Ray Charles - Ray Charles In L.A. (1964)

“Live in Concert” is a live album by Ray Charles released in 1965 by ABC-Paramount Records. The recording was made at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California in September, 1964 following a tour of Japan.
This classic 1964 recording by Ray Charles includes 12 vintage tracks performed to perfection. His voice is in great shape, and the recording by Wally Heider is a marvel for its day; all the instruments are placed nicely with Charles' voice out front where it belongs.
There's a slinky version of "Hallelujah I Love Her So," the musicians creating nice little changes behind Charles' soulful nuances.
The singer tells us Miss Lillian Ford of the Raelets "helps out" on "Don't Set Me Free"; it's a duet and a nice change of pace. Rick Ward's tacky liner notes fail to say who is backing up the singer at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, except for David "Fathead" Newman credited with the tenor solo on "Swing a Little Taste," the opening track. Not to be confused with the 1973 re-release Ray Charles Live, which is comprised of 1958 and 1959 concerts, this album is called Live in Concert, and is Charles in Los Angeles after a Japanese tour in 1964.
"What I'd Say" and a nice version of "Margie" are here, along with a six-minute take on "I Gotta Woman." For the finale he has the Ray Charles Choir come out to help close the show with a marching-band version of "Pop Goes the Weasel."
The 12 tracks are priceless Ray Charles, especially the reinvention of "You Don't Know Me," stirringly different from his timeless hit version but just as impressive. Excellent photos by Ray Hearne, especially the cover profile.
In 2011, the record was remastered and reissued on CD with new liner notes and previously unreleased tracks, extending the record to well over an hour's worth of music.

Track listing

01.  Swing A Little Taste   (4:11)
02.  I Gotta Woman   (6:00)
03.  Margie   (2:20)
04.  You Don´t Know Me   (3:03)
05.  Hide Nor Hair   (2:47)
06.  Baby Don´t You Cry   (2:36)
07.  Makin´ Whoopee   (5:56)
08.  Hallelujah I Love Her So   (3:23)
09.  Don´t Set Me Free    (3:08)
10.  What´d I Say   (4:36)
11.  Finale   (1:46)

Credits
Vocals – Ray Charles
Alto Saxophone – Bill Pearson, Hank Crawford
Backing Vocals – Raelets
Baritone Saxophone – Keg Johnson, Leroy Cooper
Bass – Edgar Willis
Drums – Wilbert Hogan
Flugelhorn – John Hunt
Flute – Bill Pearson
Guitar – Sonny Forriest
Organ – Ray Charles
Piano – Ray Charles
Tenor Saxophone – David "Fathead" Newman
Trombone – Henderson Chambers, James Herbert, Julian Priester
Trumpet – John Hunt, Oliver Beener, Phillip Guilbeau, Wallace Davenport

Notes
Recorded:  1964 September 20, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Playtime:  39:52
Genre:  R&B Country Soul
Label:  ABC Records

© 1964