Ray Charles, Georgia On My Mind | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 174^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Georgia On My Mind” as record by Ray Charles.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 174^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Georgia On My Mind”, performed by 🎙 Ray Charles. 

“Georgia, Georgia / The whole day through / Just an old, sweet song / Keeps Georgia on my mind.” The late, iconic musician 🎙 Ray Charles earned 11 top-10 hits throughout his illustrious career. He also earned three no. 1 hits, including 🎵 “Hit The Road Jack” and the beloved jazz standard, 🎵 “Georgia On My Mind”, which spent one week atop the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1960. “Georgia On My Mind” wasn’t written by or for Charles – it was penned in 1930 by 🎼 ✍ Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell.  So, what is the Charles connection to the song besides covering it in 1960? Charles was born in the Peach 🍑 State.  Charles’ stirring, soulful rendition of “Georgia On My Mind” is the one to beat, PERIOD.

“Other arms, reach out to me / Other eyes 👀 smile 😀 tenderly / Still in peaceful dreams I see / The road leads back to you.” Sigh 😌. Charles’ voice is the biggest draw of “Georgia On My Mind.” His instrument was, indeed, ‘once-in-a-lifetime.’  That said, so many other musical cues makes this six-decade-plus recording epic.  The orchestral arrangement and production (🎛 Sid Feller) are celestial 😇.  There’s just something about strings 🎻 that provide a serious lift 🏋️ 💪. Of course, the rhythm section is on-point, namely Charles’ magical piano 🎹 playing. Also, those easy listening, choral vocals can’t be left out the mix, providing further enhancement.  When Ray Charles sings about his home state on 🎵 “Georgia On My Mind”, you buy what he is selling.  There’s a reason why it’s the official state song.

🎙 Ray Charles • 💿 True Genius • 🏷 Tangerine • 🗓 2021

Ray Charles, Georgia On My Mind: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 174 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Tangerine; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]