James Ray -I’ve Got My Mind Set On You
James Ray
Listen/Download James Ray – I’ve Got My Mind Set On You
Greetings all
The middle of the week is upon us, so I felt it only fitting that I dip into the crates and whip a little history (and a groovy song) on all of you.
It ought to be obvious by now that my record collector spidey sense is often set a-tingling by original versions of popular songs.
This is often the case because the originals are often much better, especially when the source material is R&B/soul/funk based.
If you had your ears pointed at a radio (or MTV) in 1987, you most certainly heard George Harrison working it out on a song called ‘I’ve Got My Mind Set On You’.
It was one of his biggest solo hits, and as it turns out, a cover of an obscure 1962 R&B tune by a singer named James Ray.
Now, I heard Ray’s OG years before I laid my hands on a copy (thanks to one of those ‘Who Played It First’ type comps), but only set out to get myself an original after my memory was jogged by none other than the mighty Mr Finewine, when he graciously invited me to share the decks during his long-running Wednesday night thing at Botanic in NYC.
Since the 45 was more expensive/elusive, I ended up getting a copy of James Ray’s self-titled 1962 LP.
In addition to today’s selection, the disc also includes his minor hits ‘If You Gotta Make a Fool Out Of Somebody’ (later covered by Freddie and the Dreamers) and ‘Itty Bitty Pieces’.
Produced and arranged by Hutch Davie, and largely composed by Rudy Clark (who also wrote ‘It’s In His Kiss (the Shoop Shoop Song)’ and ‘Good Lovin’), the LP runs the gamut from R&B to fairly mainstream pop.
The arrangements, including on ‘I’ve Got My Mind Set On You’ tend to be oddly ornate (dig, if you will, the chorus and the banjo…), though not at all out of character for 1962.
Ray had a high, slightly raspy tenor that has touches of Ray Charles in it.
Sadly, he passed away only a few years after recording this, victim of a drug overdose, still in his early 20s.
I hope you dig the track, and I’ll see you all on Friday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).
Themocracy
George reportedly bought that LP in Mount Vernon, Ilinois (where my wife is from) when he visited his sister in southern Illinois in the fall of ’63. He also bought a Rickenbacker there which recently sold at auction this summer.
Google it, very interesting stories of George jamming with the locals before the Beatles as a whole came to the states. ivan.
I’d heard the story about the guitar, but had no idea that the LP had a similar provenance! Thanks for the info.