whose story is told throughout the album. It’s a wonderful duet and a moment of arresting beauty between the pair.
Listen to “You And I”
Songs on Ray Charles And Betty Carter